Happy Sunday to all. I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on happiness and what it takes to be happy. We all tend to look at the big things we think we need to be happy. We need to get in shape and lose weight, go on grand trips, accomplish all of our personal goals. The lists go on. In reality we need to start at the bottom with the hard work. It takes some willpower, and sacrifice to begin and work from the ground up. The journey is even more important than the destination. You need to put in the work to get results, there’s no way around this. Above are the 10 categories I plan to tackle and work on over the course of the year for my happiness journey.

So beginning my reinvention of my blog and tackling the 10 categories I’m starting January with a theme. It’s healing and hard work. What does that mean? A lot of times our problems are a result of not taking care of issues. We procrastinate, we put off what we should be doing to better ourselves in mind/body and spirit. If you put off moving your body and eating clean you will see later issues will come up. Same with financial procrastination, and the lists go on. So January is my month of healing, setting the ground work of the categories I plan to work on in the year of 2020. Remember I’m working on my whole life, which includes my vegan weight loss/fitness and more. My life is so whole package, not just the wrapping.

Today I’m setting my intentions for Monday, the week and the month. This month of healing is going to be a month of clean vegan eating. Getting my home in order, tackling financial problems I’ve put off. This month I’m going to move more, do yoga and workout. I’m starting with daily simple walking because I have a knee injury that is lingering. Monday’s intentions are to toss any vegan junk I have left from the holidays, and grocery shop on a limited budget. I’m going to post all about how much I’m spending and what my vegan grocery haul consists of. This small intention will lead me to my next January intention, paying off bills and debts. Less money wasted on unhealthy food will be money to go to bills. Here’s a poll for you guys. How much money does a couple need to spend weekly on healthy vegan food?  I say 50 and my hubby says 100.

A quick recap, tonight I write out my intentions for Monday, the week and the month. I follow through with my Monday intentions. Each night I write intentions for the following day and so on. January is healing, my mind/body/ which includes things that are bothering me like financial burdens and getting my home in order. I bought white lights to replace the Christmas lights so my space will feel illuminated and lovely. January is setting the ground work for the categories I’m working on to be happy.

Are you happy? Let’s be happiness gurus together. Maybe you can write your own list of 2020 categories. Happy Sunday to all.  So much love and light. 

I cannot believe we are at the end of the decade. Before I begin my 2020 clear vision journey of being my own happiness guru, I must look back at the magnificent and sometimes sad decade. My husband James and I experienced a lot of change, travel, adventure, new opportunities, love and loss. It really began in 2010 with the intentions to leave NYC for a warmer climate. It was the winter of 2010 and a frigid one at that. We were ready to go, but at that moment we had no idea where.  

Here’s my quick recap of my decade.  A blizzard ushered in winter that year in 2010. I spent time with family in Cleveland, Ohio and we took a family portrait. I got to visit my best friend Melissa in Pittsburgh in the spring, and be in her wedding in the fall. We adopted our Siamese cat Rascal before we left NYC ( had wonderful moments with my dearest friends before the move) and we moved to West Hollywood CA.  We met new friends in California and traveled often, loving our new home in LA.  In 2013 we lost our beloved cat Stormy, adopted Spanky and I started this blog. I danced with  Richard Simmons in his video, and became friends with the family that was Slimmons. I wrote an essay about the remarkable Huell Howser, and because of that essay in December 2013 we had the best birthday dinner at the iconic Musso and Frank’s in Hollywood.  2014  we traveled a lot. I ran my first 10k and later that year we moved to San Francisco, and saw the beauty of Northern California, meeting new friends in the Bay Area.  My first book was published that year. I ran the Golden Gate Bridge and had dear friends visit. I also ran the Rock and Roll 5k in San Jose.  We saw the iconic sights of San Francisco.  I continued to write for magazines, online and print as we moved back to West Hollywood in 2016. We lived there for a year and I worked at the famous Canter’s Deli, writing about my experience in West Hollywood Magazine.  Before a move to Houston, TX. that summer,  my mother passed away  and after we lost Rascal. 2017 was a rough year so we began 2018 with a rejuvenating cruise to Jamaica, Cozumel and The Cayman Islands and I became Vegan. That year another loss, James’ Aunt Jan. We adopted our Siamese Max as well. 2019 was a bit unmemorable, except for ending it with another loss of my Mother’s sister Aunt Elaine. The decade really was an adventure of travel, live, loss and opportunities.

We met so many wonderful people who became dear friends and family. As I reflect on beginning this blog to be more self development centered with happiness and goal setting just as important as health and vegan weight loss, I remember we had one hell of a decade. Here’s to new beginnings and the gratitude and love for the foundation that brought us to where we are today. To our tribe who taught us so many wonderful lessons. To the good days, the bad days and the just ok days. The love the loss and the fact we are still standing, wiping our eyes with the clear vision of 2020 eyesight. Clear the dance floor and let’s dance into this brand new decade. Happy New Year to all, near and far. Thank you for being a part of my tribe. It’s a beautiful journey as long as we do it in togetherness, love and light.