After I received the email below, I’m not sure where it originated, but after reading it I did feel a sigh of relief and overcome with a peaceful feeling. Since COVID-19 began, the three of us have had many conversations, walks, movie watching, dog washing, cooking lessons, cleaning and sitting in moments of silence; all of these small moments feel joyful and bring tears to my eyes. Like many of you, I find myself thinking, oh God, when will it end, while at the same time thinking, please don’t let it end… meaning, please don’t let us all go back to the way it was. The outpouring of love and kindness, honoring the real everyday heroes and the feeling of community all fill my heart. I have a new-found respect for all the grocers, truck drivers, teachers, our healthcare workers and so many others who suit up and show up every day. I see photos of dolphins swimming in the canals in Venice Italy, deer exploring the streets of Michigan and now we have crisp clean air. How can we really learn to simply yet remain fruitful in this new world?

As a parent, I ask myself what the future will look like for our son and his family…for all these kids. I know we’ll never have this much isolated time with our boy and each other again for the rest of our lives, but for now, we are just grateful to be healthy and together, most of all, we are grateful to realize how our son is teaching us. You know the quote “When the student is ready the teacher appears?” Wear are all students right now and I’m learning lessons I’ll never forget.

Kids of today’s world.

What If?

What if instead of falling "behind," this group of kids are ADVANCED because of this?

What if they have more empathy, they enjoy family connection, they can be more creative and entertain themselves, they love to read, they love to express themselves in writing?

What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own backyard and sitting near a window in the quiet?

What if they notice the birds and the dates the different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower?

What if this generation are the ones to learn to cook, organize their space, do their laundry, and keep a well-run home?

What if they learn to stretch a dollar and to live with less?

What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home?

What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the everyday? ️

What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and educational professionals, librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, cashiers, custodians, logistics, and health care workers and their supporting staff, just to name a few of the millions taking care of us right now while we are sheltered in place?

What if among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in this life?

What if they are AHEAD?

What if??

Stay safe, stay healthy, we must believe there is something better for us all.

Thank you,

xo, Janet

Ways To Give Back

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. How do you begin your morning? Do you instantly look at your phone, check your e-mail... maybe look at Instagram? Or do you take a moment to be grateful, sit in silence and read a little positive material before you walk outside and take on the day? It only takes a few minutes each morning to start off on the right track and create your positive energy field. I'd like to share a few of my favorite spiritual reads that can open your heart, inspire you to be the best you can be, help you focus, and laugh along the way. When you dwell in an energy of positivity and power you become a magnet for miracles. Aren't you worth it?

As much as I can't wait to escape with Netflix, I also look forward to sitting with a good inspirational book and becoming motivated to live this amazing life we've all been given. How great is it when you discover books that make you feel like it's speaking right at you! Inspirational books or self-help books can open up a world of possibilities and offer great tools for navigating in our busy world today.

Here are 10 benefits of reading:

1: Mental Stimulation - Keeping your brain active and engaged prevents it from losing power. 2: Stress Reduction - While engaged in reading material you enjoy you're distracted from stress and it keeps you in the present moment. 3: Knowledge - Everything you read fills your head with new information, and who knows when it might be useful. 4: Vocabulary Expansion - The more you read, the bigger the vocabulary becomes, the more conversations you can participate in. 5: Memory Improvement - When you read you have to remember characters, plots, situations...every new memory you create opens up new synapses (brain pathways) and strengthens existing ones. 6: Stronger Analytical Thinking Skills - You begin to put your analytical and important intelligence to work when discussing the book with others... you are able to state your opinions clearly. 7: Improved Focus and Concentration - Living in a world crazed by the computer, our attention is all over the place...I'm beginning to think we are turning into a culture that can no longer focus for more than two minutes! And when we can't focus we are actually lowering our productivity and welcoming chaos. When reading a book your attention is focused on the story, we zone in on the information. 8: Better Writing Skills - Following the flow of the material you read, you are an observer of the writing styles of other authors & you learn to enhance your own work. 9: Tranquility - Reading Spiritual text can lower blood pressure and literally melt anxiety and worry away. That's worth it!

Napoleon Hills book THINK & GROW RICH was written in 1937 - and the information is flawless today. I read parts I've highlighted in this book daily, and If I don't read it in book form, I read the emails I receive from the company every morning . EXCUSE ME YOUR LIFE IS WAITING - Lynn Grabhorn is another great read for motivation and inspiration. Love Warrior - Glennon Doyle Melton - A good "kick in the butt" for getting real in your life & relationships. The goal is is to just keep growing; our world is changing, and we need to move forward and continue our mental growth along with embracing the change around us. Here's a fact about your mind: It's going to control you - or you're going to control it. When you work on your mind, you are improving your quality of life. It's never about "stuff" it's about quality.

Shop my favorite books at the bottom of this post.

Self-improvement, personal development, or simply getting more from life feels good. If you want to expand your mind and your possibilities then I encourage you to find books that speak to you, make a solid commitment to yourself to read every morning, even if it's 5 minutes, and I promise you will elevate your happiness and feel joy make it's way into your sub-conscience and accomplish a few goals along the way. One of the best lessons I've learned is you can't do it alone, and why would you...there are so many incredible writers who want to share their wisdom and experiences with you.

Candle / Shop Pretty Places... I love these candles, they're the perfect size so you can take them anywhere!

In the morning find a quiet place to sit, light one of your favorite candles and set the tone for your day ahead. Yes... you might be thrown a zinger or two during the day but you will have grounded yourself for protection before stepping out the door. I have many mantras I've learned over time that I repeat during the day and it can instantly change my energy. Don't let negative people or situations ruin your day. You be in charge, this is your movie, you be the director. Another great lesson I've learned; our thoughts, words, and energy will either connect or disconnect us from The Universe - or your Higher Power - God - Source Energy. When you change your words you change your world. Don't forget; expect wonderful things to happen, and P.S. Don't sweat the small stuff... My favorite word I've ever learned...GRATITUDE

Share with me what your favorite word is...I'd love to hear from you.

The more I read, the more I learn, and the more I share I transform fear to faith...Me.