The short answer, who cares. The long answer ...

I was talking to my coach a couple of weeks ago and I said something like "I want to impact the world in a way that we all fundamentally get that we are loved. I see a world with more love". Then I immediately followed that with, "But there is not a chance in hell I am going to walk around pronouncing that to everyone." 

In conversations with myself (c'mon I know you do it too), clients, and other humans walking this planet - I witness how we all have something about ourselves we like to criticize and beat up on. Today's video has a quick tip on being with that part of you.

I've been thinking lately about our culture of being busy or not taking a vacation as a badge of honor. Its as if by saying "hey, I am going to take a few days off" we suddenly must not have that much going on to begin with. I have it that it is actually a detriment to ourselves and those around us to not take time to really unplug. This week's blog (ahem, vlog) highlights the importance of recharging.

Until a few of years ago, I equated femininity with weakness. That to be seen as strong, capable, and equal I had to tone down my femininity. I was always careful to not dress too "girly" (which given my love of polka dots was a real buzz kill). I didn't curl my hair or feel comfortable wearing lipstick. I didn't dare show any of my heart. I worked in the male dominated field of IT and was always quick to show that I could hang with the best of them. I was so worried that if I was too feminine I wouldn't be seen as professional or be taken seriously. 

Be Courageous. Be Seen. Be Free. When I think about what The Badassery Project ™ message truly is, this is what comes to mind. The courage to be truly seen so that we can experience the freedom that comes from being who we are in this world. Under the idea of being free or freedom we often site things like religious freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of choice, and so on. What it seems we often forget about though is the freedom that comes from being ourselves.

"You are not an ostrich get your head out of the sand", is a reminder I have been telling myself lately. Before we dig into that though, I want to be fair to the Ostrich. According to National Geographic, Ostriches do not actually bury their head in the sand. They dig holes to put their eggs in and several times a day roll the eggs. This gives the appearance that their head is in the sand. Mind blown.

Yes. You read that correctly. Zombie woman walking. I'm not pointing to the psychotic need to chew on humans that Zombie's are known for. I am pointing to the mindless existence from one thing to the next. Do you ever arrive somewhere and have little memory of getting there? Or have a whole day go by and can't remember what all you got done that day?

As a professional coach I am immersed in the world of uncovering what we make things mean. I spend a lot of time with my clients looking at the stories they have about themselves and their life. In having my own coach, I also look at the stories that I have about my life, self and the world. For most of us, our stories feel like truth and fact. Yet, the majority of the time, the story is what we make up about an event, person, or comment.

Do you spend a lot of time daydreaming about what you want? I do. Whether it be big, long term dreams or random one-off things my brain is filled with wants and goals. I am a big advocate of balancing being grateful for what you have with allowing yourself to want and create a life you love. It is not enough to want something or to write goals down though. We can want something all day long, yet it is what we are willing to do and be that brings the want to reality. 

Welcome to 2016. I ended my year with some sweet-ass self-acknowledgement and then proceeded to feel like I came into the new year like a wrecking ball. And yes, I am totally channeling Miley right now. Feel free to sing along. " I came in like a wrecking ball".

I write to you from the mountains of eastern Pennsylvania where I am hanging out with family in my child-hood home. It is very quiet here. My cell phone does not get reception. There is no car traffic. No neighbors right next door. All this quiet allows for a lot of reflection. With the year winding down my brain wanders around the happenings of 2015. With-out a course re-direct my go-to state would be to begin listing out all the things I didn't do or what could have been done better. 

Is there a part of you that you often wish would change or was different? If you could just fix it, all would be well or easier. What if instead of trying to change it we owned it? For the love of all things badass, accept yourself as you are. I am certainly working on it. Care to join me? 

Last week I was strolling through the Museum of Man and was randomly inspired by a Monsters exhibit. It was a reminder that inspiration really can happen anywhere. The video includes challenge 8 and crows in the background for unplanned special effects. Krakens, crows, and mental monsters, oh my!