“yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there’s still time to change the road you’re on.”

This is one of my all-time favorite lyrics. I can’t recall who, but I remember one of my friends using it as their quote in our high school yearbook. I wasn’t a huge Led Zeppelin fan, but this line really struck a chord in me. Still, I never thought much about it.

Well, it has turned out to be so true in my own life.

There have been many, MANY times when I have felt totally trapped and lost in life. Whether it was a toxic relationship or an even more toxic job, it’s never easy to just walk away and start over. But I have done it. A few times. And it’s definitely made me the person I am today.

I love change. I embrace it fully. I went through a phase in NYC when I would only sublet apartments because I didn’t want to be tied into a year lease. A year! It was really not that long but I couldnt handle the pressure. It all seemed so…final. That’s why it is so ironic that I had only purchased homes in Florida since moving here. One was bought and sold within 7 months, followed by a short-term rental and then another home purchase. Somehow it doesnt bother me as much here – _ guess I figure there will always be some snowbird looking to rent.

But my father and many therapists have always reminded me that there is nothing in life that can’t be changed, fixed, for the better. I love that and totally believe it, too. I have lived it, and still do. The path we are on can always be changed. Life is not prison.

Life is ours to be LIVED.

I went to a small, private Catholic school until I was in 9th grade. finally I begged my father to send me to the local public high school and my world started to change. I met my first Jewish friends.

It wasn’t such a big deal in high school though. Sure, the Jewish kids seemed to be more applied in class (many had attended the local Solomon Schecter) and many lived in the “nicer” part of town. But I really didn’t know anything about their religion versus mine. I was a teenager – all I cared about was drinking 40’s at The Highlands and the golf course, and walking to Flagship Diner at 2 am.

It all changed when I went to college at UMass-Amherst. Jill, my roommate freshman year (and all of my roommates for all 4 years, actually) was Jewish. From Boca Raton via Westchester County. So was my first friend, Erica. I felt out of place. At first I thought it was because I didn’t have the same designer clothes, sleep-away camp memories or David Yurman necklaces. Now I realize it was because I wasn’t a member of their Tribe.

I was immediately drawn to the Jewish culture but also felt intrigued by the religion. You guys don’t believe that Jesus was some miracle worker? Me neither! Heaver sounds like a crazy concept? I completely agree! I was jealous when my new friends drove home to their families in New Jersey and Long Island to celebrate the High Holidays. I wanted to be a part of it too.

I finally got a taste of it when I met my BFF Sari. I honestly dont remember if I ever actually went home with her to West Orange, New Jersey for Rosh Hashanah but I have always dreamed that I did. She taught me some prayers (I could recite ‘Baruch atai Adonai eluhaneh’ from memory but had no idea what I was even saying. And helped me understand the difference between Yom Kippur and Passover.

I was hooked. I seemed to always date Jewish guys, have Jewish friends and be mistaken for a Chosen One myself.

Not that I started studying the religion or attending services. I was too busy living my college years and 20’s in NYC and not thinking one bit about religion. But that was when I really started realizing that I no longer felt connected to Catholicism. The thing is, I am not particularly religious. Scratch that. I’m not religious at all. But I am hoping to find some acceptance and happiness towards god with this new journey. I basically shunned all religion because I was so worn out from losing interest in the religion I was brought up with.

So now, 12 years later, I am finally starting my journey to officially convert to Judaism. I am married to a man who is half-Jewish but decided to convert to a Catholic a few years ago. Thankfully, the Jewish part is on his mom’s side so, I’m told, he’ll technically always really be a Jew.  🙂

Either way, I’m not doing this for him. I’m doing it for me. I’m ready.

For years and years I have wanted to start my own business. I am a really hard worker and put my heart and soul into a job when I enjoy it, but I really have a hard time having a boss. I know, it sounds silly. Who likes having a boss? But there are some people who just accept that reporting to a superior on a day-to-day is just how it is.

I am not one of those people.

When I was working as an editor at In Touch Weekly, I spent 2 days out of the office meeting with sources and contacts. I was the most productive on those days, by far. Sure, I could have lounged around in my apartment all day and gone to boozy lunches and did nothing. But being out of the office and out of the watchful eye of any bosses actually made me much more motivated and useful. Go figure.

After I moved to Florida, I can remember countless days sitting at my desk at Star Magazine, wishing I could be working for myself somewhere. I would get completely hysterical when I had to leave the office for 45 minutes for a doctor’s appointment. I would harrass the other editor I worked with, sending emails every 5 mintues. “Is everything ok? Anything major going on?”

I couldnt handle the pressure, even though no one ever gave me a hard time for having to run out once in a while to take care of life. I created that stress all by myself.

But I still liked hiding. I was hiding behind the safeness of workig for a company. My salary was going to be direct-deposited into my checking account every week no matter what, my health insurance was going to be active and I had a set daily work schedule. Unless Brad and Angelina had a major fight or Tiger cheated AGAIN.

I wa scared to go off on my own, even though that is all I wanted. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I made a good living – how was I supposed to just throw that all away?

So I started my break from the corporate world slowly. First, I quit my job at Star and began working as a freelance writer and reporter from home, while I began classes at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to become a health counselor. I also signed up for a yoga teacher training program. I was psyched. I was FINALLY going to live the life I always wanted.

Except I didn’t. Worrying about my freelance position took much more energy that I imagined. I had to be that much more on top of things since I wasnt in the office or chatting with people all day about what the latest celeb scandal was. It was so hard. I was so anxious. And I had no time to focus on moving forward with my exciting new plans.

After weeks of deliberating, I finally gave notice for the freelance gig. It was hard. I was still making good money and loved what I was doing but it ws time for me to focus on my Health Coaching business and face my fears of being a small business owner and working for myself. It was time to come out of hiding.

Well, here I am. I just launched my website today – LiivNaturally.com. Im terrified. It’s my first time ever working for myself. But it is so exciting and I cant wait to have a ton of awesome clients to work with and start teaching yoga too.  The future is full of possibilities and I’m finally ready to seize them…

I am a dreamer and a thinker and I get bored very easily. I can’t slow down. I don’t want to.

I am 32-years old and about to start my 3rd career since graduating from college. Some people think I’m crazy. I am just trying to find true happiness and live every day totally fulfilled.

I started out as an accountant – I got bored.

So I went back to school and got a job as a celebrity gossip reporter for In Touch Weekly. It was a dream job for a 26-year old living in NYC. I was at parties every night, mingling with celebrities and meeting the most fascinating people in the most fascinating place in the world. Then, I moved to Star Magazine, relocated to Florida…and I got bored.

Now, here I am about, back in school to be a holistic health coach and a yoga teacher. I am ready to change the world – or at least, make it a little bit healthier.

Please follow me on this journey and hopefully you will be inspiried to embark on your own.

Remember: It’s never too late to go confidently in the direction of your dream, and life the life you’ve imagained.

“Go confidently in the direction of your dream! Live the life you’ve always imagined.”

-Henry David Thoreau

I am excited to be here. And by here, I mean starting over.

About a month ago, I finally got the courage to do something that I wanted to do for almost a year – quit my stressful job and do something new with my life, something I was truly passionate about and made me excited to wake up every day.

I am so thankful that I took this leap. I am even more thankful that I have amazingly supportive people (like my husband Michael and my family and friends) rooting for me every step of the way. I am embarking on a new journey, and I’m ready…