A reflection of 2019

(Inspired by Leonie Dawson in 2018)

Every year I take time to reflect on the past year and create new intentions for the coming year.

I focus on growth from the past, contentment for the now, and intention for the future.

This is my reflection of 2019:

It was a hard year and a really good year. At the beginning of 2019 I was very clear on what I wanted personally. Business was more of a challenge. I chose the word FREEDOM because I really wanted freedom from the restricted thoughts that restrict me. 

I always have pictures on my computer to remind me of my intentions, this year I didn’t look at them as much which has me wondering if I need to do something different. I think I know what it is.

My main intentions for 2019 were to treat my body with extra care, host three retreats, go on a retreat, make $62K in my business, write a book, learn to sing and play guitar and knit and cacao, travel, intentional spending, acceptance, togetherness, and laughter and help a lot of people. Oh and re-design my bedroom, which didn’t happen AGAIN! This year it is going to happen, the vision has finally arrived. When the vision arrives, I know it’s close.

Looking back, I created a lot but not everything, I grew a ton, and I expanded immensely.

THE WORD FREEDOM

This word was remarkable. It didn’t actually work the way I thought. They never do. I thought I was going to gain freedom from the thoughts that keep my stuck in my life. The ones that tell me I am bad or wrong or not enough or should do more. You know those??? And it did but there was something else that showed up unexpectedly. 

The stories we tell ourselves are mostly NOT TRUE. Stories about things other people think or do.  What others’ intentions are or are not. 

I had a very deep and real conversation with my husband this year and I gained an INCREDIBLE amount of freedom. All the stories I was telling myself about our relationship, about him, disappeared. I spent the rest of the year relaxing into that and working on the freedom in that.  We tell SO many stories in our heads that are simply not true.

I learned to LOVE more and JUDGE less. I am so grateful for these growth lessons.

I also learned more about ENERGY then I every have before. It helped me to protect mine and read others at a deeper level.

TREAT MY BODY WITH EXTRA CARE

Well, this one was interesting because I always treat my body with extra care. So this one wasn’t so difficult. One thing that happened with this one that was totally unexpected but something I have desired for a really long time is…my husband began treating his body with extra care and we now meet at the gym 2x a week to workout together. It has been the such a gift. 

In 2020 we are UP-ing it to 3X.

I once read that those that workout together, stay together.

HOST THREE RETREATS

Yep, that happened. I actually lead 4.

In person work is my favorite work.

In Jan, I lead Winter Healing Journey, a day retreat in my home. It was my favorite way to begin 2019, sitting in circle with other women sharing our hopes and dreams and desires.

In July, I lead an intimate retreat in Mill Valley, CA. 5 women, invite only, all a part of my 6 month Sacred Communication program. It is always a deep experience to lead women in this way. It was incredible to see the women’s growth and the support they had for one another.

In September, I lead Yoga In The Trees in Soquel, CA at the Land Of Medicine Buddha. This one was totally unexpected. I have been wanting to host a retreat at LOMB for several years now and they sent me an email asking if I wanted a weekend in September (which I had desired for the past two years). I said, YES, with hesitation, booked it, and 16 humans joined me. It was the easiest and most aligned retreat I have ever lead.

Yoga In The Trees 2020 will be in May. (Wanna come?).

In October, I lead Autumn Healing Journey for the 3rd year in a row. This time it was in MA at The Hawthorn Farm. What a beautiful space! It was my favorite AHJ yet but it came with A LOT of challenges. I learned a lot about leading a growing team.

Autumn Healing Journey 2020 will be in October (Wanna come?).

Mill Valley

Autumn Healing Journey

Winter Healing Journey

GO ON A RETREAT

As soon as it came into my inbox I knew it was meant for me. Elayne Kalila lead the experience. It was another one of the greatest weekends of my life. They always are!  I became acutely aware that I am very much in my body and I love it a lot.  I also became aware of the fact that there is so much more work to do around LOVE.

MAKE $62K

I won’t know if I reached this goal until April, when I do my taxes. I have a feeling I got really close or may have even made more. I definitely want to keep better track. That’s next in 2020…

WRITE A BOOK

I thought I was going to write a book. I wrote 6 workbooks. (you can get one for free here) I thought I would turn them into a full book but I decided not to. At least not now. And then a dear friend of mine, who is leading a book collaborative called me up and said, “I really want you to be a part of this book, will you?”  I said “yes”, and wallah, I just finished writing my chapter. I never saw that coming!  Stay tuned…I will be a published author in 2020.

HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE

This is on my intention list every year. My work is helping people.

• I was in close contact with 17 clients; they were my main focus for the year.

• I lead 40 humans through deep in-person weekends.

• I coached my first partnership and am currently coaching my first male besides my husband and children, ha!

• I taught many yoga classes including my kids classrooms.

• I lead the Choose Love program for the parents at our local school.

• Give One Dollar A Day raised thousands of dollars and we helped a lot of families. Wanna Donate?

It was a successful year in business. I don’t know my exact numbers but I know I it was a success.

LEARN TO PLAY GUITAR AND SING AND KNIT AND CACAO

I definitely learned to sing. I hired my beloved singing coach, Stevie Greenwell after meeting her at a retreat. It’s been 10 months and I’m still going strong. I wrote my own song, sang at a family event, lead Christmas Caroling, and sang at all my retreats. I didn’t even pick up a guitar, that might be next, but I did pick up a drum. I didn’t learn to knit but I learned to Macrame and I knitted a chunky blanket. I sat with cacao for 3 months every morning this summer, I sure love that medicine.

TRAVEL

I didn’t travel to as many places this year as in past years. We did however go to Mexico with our entire family for a week. That was a total blast. And I ran into two of my favorite humans on the beach. Since buying our cabin in the woods, we had to cut back on travel. We went to our cabin most weekends.  My boys and I spent a month there this summer. It was the best summer ever. I cried when I got home. For two days, I cried. I wanted to go back to the mountains. I love the mountains, the cold lake water, the slowness, all of it.

MORE SISTERHOOD

I have beautiful sisterhood in my life. It has taken time to create it and I am so grateful for my persistence. This year, I created a New Moon Circle in my community. 6 women meeting every month on the New Moon sharing our desires and our truth. I have wanted to create this for three years and wallah it’s here. This intention setting really works.

INTENTIONAL SPENDING

Money intentions are always a thing for me. I definitely intentionally spent money. And I definitely did not. One of my intentions was to have a “no shopping policy”. I am not sure what my true intention was with that one. I definitely shopped less this year so I guess it worked but I am definitely going to be more clear about my intention with money in 2020. When it comes to money, I did something huge this year. I separated my business money from my personal. This was a huge accomplishment. I have had my own business for 15 years and I have never separated my accounts (duh!). I cannot wait to see what I do in 2020.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

I celebrated my 25th Kissaversary (read more about it here). I spent a lot of time with my boys. I had a Wild Woman photo shoot. I developed a new yoga program, Go Deeper - The Yamas + The Niyamas. I launched my group program, Sacred Communication for the 3rd time. I decided to let my hair go fully grey. I stayed at a beautiful beach house with my girlfriends. I hired my support superwoman, Christle. I re-designed my website. I received my 200-hour yoga certification after teaching for over 20 years.

RECHARGING FOR THE FUTURE

When looking at my intentions for the coming year, I go with what is calling to me. I don’t get caught up in how it will happen or if it will happen. I don’t prioritize one over the other. If it aligns, it will show up in my life easily. It always does. If it doesn’t align, it waits until another time or it may not happen at all. I put it out there and then I sit back and practice presence. If I live in the future for too much time, I loose myself. (I wrote this last year and it is still true)

WHAT AM I CREATING in 2020?

I have been meditating on this for the past 10 days. Asking the Universe, what would you have me do? What would you have me create? How can I be of highest service? As I reflected on 2019, I realized that everything I created, while beautiful and wonderful, felt a little flat. Like there is something so much more out there, meant for me. I have decided this year to ask for universal support. I desire co-creation. Collaboration.

So…I AM BRAVE ENOUGH TO… is my theme for 2020. I am brave enough to allow universal support to flood my cells until I expand beyond what I know is possible.

I am brave enough to keep a journal. Meditate daily with light sourcing and prayer and breath. Asana. (my spiritual practices are important)

I am brave enough to move my body outside and build strength (I desire more strength this year, in my heart and I desire to do it outside with the trees)

I am brave enough to lead retreats in COLLABORATION with other amazing sister leaders (because co-creation)

I am brave enough to collaborate with other thought leaders (I desire more collaboration please)

I am brave enough to makeover my bedroom (It is happening this year, I have the vision)

I am brave enough to visit many sacred sites (or go on my own pilgrimage, by myself)

I am brave enough to go on a retreat with Dax (because we have never done that before)

I am brave enough to help a group of underprivileged kids (a project of some sort, maybe part of my own pilgrimage)

I am brave enough to sing (always)

I am brave enough to study and teach feminine and masculine energies (on a much deeper level)

I am brave enough to begin a podcast with my dear friend, Jenny Tosner (Yep)

I am brave enough to deepen into and beyond what I can imagine is even possible, let go of any fear, listen closely, let go of all the things no longer serving me with ease and grace, serve all the people with bravery, strength, and a humble spirit, and simply BE BRAVE. (wow, yep, that)

I am brave enough to structure and streamline my business and my money (it is necessary)

I am brave enough to learn about MONEY and build wealth (double my income)

What do YOU want to create in 2020?

Thank you for your witness…

With Love, Shauna

This work is so important

This work is so important.

What do I mean by that?

I mean the work of looking inside ourselves to see the ways we are harming ourselves and others.

I mean the work of looking at our thoughts and actions and words and continuing to clear and clean them so they are of high integrity.

We have the PRIVILEGE of doing this work.

So we must do it for the collective.

This work is so important.

Our excuses for not doing it are...

I don't have enough money
I don't have enough time.
I am too tired.
I have something else to do that is more important.
Someone else will do it.

THESE ARE ALL EXCUSES.

These are all the ways we tell ourselves we cannot do it.

But the truth is, it's hard work and that is why we don't want to do it.

Because it's emotional to look inside ourselves and see the ways we harm ourselves and others.

Because it is emotional to look inside and see our own shame.

It is f#$%ing hard.

We seek connection but we aren't willing to see the ways we disconnect.
We want to be less overwhelmed but we aren't willing to make the choices to slow down.
We want a more just world but we aren't willing to see where we are unjust.
We want better education for our children but we aren't willing to speak up for it.
We want to save our planet from destruction but we aren't willing to look at the ways we destroy it.
We want equality for all but we aren't willing to look at the ways we are racist.

We seek, we want, we imagine, but we aren't willing to do the work.

We want someone else to do it for us.

There is nobody that will do it for us.

We must do it.

With love and devotion,

Shauna

A new awareness is arising within...

The overall state of humanity is unwell. Everything we have known is breaking down and we are in a time of uncertainty and fear.

I (we) cannot be completely well and happy and cared for if the majority of people are not well and happy and cared for.

I (we) cannot be completely well and happy and cared for if our earth is not well and cared for.

It just isn't possible.

It isn't just about I, it's about we.

"Just do we" instead of "Just do you"
"Share our gifts" instead of "Share your gifts"
"All-care" instead of "Self-care"
"Working together" instead of "Working on yourself"

This is what I am feeling. Can you feel how the change in words shifts your focus, your awareness?

"Just do we" means do what you came on this earth to do alongside everyone else. "Share our gifts" means share your gifts alongside everyone else.

All-care means making choices that affect all people not just the self.

Working together means helping each other to heal.

All of it means, accepting who you are in it's complete fullness and joining together with others to be a part of our changing world.

It's collaborative and in a system that has been built on oppression, this is what we need to survive.

I believe we are ALL here on this earth at this time to be a part of this collaboration.

To be a part of this change toward the overall happiness of humanity.

I have become aware of my part.

For me, I am a bridge. I work in the worlds of shadow and light. Of suffering and freedom, of pain and joy. I live in the middle and I am meant to be there. I feel everything.

I feel the pain of the homeless person or the ill person or the person who is mentally unwell.

I feel the pain of the dying systems and the joy of new systems being created.

I feel the suffering of all of humanity.

And I came here to feel it and to assist in alchemizing it.

I came here to pray for the healing of the world and to assist in acting within that prayer.

It has taken some time to unravel this.

At a very young age, I felt what everyone else felt in a big way.

And I made it wrong and created a shield. Because in a world where feeling is simply not okay and has been made wrong, it was unsafe to feel.

I shielded it for a long time and I became unwell.

Now I know it is not a bad thing and that I don't have to shield it.

I still sometimes wish I was different and that I didn't feel so much but I know that is just fear sneaking in to say that I am not okay and that I need to do more or be more or be different than I am.

I know that I am safe to feel.

To feel everything is such a big job but I am not alone. There are many others and they are doing the same work.

If you are here and still reading, you are part of this too. You may do it differently. We all do it slightly different. But we have been called to come together and to share are unique gifts as a "we" culture.

I now know that it is less important to focus on "working on myself" and much more important to focus on working together.

I now know that I am not the focus anymore, humanity is.

I now know that enlightenment for myself is no longer the goal.

Enlightenment for ALL is the goal.

The focus is on everyone as a whole.

I have always known it, I just forgot. And maybe I needed to forget to gain the strength and the contentment within myself to become a part of the bigger work.

That's probably true.

And so I sit here today with this new awareness and I need time to let it really sink in. Because it feels like a lot. When new awareness comes in, it takes time to integrate it. It cannot be rushed. I have learned that.

Writing this is already helping.

So thank you for being a part of this journey, this journey of the whole, of the "we".

Thank you for witnessing me as I witness you.

With love, Shauna

A great big celebration

Last night was a great big celebration.

I completed a 200 hour Yoga Alliance Certification.

It has been a 20 year journey of thousands of hours of teaching and studying and practicing.

And never really being recognized with a piece of paper of completion.

I know. I know. It seems unimportant. And in many ways it is. Because a paper of completion doesn’t equal the value a teacher brings.

But when you aren’t able to teach teachers or teach at conferences (amongst other things) because you aren’t technically certified by the people who are controlling it, it f@#$-ing matters.

When those that don’t know you and have never experienced your teaching ask you for your certification and you have to say, technically I don’t have one because Yoga Alliance didn’t exist when I began my studies. And so my hours come from all over the place, with many teachers, it f@#$-ing matters.

I cried last night because I felt seen for my work.

I cried last night because the yoga path has been hard and challenging and also incredibly beautiful and I felt honored in that.

I cried last night because not only did I earn my 200 hour certification but I was recognized for my 15+ years of teaching at Downtown Yoga.

I cried last night because I am so f@#$-ing happy.

(Special thank you to Bhavya and Veena for dressing me in a Saree and to Kate and Jim for celebrating me and to the entire 2019 class for being amazing humans.)

the journey toward creating a life you want

I find myself talking about the same things to all of my clients.  

I hear words like busy, overwhelmed, disconnected, unsatisfied, unhappy, anxious, and depressed. 

It had me thinking how everyone is struggling with the same things.

Which also has me thinking that we are all connected in a web of thoughts.

Which also has me thinking that if you want to change parts of your life you have to work at it.

It doesn't just happen overnight. You have to work at it.

I always reflect to my clients things I hear them saying and the response is...Sooooo what do I do now?

And I say, I don't know, you tell me.  What do you want to do after hearing what I have said?

Or I say, sit with it. Think about it. And then decide what you want to do. You don't need to know it all right now.  Give yourself time.

The process of change is messy and uncomfortable and you won't always know all the answers. You aren't supposed to know it all.

In fact, the not-knowing is the creative part. It's the part that is fun.

• Creating new thought patterns.

• Taking new actions.

• Communicating in a new way.

• Painting a new picture of your life.

• Using your time differently.

This is creative. 

The journey toward creating more of what you want in your life, whether it be more time with your kids, a deeper connection with your partner, more money, a more peaceful presence is really creative and that is what makes life and change fun and exciting. 

Creation is how we play with life. 

The actual manifestation or physical experience or the outcome is satisfying but it's not as fun as the process.

Also, I hear the same desire from all of my clients...

>>>  You WANT a healthy relationship with life  <<<

It is what we all want.

Most of us don't know how to do that because we want a script but it's different for everyone.

The part that's the same is, things have to change.  You have to change.  And you have to work at it. 

And its messy and courageous and beautiful and uncomfortable.

And it creates happiness.

Congratulations, if you read this all the way through, you desire change. You desire creativity. You desire to play with life. You desire happiness.

You are ready. You are already doing it.

I don't know you tell me

Okay…so now, tell me, what should I do?
 
I need homework, can you give me homework?
 
So what do I do with that information?
 
So how do I change that thing that I do?  Preferably, can you give me the quick route?
 
So what book or spiritual teacher or podcast or retreat will save me?
 
I read this one book and it said that my back is hurting because of this specific trauma in my childhood, is that true?

(Questions from people I talk to)
 
My answer to all of these questions is I don’t know, you tell me? 

I am not a guru of your life, I am a guru of my own. And only of my own.

I cannot tell you how to live, what step by step process will save you, what book will change you, what homework will transform you.
 
I am a guide, simply a guide to help you understand what you want to do to save yourself, fix yourself, see yourself as already whole, transform, be more authentic, be more peaceful, whatever it is YOU are after. 
 
I cannot decide what you need or want. That is not for me to decide.
 
I can help you see more of what is true inside of you.

I can help you become aware of things you may not see just yet.

I can help you listen to more of what you are saying.

I can help you see your responsibility within your life.

I can help you get clear on what you want. 

I can help you use your OWN life experiences to be more of what you want.
 
And I can show you mine as a mere reflection of your own.
 
We are all unique, our life is unique, our growth is unique, our experiences our unique, our perspectives are unique, and what we want is unique.
 
We are not the same. 

And so it is impossible to have a step-by-step process or a book or a system that solves all of our problems. Nope, not going to happen. 
 
And yet as a society we have done just that. One hair shampoo that will make every woman’s hair shine, one money system that everyone will benefit from, I could go on and on and on. And so we are looking for that.  

One system, one quick fix, the one thing that will save us from our own knowing, our own voice.
 
And so those questions I asked above, those are the questions we ask because we are looking outside of ourselves for the answers.
 
Our answers lie within. Our power is within.
 
Every single time someone asks me one of those questions, I say I don’t know, you tell me? 

I can tell you what I do or what my experience is and I am happy to do that. But it is not yours. It is a mere reflection.  So take it as that and allow yourself to see yourself through me, not as me. 
 
We are not one from the perspective of, we are all the same. We are not.
 
We are one because we were all born and we will all die and we are all human (at least I think). These are the only things we have 100% in common.   
 
When we begin to see each other as different and when we begin to honor and respect our differences and our life experiences, when we stop judging and blaming and deciding that you are wrong and I am right or I am right and you are wrong, things might change.

Sent With a Whole Lotta Love and Fierceness.

The real reason you think I am busy

When I was younger, other people used to tell me they thought I was a bitch before they actually spoke to me.
 
(The truth is that I was shy and I didn’t talk a lot).

I used to get told to smile because I looked unhappy.
 
(The truth is that I am a focused person. I am very present and it can look serious.)
 
I don’t get “you are a bitch” or “smile” anymore, probably because I talk and smile more.
 
Now I get…you are so busy. I never get to talk to you. I don’t get to see you. Can we get together, if you aren’t too busy…of course?
 
The thing is, I am not busy, just like I was never a bitch and I was not unhappy because I wasn’t smiling all the time.
 
My life is full but I don’t feel busy in my life. I feel focused and present and I have a lot of boundaries. I might be the least busy person I know.
 
I know a lot of people who are really busy. I know people who do something every moment of the day.  I know people who do not create space in their lives to sit in silence and do nothing. I know busy, I see busy.

That is not me. Anyone who has really spent time with me knows that I am slow, spacious, and connected. Most of the time.

And I continue to create and choose that life for myself.
 
I nurture two businesses, two homes, two kids, my partnership and most importantly myself. These are the most important things in my life. I am not apologetic about that because these are the things that create a happy life for me.
 
What I see for most people, especially women, is that they are not taking care of or nurturing the most important parts of their lives (in balance).
 
I see women taking care of their children and not themselves.

I see women feeling guilty about leaving their family to take a night to themselves.

I see women focusing on their children and forgetting about their relationship.

I see women in jobs that don’t make them happy at all.

And I see them continuing to do the same thing in the same way, making the same choices and then feeling busy and overwhelmed.

I see this because I talk to women all day, all the time.

It’s my work (and by the way I LOVE my work).

It is time to S L O W way down. It is time to stop and listen to yourself, to others, to what your busy life is trying to show you.

When I hear the word busy, I hear this.

WARNING: This may feel uncomfortable but the truth is not always comfortable. 

It isn’t your life or the demands of your life. It isn’t your work or your kids or your husband or the sports or whatever. It is your choice and it is how you are showing up in your life.

YOU are BUSY, not me.

When you stop and listen and look at your life. When you look at why you are busy you may find lots of uncomfortable feelings. 

Most of us don’t want to be uncomfortable so we keep ourselves busy to avoid it.

If you stop though, if you truly stop and ask yourself why you are busy you are going to find these things. This is what is true in all of that busyness and this is what you are avoiding.

• You desire help and instead of asking for help you continue to keep yourself busy proving to yourself that nobody cares to help you.

• You need real life human connection in your life and instead of making time to deeply connect, you keep yourself busy proving to yourself that nobody reaches out to you to connect because they are too busy.

• You want to connect with every part of your life. You want to be present in it and instead of stopping and looking around, you are looking outside of it finding things to keep you busy so that you can prove to yourself that you are just too busy to be in it.

• You want to spend your time on the things/ in the relationships that are most important to you but you say yes to things that are not and then you prove to yourself that you don’t have time to do the things that are most important to you.

This is what I see in the experience of busy. Because if you truly loved your life, if you felt cared for, connected, and had the help you desired, you wouldn’t feel busy at all, you would be enjoying every full moment. (Unless there is a challenge of course and then that’s just hard.)

Sent With a Whole Lotta Love and Fierceness.

Shauna

A reflection of 2018

(Inspired by Leonie Dawson)

Every year I take time to reflect on the past year and create new “goals” for the coming year. I don’t love the word goals because if I don’t achieve them I feel bad. So I like to look at them as intentions instead.

At the beginning of 2018 I wasn’t so sure what I wanted to do. I sort of wanted to fly away, which is why my word for the year was ASTRAL.

I always have pictures on my computer to remind me what my intentions are, so I had those and they helped me feel somewhat grounded.

My main intentions were to buy a cabin in the woods, host two retreats, go on a retreat, create more intimacy with my husband and laugh with my kids as much as possible, and help a lot of people. Oh and re-design my bedroom, which didn’t happen.

Looking back I accomplished everything except re-designing my bedroom. Maybe wanting to fly away was a good start.

The Word Astral

This word did nothing for me. Really. I paid no attention to it. I think I wanted something extraordinary to happen from choosing astral. And at the same time I didn’t want to choose a theme word for the year because my word for 2017 put me in the washing machine and spun me around. I wanted an easier year. I wanted to do what I wanted when I wanted. I didn’t want to focus on personal growth, although I did it anyway because my brain is wired that way.

I didn’t fly away but my stepdad did. And it was the hardest death I have ever grieved. THE HARDEST. And I learned the most.

There is nothing harder than losing someone you love. Nothing harder.

The Cabin In The Woods

When I was 23 I wrote in my journal that I wanted to marry my husband and live in the woods in Tahoe. I am 41 and we did it! We didn’t move; we compromised and bought a vacation home. It was a great idea.

I love the trees, they always make me feel grounded and “like” myself. Living in the Bay Area makes me feel depressed and anxious sometimes. I don’t really like it but there are reasons why it is good for us to stay there.

So now I have a place in the trees to retreat to. Thank goodness for that.

Next up, beach house….

Host Two Retreats

Yep, that happened. Business was really good this year. I hosted a retreat in Mill Valley, which is one of my favorite little towns in CA. It was an intimate retreat with 7 women, all of them part of my 6 month transformation program. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

My other retreat was in Occidental, CA, another one of my favorite little towns in CA. It was at The Lotus Feed and it was beautiful and fulfilling.

Going On a Retreat

I woke up one morning and myself told myself that I was going to Ireland on a retreat. SAY WHAT? I have never felt the urge to go to Ireland and I would be away from my family for 12 days. Becca Piastrelli lead the retreat and well, I love her to pieces. And so I listened to myself and I went. It was another one of the greatest experiences of my life. I missed my family after 5 days and I wanted to go home badly but I stayed and met some of the greatest women and learned more about myself in 12 days than I did in one year. And I participated in the Bealtine Festival at the belly button of Ireland. We called in the balance of Masculine and Feminine energy. It was brilliant.

Intimacy With My Husband

We went on a dinner date once per week; we have been doing that since we married, 11 years ago. He is my greatest teacher of acceptance and love and always has been. And he will continue to be so, no doubt.

Last week I realized I might be a little bit possessive over him. I like him all to myself. I don’t like to share him.

My favorite getaway was Pacifica, CA. We stayed in a little cottage over the ocean. I took a bath outside which is one of my favorite things to do.

Laughing With My Kids

I have created a life where I can spend as much time with my kids as possible. I take them to school every morning and pick them up most afternoons. Last year was the last year I will walk them into school. My oldest is 11 and he isn’t interested in having me walk him to his classroom. That’s cool, he is growing up. And so my youngest, well he goes along with his older brother.

My favorite vacation was our National Parks Road Trip. Zion, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone. So much beauty on this earth. So much connection with each other.

We laughed a lot. And we cried a lot too.

Help As Many People As Possible

That happened. My work is helping people. I was in close contact with 13 clients,; they were my main focus for the year. I taught many yoga classes including my kids classrooms, Give One Dollar A Day raised thousands of dollars and we helped a lot of families.

It was a successful year in business. I don’t know my exact numbers but I know I doubled my income from last year.

Try New Things, Meet New People

I tried making leather shoes and leather earrings. I had pure cacao in ceremony for the first time. Since then, I have sat in three ceremonies and don’t plan on stopping. I love the medicine. I met three new really good friends and so many other really cool people. I made a macramé and beaded wall hanging. I recorded a new video for my website. I tried new restaurants. I made body products and incense. What else? I am sure there is more but that is all I can think of right now.

Sisterhood

It was my favorite year in Sisterhood. Lots of ceremonies and sister circle time. Lots of learning about how to be in circle, how to lead circle and how to honor everything, from the stars, to the moon, to the trees, to the earth, to the woman sitting next to me. Lots of love sent my way. Lots of support and celebrations, lots of crying and healing. I live for connection. I love deep meaningful conversations. I love real authentic communication. That all happened in sisterhood.

Recharging For The Future

When looking at my intentions for the coming year, I go with what is calling to me. I don’t get caught up in how it will happen or if it will happen. I don’t prioritize one over the other. If it aligns, it will show up in my life easily. It always does. If it doesn’t align, it waits until another time or it may not happen at all. I put it out there and then I sit back and practice presence. For if I live in the future for to much time, I loose myself.

What is on the desktop for 2019? (Or what am I creating)

FREEDOM from the negativity in my mind (keep the mind clear)

Treating my body with extra care as I grow older (always important)

A retreat in Mexico, Mill Valley, and Massachusetts (I am coming your way East Coast)

A bedroom makeover (maybe it will happen this year)

No shopping policy (this one is going to be a challenge, I think)

Acceptance and Togetherness and Laughter (always)

Japan or Portugal or Spain or Peru or Kenya or Bali (because travel)

Knitting, guitar, cacao, and singing lessons (because I have wanted to learn these things for most of my life)

Intentional spending and money re-organization (this is a must)

Upgrade Business Systems (Yep)

Net Income of $62,000 (money intentions)

A book (because I am already writing one)

What do YOU want to create in 2019?

With Love, Shauna

On investing in yourself

I met my first yoga teacher in an apartment upstairs from mine.  She was visiting her daughter and I happen to walk upstairs to see my friend, her daughter. It was a universal moment in time, one I will never forget. She was quiet and simple and I was intrigued. Soon after meeting her, I asked if I could attend her yoga class.

I remember the exact day I went to that first class.  Isn’t it so cool how there are moments in our lives that shape us and we remember them.

I was hesitant and excited. As I drove up, my friend was waiting outside of our apartment building. I guess I was a little bit late. I ran inside, changed and we were on our way.

Her studio was in her home. It was bright and clean and there were mats and blocks and blankets and ropes.  I was curious and nervous.

We began in Virasana (bent leg seated pose) and we chanted the Invocation to Pantajali.  We went through pose after pose taking child’s pose in between.

On that day, while resting in Child’s pose, I fell in love with the practice of yoga.

After class, I walked up to her and asked how to sign up. She smiled and graciously offered me a free month of yoga.  That free month of yoga began my journey into myself.

And it was the first time I decided to invest in my own well-being. I invested time and money. I was 20.

Even though I didn’t have extra money to spend on myself, I deeply knew that investing in my own well-being was extremely important.  I went from working 3 days a week to working 5 days a week while studying engineering full time. I worked in a restaurant and on my days off I studied engineering and yoga.

I invested in every single workshop and every single teacher’s training that she offered. 

Over the past 21 years I have continued to invest in myself. I have continued to invest in therapy, workshops, retreats, events, coaching, and trainings. There is not one year that has gone by that I have not put aside and spent money on my own well-being.  It is in my budget, right alongside food and shelter. Instead of buying a fancy ring or nice shoes, I spend money on getting to know myself better.

(Oh I do like nice jeans though, so there is that.)

My point is, it’s an investment and it should be.

Because it helps us commit to doing the work. When we have to pay for something, we commit to it.  If it doesn’t hold value, we don’t take it seriously.

It is like the difference between a ring from a vending machine and a ring from a fancy jewelry store. One we will throw away, the other, we will give to our daughters and to their daughters.

Ultimately the only different is cost. Someone said that diamonds and gold have value and plastic does not. And we believed them.

And so money has value and how much we pay matters.

But when it comes to investing in ourselves, we don’t feel it has value and so we don’t pay for it.

We have been told is important to spend money on things.  More things, bigger things. Media does a really good job of selling us on THINGS.

What we haven’t been told is that true happiness comes from…

• connecting with ourselves and with others

• learning communication and compassion and empathy and resilience and trust and gratitude and emotional intelligence and receiving

• getting to know ourselves and trusting that we belong just as we are

We learn about “true happiness” from people who have spent time studying it. Therapists, spiritual teachers, yoga teachers, healers, energy workers, coaches, elders…. They teach us.

And that means we must invest in their teachings. 

There are people that have little money and I understand that. I was a college student with very little money and I still found a way to invest in myself. It was a lot of money for me at that time but I did it anyway. There is a varying range of cost of well-being practices and practitioners. Any investment is better than none at all.

Find the healers you want to learn from and invest in their teachings, you will be forever grateful. I promise.

I am forever grateful to all my teachers and mentors and I look forward to learning from many more.

do you know what you truly want

Close your eyes, take a deep breath and answer this question.

What do you REALLY want?

Don’t just read my words, do it.

In fact, find the courage to reply to this email with your answer. (I am happy to witness you ALWAYS)

I use the word courage because it takes courage to answer the question “What do you really want?” and to be witnessed in your answer.

What is true about this question is:

• Some of you don’t have an answer. You truly don’t know what you want.

• Some of you, think you can answer, but when you get really truthful with yourself, you cannot.

• Some of you know but you are afraid to tell other humans… maybe your close friends, your family, or an acquaintance.

What is also true is that it’s an important question to be able to answer. And it’s important to be witnessed.

You may be wondering why it’s important to speak out loud and be witnessed. It is important to speak everything out loud.  And not in a walk into a room and tell everyone kind of way.

But in a…this is who I am, kind of way.

For most of us, we are overwhelmed, busy, and trying to get by.

THIS IS NOT A WAY TO LIVE. 

And it is not how humans are intended to live.

There is a lot coming at us. TV, computer screens, Social Media…screens, screens, screens. It’s too much.

And it is not natural for humans and so we have lost the ability to slow down and be in our lives. We have lost the ability to answer simple questions such as.

How are you really feeling?
What is most important to you?
What do you really want?
What do you need to let go of?

We have to stop and take time to sit with ourselves.  To sit with each other. To ask these questions and to listen to the answers. For ourselves and for each other.

This is my work. This is what I do. This is what heals. 

On January 6th, I am leading a journey with 8 women to answer these questions. To go deep into what it is that we truly want.

Because when you slow down and take time to ask for what you want and learn to harness the energy of receiving, you live a the way you intended to live. And you experience true happiness, more than you ever thought possible.

And also, you become a part of creating a better world for yourself and for each other, but more importantly for all the people who will come after you.

There is still space available.

Click here to sign up.

Day: Sunday, January 6th, 2019
Time: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm

To sign up click here.