Are you living life from the sidelines? Just a character in a random story feeling powerless and unworthy?
If you answered yes, sort of, or sometimes…I certainly can relate, my friend. You see I spent a whole lot of my life as just a character in everyone else’s stories. Doing my best to fit in, be accepted, be loved and morphing into whatever and whoever I felt I needed to be to fit the role. I made decisions based on what I felt others wanted of me or I just went along with the advice of those I thought surely knew better than I did.

What this led to was feeling completely unfulfilled, exhausted, and empty. Longing for more, but feeling too afraid and unworthy to speak up and ask. Honestly I’d spent so much time in my people-pleasing role that I had no clue what I really wanted and needed.

It wasn’t until I took a deep dive into yoga in my first 200-hour yoga training that I learned to trust my inner wisdom and to listen to the voice inside me that had been suppressed for so many years. Many people experience this same thing when they decide to take a yoga teacher training. It often leads to making big, life-changing decisions as you finally find your authentic voice. 
For me, it led to first leaving my school teaching career of 13-years which was no longer bringing me joy to eventually leaving my 18-year marriage which had been broken for way too long. I realized that those stories no longer fit who I’d become and it was finally time for me to step up, grab the damn pen, and start writing a new one with me as the AUTHOR and HEROINE.

And I tell you what, it was scary as heck! It was painful. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done…AND absolutely THE VERY BEST thing I’ve ever done and I haven’t looked back since!

Now I know that I can trust my intuition, that I can do the hard things, say the vulnerable and uncomfortable words, and that right on the other side of feeling fearful is a magical land of new opportunities to shine even brighter!

So, my friend, are you read to grab the damn pen and take ownership of your story? Are you finally sick and tired of feeling like the victim, the co-star (or maybe even just an unpaid extra) in your life story?

It all begins with a choice.
Need some love and support as you take a big, bold step into the unknown and this new chapter of your life? I’m here for you. As a Life Reinvention Coach it’s what I do. And I do it really, really well. Let’s co-create your most amazing life story. What are you waiting for?

What are you planning to do with it? More of the same old, same old? OR are you ready to turn up the heat, get a little uncomfortable and create a new life chapter that has you excited to get up to face each new day ahead?

To get the ball rolling, today I’m sharing with you my TOP 5 Favorite Intention Setting Questions that I use with my clients and groups to jump start the manifestation process. So grab a notebook and a pen and get ready to tap into some Universal ABUNDANCE!

MY TOP 5 INTENTION SETTING QUESTIONS:

1. What do you want MORE of in your life this year?
2. What do you want LESS of?
3. How do you plan to care for your body, mind, and soul this year?
4. What BIG ADVENTURE and/or CHANGE are you ready to plan/make? (this one should scare you a little…or a lot!)
5. How do you want to feel about yourself at the end of 2023?

Be BOLD, be SPECIFIC, and allow yourself to dream BIG! Whether you are stuck in a rut or in a pretty darn happy place right now, there’s always room to refine, refocus, or completely reinvent your life.

Once you’ve taken some time to journal a bit, then re-read your thoughts and see if there is one WORD or a few that really sums up what you want to focus on.

I highly recommend taking it to the next level and making a VISION BOARD for your year. You can do this “old school” style (my personal preference) using poster board, old magazines, stickers, markers, etc to craft a visual representation of what you are focusing on; or you can create one virtually that you can then print out. 

www.Canva.com has a great, free one you can try if that’s more your speed.

You see, it’s really easy to fall back into our old habits without a constant reminder of what we are seeking to change. I always keep my Vision Board in a place where I know I’ll see it every day. And I make a point of sitting down to really look it over monthly to do a little check in and refocus my energy and attention.

My BIG Intention word for this year is EXPANSION. I want to apply this theme to all aspects of my life - expanding my retreats, expanding my coaching business, expanding my connections, expanding my personal relationships, and expanding my self-care practices. I can’t wait to sit down next weekend with a group of friends and start crafting a brand new, magically powerful Vision Board!
So, what are you ready to MANIFEST, my friend? I’d love to hear your plans and see if there’s a way I can support you in making them a reality! How about adding “try coaching” to that intention list? You are at least 80% more likely to success when you have someone supporting you, holding you accountable and cheering you on. Let’s hop on a discovery call and see if coaching is a good fit for your 2023 plans!

“Life goes by pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while you could miss it.” - Ferris Buller

This has always been one of my favorite lines from the iconic 80”s movie “Ferris Buller’s Day Off” and as I sat down to write this week’s Snack for you it seemed the perfect way to kick off the month of December. 

Oh December…a month that typically is overflowing with doing, going, and rushing. A month that can become overwhelming and stressful. And a month that can be triggering of losses and dredge up not so happy memories along with all the good cheer and twinkling lights.

I purposefully decided earlier this year that this December I would truly focus on slowing down and savoring. No travel, less gifts, and way more time with the ones I love simply enjoying experiences together.
​
On my Instagram feed this morning I came across this from @anniethelibra and just loved it:

Isn’t that a lovely thought? So today I decided to offer you some simple ideas for how you can finish your year of 2022 a little softer and with more grace.

Here are 6 ways you can slow down and truly SAVOR LIFE:

1. FOCUS ON YOUR BREATH
   There is no better way to truly immerse in the present moment than by noticing and appreciating your breath. When you are feeling rushed or overwhelmed, stop and take 5 slow breaths in and out to a slow count of 5. This is a wonderful way to start and end your day, too.
2. PRACTICE GRATITUDE
   I know I’ve said it a time or two before, but this one deserves repeating. Practicing gratitude is truly transformational. It helps you increase your appreciation for life right now. It also helps you to detach from toxicity and negativity (yes that can definitely be present even at the holidays…). So try keeping a little gratitude journal or use a gratitude app to make a short list each day this month so you are setting yourself up to truly savor the good stuff.
3. BE PRESENT
   How often are you so caught up in either replaying the past, fast forwarding to the future, or just simply distracted by devices that you are anywhere by HERE? Take time this month to notice when your mind is on overload to PAUSE and bring yourself back to this moment. Use the mantra “Be Here Now” to open your eyes, mind, and heart to life right in front of you.
4. UNPLUG FOR A WHILE
   Pick an hour or two each day (or maybe even a whole weekend!) to truly unplug yourself from your devices. Let the family & friends know you are going dark and encourage them to follow your lead. You will be amazed what you notice when there isn’t a phone or a smart watch constantly buzzing at you!
5. EAT SLOWLY AND TRULY SAVOR YOUR COFFEE, TEA, or THAT YUMMY SPICED OLD FASHIONED (my personal fav!)
   We tend to do everything so quickly, even eating our food. Treat yourself to something worth savoring and purposefully slow down so you can appreciate it. Admire the taste, the smell, the texture and how it makes you feel. With so many yummy temptations around us at this time of year, we might as well fully savor each extra calorie we consume!
6. SPEND TIME WITH THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE
   Like I said at the top of this email, I’m focusing this month on experiences rather than stuff this year. Make a point to schedule some quality time with the people who light you up. Gather together to sip hot chocolate and wander the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights, get together for a game night, have everyone over to cook a special meal together, or get all dressed up and treat you and your bestie to a fancy cocktail at a frufru hotel or restaurant. It doesn’t need to be elaborate or expensive to be meaningful. I guarantee if you tell your special loved ones my gift to you this year is more time with ME, they will be very happy indeed!

May your December be overflowing with things to be grateful for, special moments to savor, and a whole lot of grace.

“If it’s both terrifying and amazing, then you should definitely pursue it” - erada 

Yesterday I completed my first two “blue water” dives in San Jose del Cabo with East Cape Explorers- open ocean, zero reference points other than the sunlight streaming down through the deep blue, and a max depth of 116 feet! We went in search of schooling scalloped hammerhead sharks as well as other large pelagic creatures. While we didn’t get a school, we did have the pleasure of watching one solo hammerhead swim by and a lovely, graceful manta ray swam with us for quite a bit of the dive. 
​
Now you might be thinking “wow that’s cool” or even “holy crap!” depending on your relationship with the open ocean…for me, it was a really big deal and required some master level inner life coaching and yoga skills. 

You see, before I met my partner, Andy, I had some pretty massive fear stories I’d created over my lifetime in relationship to the ocean. It was not a place I belonged and was teeming with big scary things just ready to eat me (thank you Jaws). I was convinced I would never ever in a million years try scuba because I’d feel claustrophobic and being that far under water would be terrifying. 

Well, about 4 years ago all that changed when I started taking on my self-limiting fear stories and reinventing my life. So when Andy convinced me to just give scuba a try on our first trip to the Riviera Maya, I said what the heck I’m in. 

And man oh man am I so very glad I did!! Immediately all of those fear stories dissipated when I discovered the peace, intense beauty, grace, and magic that exists under the sea. It opened my eyes and my mind to literally a whole new world that I am now so very much in love with.

BUT…taking on this new challenge of “blue water” diving really got up in my head this past week leading up to our dives yesterday! I literally had at least a week of waking up every night to fear stories swimming around in my brain and running amok. I’d wake up in the morning exhausted and convinced something was going to go wrong. 
​
Could I really control my descent? Would I feel stressed and unable to breathe at 100 feet? Would I be able to slowly ascend and not risk decompression sickness? Oh my little gremlins were having a major party. 

So what did I do? I sat with them. I talked to them. I reminded them that I was in charge. I used mantras to replace the thoughts. I practiced my breathing. And I shared my fears with Andy who gently but firmly reminded me that I am a great diver and totally ready to take on this new challenge. 
Then, as we began our first descent I TRUSTED and I SURRENDERED. I opened my eyes to the present moment and the mystery and magic around me. I focused on slow, peaceful breaths. I was simply present for what was. And it was truly amazing!

So my question for you today, my friend, I’d how much of life are you missing out on thanks to your fear stories? How much larger, more amazing, more beautiful, more fulfilling could your life be if you learned to surrender? 
Ready to explore life on the other side of fear? Let’s get on a coaching call and start to make some big magic happen for you!!

The Sunday Snack is BACK! As I sat down to write this newsletter for you I had a little “ah-ha” moment. It was that feeling in my gut that for so many years I’d ignored. That little voice saying, “You know what’s right for you, my friend” that I didn’t trust. The old me would get a gut feeling and then immediately start second guessing and overthinking it. She’d go ask 5 other people for their opinions because A) surely they knew better and B) making others happy was her main priority. 

What the older and wiser me has learned, though, is that by making myself happy and by living my truth I am a way more likable and lovable person! So the decision I made the other day was that I like The Sunday Snack. It speaks to me. I like the idea that each Sunday you get a little slice of positive goodness in your inbox that you can nibble on either right when it pops up or at your leisure during the week ahead. Sunday is both a day of rest and a time to prep for what’s on your plate the next few days. A perfect day for a little Sunday Snack news.

So what are we nibbling on today, you ask?

Well, I recently returned from 9 blissful days leading back-to-back Women’s Retreats on the Sea of Cortez in Mexico which got me thinking about why RETREATING is so very important for us to do. 
What is the difference between a Retreat and a vacation? I think of vacations as an escape from day to day life. They are about resting and relaxing, or adventure seeking depending on what you enjoy. While vacations are absolutely important and wonderful, typically you only come home with a souvenir or two, some great pictures and fond memories. Then back to “reality” you go. Picking up right where you left off.

A Retreat, on the other hand, is a PURPOSEFUL GETAWAY designed to immerse you in a transformational experience - this might include yoga, meditation, or even wine tasting or knitting if that’s your thing. The what isn’t as important as is the HOW and the INTENTION. 

To give you a little more insight, here’s short list of what you can expect on a Retreat:

• Retreats offer a full immersion into the practices being offered. It’s dedicated time to check out of daily life and check IN to yourself.
• They offer a greater level of CONNECTION with others. You spend time with others who have similar interests, issues, & goals which allows for deeper and more meaningful connections. 
• Retreats offer a healing and safe space which fosters growth.  Your retreat guide and other attendees are there to hold space for your growth. It’s a judgement-free zone where you can be vulnerable and feel protected.
• Often Retreats are held in nature where it is much easier to connect with yourself away from all of the normal distractions of life. Most retreats take place in beautiful settings near the ocean, in the countryside or up in the mountains.
• Retreats are fully planned for you - all you do is show up ready to immerse. How nice is it to not have to make any plans other than who is taking the kids to soccer practice or walking the dog? Just book a flight and you are done!
• Retreat leaders are experts in their field and offer specialized guidance. This is HUGE. Your retreat leader is sharing something they have spent their life working towards. They are there to share their knowledge and wisdom with you!
• And, most importantly, you have the opportunity to return home feeling a shift, a sense of change, growth, expansion, or letting go. You have new skills and tools that you can apply in your day-to-day life which helps you stay in touch with what you discovered during your time away!

Sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it?
​
Here are a few pics from my blissful time in the Bahia de los Sueños with two fantastic groups of women. Can you even handle those amazing shades of blue?!?!

Are you ready to RETREAT with me?
My next adventure for body, mind, & spirit is happening next July 2023 in BALI, Indonesia! This trip is open to men and women, couples, & singles seeking adventure, culture, self-connection, meaningful connections with others and a whole lot of BLISS in paradise. The trips is already over 1/2 full and is guaranteed to be sold out by the end of this year. I currently have 5 rooms left for either double or single occupancy. You can save yours today with a $300 deposit (next payment is due 1/15/23 and remaining balance due 5/1/23). To learn more about the trip, the amazing location, what’s included, as well as rooming and pricing options, use the link below:

As the CEO (and every other title holder) of Mary Baker Enterprises, or MBE, I wear A LOT of hats. This past weekend, and for the past few weeks, my primary hat has been in my role as nonprofit owner and executive while we prepped for and held a huge fundraising event Saturday night for 130 guests. In case you didn’t know, I co-run a local nonprofit called Be Well Therapy which specializes in Yoga for Cancer Recovery. Our event was a huge success and a whole lot of effort & energy which left me feeling a bit depleted the past few days.

And this week, I’m switching hats again. My focus for the next 3 weeks in on my upcoming Bay of Dreams Women’s Retreats I am hosting starting next Tuesday at a private residence south of La Paz on the Sea of Cortez. I’m holding back-to-back retreats for two groups of amazing women where they will be pampered for 5 days in paradise! My goal is for each of them to completely unwind, disconnect from the outside world, and reconnect with their true selves and each other. I want each of them to return home feeling different and ready to spread that new feeling into their everyday lives. So, I have a lot of prep to do in order to meet my goal!

What that means, my friend, is that I’ve decided to do just what I want my retreat participants to do. For the next 3 weeks I’m taking a little hiatus from social media, newsletters, and my other hats so I can focus on creating a truly magical experience for my guests. I’ll be back in early November and look forward to sharing about my trip with you when I return!
​
Perhaps it’s time for you to take a look at all those hats you are walking around in every day and decide to put down a few for at least a little while…your neck will thank you!

“Quietly Quitting” Have you heard of this recent phenomenon in our workplace culture? It was introduced on TikTok by a 20-something engineer named Zaid Khan who basically defined it as “not outright quitting your job, but you’re quitting the idea of going above and beyond…You’re still performing your duties, but you’re no longer subscribing to the hustle culture mentality that work has to be your life.” 

I heard this term lately from a client of mine and it really struck a chord with me. Why? Well, for a few reasons that I’ll touch on today. 

You see, as a Life Reinvention Coach, I’m all about helping my clients create a life that truly feels PASSIONATE and PURPOSEFUL. Basically a life they don’t feel the need to “quietly quit”. I want my clients to wake up every day feeling excited for what’s ahead. Feeling motivate to work towards their goals, immerse in a project, and truly enjoy the process of becoming an even better and more fulfilled version of themselves.

Perhaps a bit of my recoil is simply the choice of words. “Quietly quitting” sounds so passive and defeatist. It feels like giving up instead of standing up for what you know is right and what is best for you.

Now I get that there are a lot of jobs and bosses out there that will gladly suck the very life out of you if you let them. And I also totally understand that there are times of your life when you really truly just need a job, any old job to pay the bills. That’s just life. I’ve been there. I get it!

So, how about we call it “Setting Healthy Boundaries” instead?

Doesn’t that sound a whole heck of a lot more active and positive? What I know for certain is that this is an area that lots of people struggle with. Figuring out what is healthy for you and then standing up for yourself takes time and courage. It takes setting aside a whole lot of fear stories in order to do what’s best for YOU. 

It’s all about BALANCE, my friend. Healthy boundaries ensure that you are not giving too much of yourself and ending up feeling depleted, frustrated, unhappy, and like quitting (quietly or not so quietly…).

It’s also all about finding GRATITUDE for what you do have (even if you currently hate your job). Yes, I said that. And it is possible. You see, if you are starting each day with a mile long list of the things you don’t like about your job (your relationship, your life…whatever it is that isn’t going well), then your NEGATIVITY BIAS is waking up to a big unhealthy breakfast of self-perpetuating negativity. Not the recipe for a happy, successful day or life.

So, try this. Make a list of all the GOOD THINGS. It might simply be 1) I have a job, 2) I get a paycheck, 3) I am contributing to something…and so on. Even on the worst of days, you can wake up and find something to put on this list! And keep adding to it throughout the day. Purposefully look for the good.

AND, if you truly are not happy doing what you are doing, then start the process of finding something MORE - more satisfying, more purposeful, that you are passionate about!! Even if you feel stuck in the mud of life, there is a way out and it starts with YOU making a choice.

Do you see why “quietly quitting” just goes against everything I believe in and stand for? Don’t check out of life, my friend! You are here to grab life and squeeze every last drop of goodness out. You are here to make this world a little better. You deserve to wake up each and every day feeling grateful, truly alive, and excited for the next step ahead of you!
​
And I’m here to support you every step of the way!!

It's October 3rd, my friend…You now have 1/4 of 2022 left! That’s 3 months or 90 days. Don’t panic! That’s plenty of time to get back on track and crush another goal, create a new habit, or let go of an old one. What are you going to do with the rest of your 2022?

If you have one, take a look back at your Vision Board or revisit your plan you’d created for this year and see what’s still hanging that you haven’t had the time (or energy or motivation) for yet. 
If you didn’t start the year off with a plan, then MAKE ONE! 

Pick something that feels do-able and maybe a little bit of a challenge, too! Then grab yourself a piece of paper, poster board, or your computer and put that goal BIG AND BOLD right at the top.

Next, I want you to do a little brain dump of all the things you could do in the next few weeks to meet that goal. Small, achievable steps that you can take week by week. It’s good to do this just on a scrap of paper or a blank word document. Just get all the ideas out in no particular order.

Then, look over those ideas and pick the top 5 or so that you need to start with and add those to your official 2022 4th Quarter Plan.

Read it over and ask yourself how that feels. Does it look like a solid plan that you can stick with and not get overwhelmed? Does it meet the goal you are trying to accomplish? What needs to shift in your life to make it happen? Do you need to carve out more time? Do you need to ask a friend or your partner for help?
​
Or, perhaps, you’re ready to LIGHT A BIG FIRE and hire me as YOUR Life Coach! You see, I can pretty much guarantee you that by working with me you will not only crush that goal of yours, you’ll do it in record time! It’s been proven that you are 80% more likely to succeed when you have support and that’s exactly what a coach does. I’ll help you dial in on that goal, set weekly SMART goals, hold you accountable, cheer you on, and keep you on track to end this year and start your new year living your BEST LIFE!

Feeling a bit lack luster? Like you are just drifting through life like a leaf in the wind? You know you are unsatisfied with what you are currently doing, but don’t have clue what else is out there for you? Or maybe you just feel like something is MISSING…

OK! Great! No seriously, that’s great news because today I’m sharing with you my Top Three Coaching Questions for tapping into your Life’s Purpose. 

Grab your journal and a pen and jot these down:

• Think back to a time in your life when you were you MOST happy. What were you doing? You might have been a teenager, a young adult, or a bit older. This might be a hobby, a group you belonged to, a job, or something you experienced on a great trip.
• If you were to ask a close family member or your best friend (and I suggest really doing this!) what are your best character traits or “gifts” you have to offer to the world? This could be your sense of humor, your ability to organize things, your people skills, or your gentle nature with animals. We all have gifts!
• What really lights you up and makes you feel alive? 

Take some time to sit with them and when you feel ready, jot down some answers. But before you start to write, remind yourself that these are just for you. That means there is no RIGHT or WRONG answer. Instead of thinking what SHOULD I write, ask your heart “what feels right to me?” If nothing comes up at first, that’s alright. Give yourself a few days to process the questions. This is probably the first time in your life you’ve been asked this kind of stuff!

Now your answers at first might feel a bit random and unrelated to anything really “purposeful”. But the key is to figure out what you are passionate about and what your gifts are and THEN we can start to work some magic in the Life’s Purpose department. 
​
Ready to dive in and start adding a whole lot more Purpose and Passion to your daily life? I’m here for you! Let’s get on a Discovery Call and get you ready to live your best life!