I seriously decreased my technology usage for the last week of 2022 and the first week of 2023. (I highly recommend doing that occasionally, by the way!) I traveled for the holidays with my family, and I took some retreat time in early January for rest + renewal—definitely a counterculture thing to do given the flipping of the calendar to January 1, but it’s actually a natural thing to do if you respect the wisdom of hibernating in winter. I popped onto social media occasionally, but not like I normally would.
When I returned to work on Monday after two weeks out of the office, I logged on to Facebook to discover that two people I know are now in hospice care. One is a sparkly cousin that I haven’t seen since childhood, but I’ve been following her health journey for a few years now thanks to social media and the beautiful messages her husband writes about her courage and her joie de vivre in the face of unimaginable odds. And the other is a respected mentor from my days of living in Houston, a man who is as kind as he is wise, smart and successful. He’s been sharing his journey in a private group where we can celebrate his successes along the way and send love and hugs and support on the days when the news isn’t so encouraging.
What struck me the most is how similar the messages were from two completely different people sharing their own reflections in the final stages of their lives.
- This is a beautiful life!
- Hug your loved ones tight.
- Don’t go to bed mad.
- Be present in every moment.
- It’s ALL good, even when it’s awful.
- Community, relationships, friends + family are everything.
- Follow your passions.
If you are not living your life like this right now, it’s time to make a change. Life is short. Oh, so short. My cousin is only in her 50s. My mentor is only in his 70s. I’m sure you know people who have died too young as well. We only get this one life (this time around, at least!) so live it with intention.
So, what does living a life with authenticity and no regrets look like?
- Listen to your intuition.
- Do work you love.
- Cultivate healthy, loving, fulfilling relationships.
- Choose healthy habits (nutrition, exercise, technology) that serve you.
- Contribute to your community.
- Follow your passions for joy + fun.
- Create financial flow with ease.
- Heal from past trauma.
- Learn new things.
The beginning of the year is a perfect time to evaluate what’s working in your life and what’s not. Allow yourself the space for reflection on the past and vision into the future. You can use the reflection questions I recently sent out as a starting point. Or, schedule a coaching call with me and let’s get you on the road to living a life filled with meaning and magic, purpose and passion in 2023. I’d love to be your guide.
Cheers to a new year!
E.
P.S. Seeking more mystical insights? Sometimes we need to get out of our ego, out of our left brain and open up to the messages from the Universe. As I continue to do shamanic journeys for clients, the more amazed I am at the meaningful symbols and detailed messages that come through. Book an intuitive coaching session today (combo shamanic journey + coaching session) and prepare to be wowed!