With Spring turning into summer, nature’s abundance is in full view. Growing plants, blossoming flowers, singing birds and bumbling bees are aplenty. Just to breathe in the fresh floral scents and aromatic bouquets brings such peace and contentment. I feel especially blessed to have a garden where I can walk barefoot and touch the trees, whispering gratitude for their beauty and natural generosity.
 
But I notice something else too. Weeds. They are everywhere because I have let them grow. Because they bring drought resistant greenery, because they are soft under my feet, because they have little flowers that tantalize the senses. But I digress… the weeds have overtaken the yard, suffocating what once was a thriving garden. I let myself get too complacent.
 
So I get down on hands and knees and I start pulling. It feels so good, so cathartic to get rid of what no longer serves me. They may have had a purpose at one time, but I am ready to let them go.
 
In its place now are vast swaths of nothingness, gaps in the lawn and amongst the bushes. Had I pulled them out sooner, the garden would be more whole today. Did I do the right thing? What should I do with this space now? It looks so barren.
 
But I remind myself. You can’t bring something new in until you have the space to welcome it. I imagine what I do next will be a combination of designing what I want and allowing what is already there to expand. Over time, I will adapt my approach, letting go of what no longer works while welcoming what does.
 
Life is a lot like a garden. Things grow. Sometimes we plant them. Other times, they come in uninvited and stay for far too long.
 
In your life, what are you ready to let go of? And with the space you create, what seeds are you ready to plant?  

Whether ripples or waves, we can never truly measure our impact. A child may not realize the scope of parental influence until much later. And a famous personality or inspiring artiste won’t ever know the depth of their reach across the globe. What is certain is that people seek meaning from other people and those interactions matter.
 
More than not, it’s the people around us right now that affect us the most over time. We have the chance to impact the family we grow up in, our classmates and friends, our colleagues and organization, our families and children, the wider community and all living creatures. These are the rich moments that make up our lives.
 
How we contribute to meaningful interactions is a choice we make. Wherever you are. Whatever you’re doing. You have the opportunity right now to bring your full self into the present moment. What difference would it make to fully show up? Give yourself the space to embrace that vibrancy and aliveness!
 
Presence is about owning your impact. About sharing your full self with the world. About promoting positive flow. Every time we engage, we create an opportunity to shape the quality of our interactions. We remind the people in our lives how much they count and how much we care.

You have presence. Own that! And make the world a better place.

So many people wonder… what is the meaning of our life? What is the point to our existence? Why are we here? Such philosophical questions have mystified and challenged humanity over millennia.

Do the answers matter? You might argue ‘yes’ because it feels good to know the universal truth, but doesn’t truth exist outside the universe? Won’t we then have more formidable questions to fathom? The fact is, humans are always searching, exploring, expanding and that journey will never end.
 
Me? I feel that we are here to celebrate our humanity, to work together and inspire a greater way to live. And the best way I see to do that is to honor who you are right now. Take stock. Look within. And see all that treasure.
 
You have special gifts. Honor them. Share them with the world! You have talent, passions and purpose. Own that. Live it!
 
And you know what? Just by being you, by allowing your magic to come out and play, you will make impact. And you will inspire others around you to do the same. You may even be surprised at your personal power or how bright you shine!
 
Perhaps if we all did this, we would rediscover why we’re here.

Watching cartoons with my son, I am keenly aware of the messaging and how character statements can affect his mindset. Just this morning a cartoon personality railed against having too big a dream, to which I emphatically replied ‘DREAM BIG, THEN GO FOR YOUR DREAMS’. It’s so simple. So basic. I want my son to know he can do anything with his life, that with the right mindset, he can get from where he is now to most anywhere.
 
When we raise a child, we want to expand their spectrum of possibilities, and inspire them to go after what matters most to them. And kids intuitively know that it’s possible. Somewhere along the line though, we as adults lose sight of what matters most to us. We create stories that support the narrative of our lives and often forget about what makes our hearts hum. Too often, dreams can wither as routine sets in.
 
I mean, when was the last time you gave flight to a real dream? And what would that be like to give yourself permission to go for something that really mattered to you?
 
A dream isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a celebration of you, validation for the person you are here and now. A dream is aliveness – it motivates, educates, and inspires! A dream has impact.
 
What would it be like to go for something that you’ve always wanted? Or even to give yourself the space and time to dream anew, with the wonder of a child at what’s possible?
 
Imagine…

Experienced bloggers often reflect on the beginning of their writing journey with amusement. These creators openly admit that the first 50 to 100 posts scratch the surface to their innate communicative potential. For it is true, that we all need a bit of exploration to find a narrative that truly resonates with us and to forge a path that calls forward our greatness. Indeed, it takes time to find one’s voice and to show up in the world with intention.
 
I know that putting our best foot forward takes commitment, courage and vulnerability. And yet, there is so much to gain when we engage with the potential of who we are and what we want. Giving ourselves permission to thrive encourages a lifelong journey of love, learning, and growth.

We can acknowledge that our understanding of the world will change and evolve as we grow and face the vagaries of life, but let’s also accept where we are now. In this moment, we already have a voice. It may not be as steady as we would like, but expression of our self opens us up to the song in our hearts.
 
In other words, sing away! And see what magic unfolds.