I have nothing snarky or witty to say about this: I taught my first yoga classes this week. To actual people. In a real studio. Wow.

It happened just as I thought it would. I was working my first day at the front desk at The Buddha Lounge, signing students in, when I received a call from the owner, Kelly. No teacher was coming for the 10 am class. Could I fill in? It was 9:55. I had no time to think, and more importantly, no time to freak. I just got my mat, walked to the front of the class, and did it.

I used my best yoga lingo and even finished with a robust “OM.” It felt surreal but exciting.

Was my class the best ever? Probably not. But I got through it without majorly messing anything up and without anyone getting hurt. And now that I’ve done it, the fear of the unknown is gone. I feel so happy and exhilirated.

Obviously there weren’t any major complaints about my ability as a yoga teacher because I got the call again this morning, to teach the 10 am donation-only class. Score! Being in the right place at the right time has certainly paid off. I guess so has all of my hard work…

I am completely tapped out. Mentally, physically and emotionally. I just spent the past 3 days doing yoga for, like, 8 hours a day. No joke.

I’m trying to finish up my RYT yoga teacher training program and this was my 2nd to last weekend. Let me rephrase. This was the 2nd to last weekend of the term, but because I missed a few of the weekends (all of my friends who got hitched this summer are to blame) I still need to make up a bunch of hours to reach the necessary 200.

Fortunately, I am really confident about the actual teaching part. Of course, I say this now as I sit behind a computer screen at Starbucks. But I have been practicing a lot – even if it’s just in front of the mirror in my bedroom – and if I can just stop confusing my left foot with my right, I think I could actually lead a successful and safe beginner yoga class. I just hope the teachers who have to sign off on my teaching certificate agree…

But no matter how much longer it takes until I can start my other new career as a yoga teacher, the journey has been amazing and so worth the time and effort. I started practicing yoga at OM Yoga Center in NYC about 7 years ago. I was so not dedicated and thought of it merely as an additional workout in my routine. I would run through my Surya Namaskar A and B’s in a class, barely make it through Savasana and then run out so I could smoke a cigarette or meet a friend for a cocktail. I knew nothing about Sutras or meditation – I was definitely just on the yoga train because it was the cool and trendy thing to do.

Of course, I lost interest because I wasn’t very invested. Over the next 5 years or so, I floated in and out of being super hardcore, hitting 5 or 6 classes a week, or not practicing for months at a time. Um, there were parties to go to!

When I first moved to Delray, I had actually been in the middle of an “on” phase with yoga, and was devastated that I was leaving OM. I had even looked into their teacher training program but was discouraged when I read that a requirement to enroll was being able to come into Scorpion – away from the wall. I had done that exactly once, falling on the poor guy next time me as a tried to come back down gracefully.

So, I continued to search for a new place in Florida to practice, but nothing could compare. What I was looking for was a studio with amazing energy, in a gorgeous loft in downtown Manhattan with some of NYC’s best instructors. You don’t have that here? FAIL.

So I basically stopped doing yoga – again. I took up Pilates, spinning and Crossfit instead but still never gave up my search for a place to get back on the mat.

And then, I finally found it. The Buddha Lounge felt like home to me the first time I walked in. The place had a vibrant yet calming energy and I just liked being there. Everyone seemed to know each other and I wanted to be a part of that. After a few months of taking classes, I finally got the guts to ask the owner, Keith Fox, about the teaching program. After meeting for coffee, I handed his wife and studio co-owner, Kelly, my check for $2,700 and started yet another new journey. I had no idea what I was in for. I tend to take on a lot of activities just for the hell of it. But this felt different. I knew the was my path.

But just my luck, I had to miss the first two weekends. The first one was my opening weekend for my classes at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition so I would be in NYC, and then during the following teacher training session, I had the first of 5 weddings in 2 months. FML.

But I did what I could, showing up to class as much as possible (considering I was only in town about 2 weeks a month, it wasn’t as much as I wanted) and staying connected with my fellow yogis in the RYT 200 training. I even woke up a few times for the 6;30 am Bliss class, but quickly realized I am STILL not a morning person. Even though I was kind of out of the loop from missing a couple of teacher training weekends, I still felt myself totally changing. I started practicing Pranayama in the morning and things became clear. I was calmer and more understanding (my husband might not agree) and just happier in general. Yoga was not longer a workout – it was my life.

Amrit Desai said “If it doesn’t change your life, then it isn’t yoga.” That has been so unbelievably true for me. Since enrolling in the program, I quit 2 jobs, started a nutrition and wellness business (!!!!!) moved to a new house and made about 20 new friends, all while getting so much stronger, both mentally and physically.

When I first signed that check, I wasn’t sure I even wanted to teach yoga; I just wanted to deepen my own practice and hoped to meet some cool people while doing it. Now, I am so excited to get in front of a class and make everyone sweat. It may be a lofty goal, but I’m hoping I can change some lives in the process, too, just as mine has been changed.

Namaste.

 

 

My head is spinning.

I quit my writing job so I would have more time to focus on starting a health and wellness business, helping people get on better diets to lose weight, reduce stress, have more energy – or whatever they pay me to help them achieve. It seemed so simple ; no more day job meant hours and hours of time to dedicate to my new business venture.

But I have found with my new wide-open schedule, I am being pulled in 10 different directions. Of course, it’s all my own fault. Everyone who knows me knows that I thrive on having a totally full schedule and being involved in a lot of activities. But I can’t help thinking that this time perhaps I’m overdoing it.

Not only am I focusing hours and hours every day on marketing for Liiv Naturally, but I am also working on completing my Yoga Teacher Training certificate, helping plan a HUGE yoga event in Miami that is happening in February, taking Jewish studies classes to begin my conversion, writing for health and wellness magazines and trying to keep up with my own fitness regimen – which means I get totally frazzled. A lot.

I have tried to put together some sort of a plan, like ballet in the morning, write for an hour or two, work on marketing and meeting with potential clients – and then read passages from the Torah and Hebrew textbook so I’m prepared for my Thursday night sessions at Temple Sinai. And that’s all before I cook a healthy dinner and then watch an episode or two of Mad Men (We’re catching up on Seasons 1-4 on DVD and are completely obsessed).

But it’s hard to stay on track. A quick breakfast at Boheme Bistro easily turns into 3 hours after I start chatting with people or reading the NY Post and Daily News – daily rituals which I refuse to give up, 2 1/2 years after moving to Florida.

I bought a new orange leather Filofax (it’s gorgeous) and take it everywhere so I wouldn’t double-book myself. I still do.

So I’ve decided to take my own advice, what I tell the clients I’m working with: Slow down and relax. There are only so many hours in a day, and I need to maintain balance. Part of going confidently is knowing that everything will happen…in good time.

 

 

 

 

I knew that Kate Bohner and I were going to be friends the minute I walked into her Tuesday morning yoga class at the Buddha Lounge in May. She was sitting cross-legged on a yoga mat at the front of the room, talking to a student about NYC. She was explaining that she had lived in Florida for over a year, and while she missed NYC, she was so happy in the Sunshine State, with no plans to leave. She kept looking at me and smiling warmly, and I even had the guts to talk to her and tell her that I was a transplanted New Yorker too.

Next, she told me she was a writer. Um, me too. We ended up even knowing some of the same people, like my life-changing professor Sue Shapiro from the New School, and had been at a lot of the same super-fabulous NYC events over the past 10 or so years. Just talking to Kate that morning made me feel happy. Plus, she shared a name with my bestie from high school AND my BFF from college, both of whom I still talk to on an almost daily basis. It just seemed so fitting that my new partner-in-crime down South would also be named Kate.

After class, we exchanged numbers and made plans to get a smoothie at the Nutrition Cottage AKA The Nut Hut. We met a few days later and I finally got to really know “Katie Bear.”

Not only was she a writer, but she had co-authored a best-selling book, had a news column at a major finance mag and had worked as a TV anchor for a financial news show. I was floored. She was actually a REAL writer, and at that moment, I felt that she had come into my life for a reason. On top of that, Kate had left that world behind to become a yoga instructor and work on a new book. Hellooooo? It was like a mirror image of how my career path was also changing.

We started hanging out a lot, usually meeting up for yoga classes a few times a week, many smoothies and a dinner here and there. But Kate was really busy during the day, writing a memoir about her amazing life. (It’s not bragging if it’s true.) Still, we hung out more than I saw anyone else except Michael, and naturally got really, really close.

Kate started flying up to NYC more often, meeting with her agent Larry, while I was gone a lot too, flying all over the country for weddings, and up to NYC to see friends and family. Somehow, our trips never overlapped and we would go weeks without being in Delray together, but Kate would always send me a text message every morning and night, wishing me an amazing day or to say goodnight. It was like we had been friends for years, when in fact our friendship had only flourished over the span of 4 or 5 months.

Then, after a trip to the Big Apple, Kate came home and dropped a bomb – she was moving back to New York City, in less than a month. I was in shock. We were so close and spent so much time together; how could she be leaving? And going to NY no less. I struggle every day to be happy in Florida, and now i was watching my friend pack up, head north and live the life I always expected to be living. It was selfish but it was how I felt.

But I knew that Kate was making the right decision for herself and had to go – her career  (and maybe even a new guy?) was waiting in NYC and she was ready to move on.  I was proud of her. Of course, I simultaneously feel into a dark hole, miserable about staying in Florida while she was leaving to follow her dreams. But either way, her passion and dedication to her new path was such an inspiration to me. Kate helped show me that I could follow my dreams and set off on my new path with courage and confidence.

Don’t get me wrong – there are a few things I like about living here. The winter weather does not suck and, sometimes, it’s actually refreshing to live a bit slower. There are even a handful of really good restaurants, even though they are all Italian.

Still, it hasn’t been easy for me to make friends since I moved. Maybe it was because I already have such an amazing group of people that I am still super close with in NYC. Or perhaps my crazy travel schedule was prohibitive, since I am never in Florida for more than 2 months at a time. Dinner plans? Does 6 weeks from now work?

I also had a strange situation. I clearly moved south for a guy and when I got here, he already had a group of friends. So it was easy for me to just sit back and adapt his crew as my own, Don’t get me wrong – these were all really fun, nice people and I really enjoyed meeting them and hanging out.

But being the super social person that I am, I felt that it was really important for me to go out and make some new pals on my own. I mean, doesn’t every girl need a friend she can vent to about how her husband leaves dirty clothes everywhere and never cleans up after himself? That’s tough when you’re closest friends are also his.

So here I had gone out, made an amazing new friend – and she was leaving. I was pretty much ok with it until the day she left. We had spent the weeks leading up to her move grabbing turkey burgers at Brule and continued our schedule of Barre class and lots of yoga. It didn’t feel like she was leaving because we were together so much. But I woke up on Sunday morning with a pit in my stomach. Kate was heading to the airport in a few hours, off to NYC. I was sad that I would never sit on the deck at Kate’s loft again, share tuna dip at Lemongrass or see her doing yoga in the front row at the Colony on Sundays. Her move was a shock to me not only because a friend was moving away but because I wasn’t.

No matter what, I am so happy for my friend, as she moves forward to the next big thing. I look eagerly forward to moving back to NYC sooner than later and having my 3 Kates in one place.

Of course, I am now accepting applications for the role of Florida BFF. The only prerequisite? Apparently, your name must be Kate…

 

I BBMed my father this morning to ask him who I should vote for. I have been following it a little bit down here but don’t REALLY know what any of these candidates are all about. Maybe because I read the Daily News, Post and NY Times daily but have never, ever picked up a copy of the Sun Sentinel or the Herald. You can take the girl out of New York…

Anyway, he replied, “Cuomo, wilson, schumer, gillibrand.”

Um, I live in Florida now, dad.

“Not Rubio,” was what I got. Thanks?

To be (sadly) honest, I have never been very good about voting. When I lived in NYC, my permanent address was still my father’s house in White Plains, so I defintiely missed more than one election so I could hit happy hour in the city instead. And I will even fess up to one of my deepest, darkest secrets. I voted for Bush 2.0 – twice.

In my defense, I knew absolutely nothing about him the first time around. I remember walking in to the voting center at the fire house on Battle Hill in White Plains and chose to stand behind W because I thought, “He’s kind of handsome.” I knew nada about his politics, background or experience. His looks were my sole reason.

The next time around – the election that really counted – I regretfully voted for him again. At that point, I was so disconnected from the world. I was bartending 5 nights a week until 4 am and then going out drinking until sunrise after my shift ended. If I did crack a newspaper, it was to catch up on celebrity gossip in Page Six, not to read Op-Eds in the Times.

I feel every vote I cast for the rest of my life will be to make up for that fatal misstep.

I showed up at the Orchard View Elementary School polling center, which is located within walking distance from my front door. However, when I got there, I found out I had been rezoned and had to drive across the street to the Advent Baptist Church. Ugh. I had snuck out even though Rooms To Go had promised my new guest room furniture would be delivered between 12 and 4 so I was getting worried about being out too long.

Of course, when I got to the Baptist church, they had no record of me and I had to fill out a million forms. Shockingly, no one asked me to show them any paperwork proving my new address. Ah, Florida.

So here I was casting my ballot for a bunch of people I knew very little about – again. First, I figured if Slick Willy had pleaded with Kendrick Meek to pull out of the race, he wasn’t my guy. (I am a HUGE Bubba fan. Huge.)

First, I checked off – or, rather, drew a line to connect the arrows to eachother – Charlie Crist. It doesn’t seem like he’s messed things up TOO badly for the Sunshine State, right? I mean, the education system is abomidable but it’s been like that for a long time. There are the constant gay rumors, which seem spot on. But other than that, I hear very little gossip about the guy. After, Alex Sink, I was stumped. I hadn’t seen many of the other names before. So I decided to just check off all of the Democrats down the line. I had no idea what they stood for, but I knew I would sleep well tonight having not voted for a single GOPer.

I walked my ballot form to another line – filled with mostly really old people – and it was scanned through a machine. I rushed home and pulled up to my house just as the furniture deliverymen did. A productive day indeed.

“This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control your own life; no one can do it for you. Take the power to make your life healthy, exciting, worthwhile and very happy.”

-Susan Polis Schutz

Quitting a job to start a new career is very daunting and scary. There are days when I wish I was sitting back behind a desk, getting my paycheck no matter what I did, or more likely didn’t, do.

But it’s also very exciting and empowering. I know I am doing the right thing, at the right time. I have received so many well wishes and support, and just wanted to thank all of the amazing people in my life. I hope you are all living your life to the fullest and fulfilling your dreams.

I had a meeting today to discuss some new projects with my awesome chiropractor friend, Dr. Friedman. We are working on a recipe book to help his clients who are on the HCG Diet figure out what they should eat, and also working on another eating plan to help clients improve their brain function. I’ve also been busy doing all sorts of marketing and other  work for my new business. It’s certaintly hard, but more rewarding than anything I’ve ever done.

On a side note, I read in the paper today that AMI, the company that owns Star Magazine, is declaring bankruptcy. This is officially the 2nd company I have worked for that “went under” within months after I left. Just saying…

I decided to take a break from marketing and organizing my new business today, and made an appointment to check out a Personal Trainer training program in Fort Lauderdale. As part of my new wellness business, Liiv Naturally, I want to be able to offer my clients a well-rounded fitness and health experience. So I figured that along with getting my yoga teacher training certification, it would be worth it to also get certified as a trainer.

After getting the info from the Natural Awakenings magazine from Whole Foods (I know my Floridian friends have seen this!), I signed up online for an info session about getting a NASM – National Academy of Sports Medicine, duh – certification.

A few days later, a guy from the ATI Career Training Center in Fort Lauderdale calls me. He explains that his name is “Duran, like the band.” Cute.

I tried to ask him a few questions about the PT program, but he basically cut me off and suggested I should just come down to the office for an info session in person. I was very impressed with his salesmanship and persistence and figured, “Why not?” as I jotted down the address.

So yesterday morning, I headed south on 95 to the Cypress Creek Road exit. After getting totally lost, I arrived at the ATI building about 10 minutes late. (Side note: I HATE being late. Passionately. It makes me feel really anxious and I just don’t do it)

I filled out a form asking for all of the basics: name, address, age, education (I got lazy and only filled out the high school part) and Social Security number. Wait, social security number? Clearly, I left this line blank and started to get a weird feeling. Was this some giant University of Phoenix-style scam? I thought about getting up to leave but a huge group of nurses-in-training was filing in through the single door in their ATI monogrammed scrubs, so I had no way out.

Then, Duran appeared, dressed sharply in very baby blue slacks and kinda pointy toed beige leather loafers, and led me back to his cubicle. I caught by surprise because I thought it was going to be an info session, like, with other people. But instead, I found myself sitting across a desk from Duran.

Of course, he had motivational sales quotes plastered all around his work space, including the requisite framed MOTIVATION posted with some inspirational quote scrawled underneath. Uh oh.

He started in on the questioning, nodding his head, throwing me a “Ok, I see” here and there and filling out a form with my answers. It was all pretty standard until he got to the Social Security number.

“Um, I don’t know it and I don’t have it on me,” I stammered. I think he actually bought my lie.

Duran explained that in order for me to get financial aid, I would need to provide my social. Now I was really confused. Financial aid for a Personal Trainer certification class that would likely last a few weeks? I figured it was set me back a grand or two, but this guy was acting like I was going to have to refi my house to make ends meet.

I told him that we could figure out the finances if I decided to enroll in the program. He quickly countered, saying, “If we decide you are a good fit.” Ouch.

After chatting for a few more minutes (Duran has an uncle in Delray and frequently hangs out at the park near the Dunkin Donuts on Atlantic – noted), my new admissions advisor-to-be turned his computer screen toward me. The Power Point presentation was ready to begin.

Duran was a really nice guy so it was all I could to keep a straight face while he recited the exact words that were on every single line from memory. It was unreal, and very entertaining. That is, until the 10th or 11th slide, regaling me with details like when and where ATI was founded and other ridiculous information that I would never, ever care about.

“I have an appointment at noon,” I interrupted with a smile, hoping that would speed things up.

It didn’t.

After a few more agonizing minutes, Duran treated me to a “campus tour.”

We walked past some classrooms and finally hit the PT area, where a group of mostly men dressed in baggy workout clothes that barely covered their asses were doing some kind of bootcamp style workout.

“This is initiation,” Duran said.

Huh? So I have to pay a hefty sum to come to your school and then ALSO get initiated? Something seemed off.

When our tour was complete, and I had seen the student breakroom and “The Commons” aka two picnic tables with a bucket of sand doubling as an ashtray in between, Duran dropped me off at the Financial Aid office.

Here we go again.

Without looking up, my case manager, Leny, asked me some more questions. When she got to the dreaded Social Security part, I again fibbed and said I didn’t know it or have it.

“What?” she shot back. “Well, I can’t tell you what you qualify for if I don’t have that info.”

More confusion. Really, how much financial aid were they planning on giving me for a $2,000 Fitness Trainer workshop?

She angrily brought me back to Duran after deeming me useless.

I decided that I finally needed to know what was going on here.

“Well, maybe I’ll just pay cash. How much is the program?”

And the bomb was dropped.

“$16,400 with a $100 application processing fee.”

It was so shocking, I was speechless.

“The program is 36 weeks with hands on training and lectures. You get a NASM certification and ….”

I had stopped listening. There was no way I was going to pay anything close to that amount for my certificate. So I started to wrap things up with Duran, now feeling pretty bad that I had even wasted his time.

“OK, well, I have another appointment so I have to leave but I’ll email you if I’m interested,” I said as sweetly as possible. I was still on his turf.

“Let’s get together next week for a follow up,” he said. This guy was good.

I bended the truth again, saying that I was going to NYC and wouldn’t be back until December 1. Duran was NOT happy.

“Why didn’t you tell me that? I need to know that.” He was scolding me at this point.

I told him I didn’t realize I needed to inform him of my travel schedule since I had just come to see him about some general info. Things got awkward.

Duran stood, and I understood that our time together was over. He led me to the front door, and barely looked at me or shook my hand as I walked away – although I did see him peek his head out of the front door and watch me get into my car. Creepy.

Even though absolutely nothing came of my trip to ATI (except another really funny story to tell) I am still happy I went. I am all about making things happen right now and who knew? This could have been the perfect Personal Trainer training program ever. And I would have never known if I didn’t try.

My job at Arthur Andersen seems like a lifetime ago. Since then, I have been a bartender, gone back to school multiple times, moved to Florida, worked at the NY Daily News, two national celeb gossip mags and started a health and wellness company.

I started work as an auditor the fall after I graduated from UMass. I had majored in Accounting after seeing how awesome my Cousin George’s life was. He golfed a few times a week, had a gorgeous brownstone in Boston and traveled a lot. He was also a worldwide partner for over 20 years.

So as I reported to 1345 Avenue of the Americas on my first day, I thought my career as an accountant was going to be just glorious.

I was in for a rude awakening. For those of you not familiar, at Andersen, the lowly staff auditors didn’t have our own desks. We had a drawer where we locked up our computer and other personal items but on a daily basis, when we got to the office, it was our responsibility to find a space at a long desk with people jammed together in a row or get one of the coveted private cubicles that were up for grabs. I learned very quickly to come in a little early to snag one of those.

At first, I didn’t quite understand why we couldn’t just have our own desk. Everyday, I logged in to a different telephone with my personal code, set up my IBM Thinkpad and chained it to the desk with a Kensington lock. But I soon learned that the first year crew didn’t have a desk because we were NEVER in the office.

Right away, I was put on a client based in Stamford, CT. For almost 5 months, I didn’t see NYC or my apartment. I schlepped to Stamford everyday for some boring client that I cared nothing about and ended up spending many nights with my mother in White Plains, just so I wouldn’t have to do the evening commute. It was hell.

But even though I was in Stamford, I realize it wasn’t that bad. At least I hadn’t been sent away on a place, so far that I couldn’t come home for a night if I wanted to see my boyfriend or have a night out with friends.

That didn’t last long. My next client was Bradlees Department Store, based in Braintree, Massachusetts. I had gone to Umass, Amherst and was hoping Braintree would be as charming as Amherst and the surrounding towns.

It wasn’t. We stayed at a Sheraton that looked like a castle and ate at places like Chili’s every night. The client was pretty cool – I realized I really liked doing inventory. But they were going broke and things were super tense all of the time. Even worse, we flew up on the shuttle on Monday and back on Friday so I never got to feel settled in NYC or Boston. I began to wonder why I was even paying $1,200 for a room in a converted 1-bedroom NYC apartment anymore.

I was relived when it ended. But I was sent away again. This time, Dallas, Texas was my destination.

I actually can’t complain about this particular job. I was there with two really fun guys, Steve and Frank. We stayed in rooms at the Four Season in Addison (I had a portable phone and thought it was SO cool, I would take it with me into the jacuzzibathtub), went to awesome steakhouses (I mean, it was Dallas. What ELSE were we supposed to eat?), and even a few strip clubs. One night, we partied in the back room with Dennis Rodman. Fun times.

When it was back to NYC. I was thrilled to be home again. I even spent a few weeks in the office, getting to catch up with my office friends, hitting happy hour at Red Eye Grille, Place and other yupster bars in the 50’s on the East Side. I was able to deflate and have some fun.

I remember actually getting to do some cool things at work. I was sent out to Bulgari with my BFF Jon to do an inventory on their jewels. I tried on necklaces and rings that cost more than the house I grew up in.

But playtime didn’t last long.

I got put on another client, this time based in NYC. It was an ad agency, called BCom3. It was fun at first. The team I was working with were definitely the “cool kids” and I was excited to be a part of their team. And the company we were auditing was fun and creative. Too bad I was “The Auditor.”

For months, I went to their offices at Worldwide Plaza on 8th Avenue. A few weeks in to the project, I recall the elevator door opening on a random floor. It was the headquarters for Island/Def Jam. I peeked my head out and saw hip, creative types walking around wearing jeans. I, of course, was in my black business casual suit with pumps. Ugh.

This went on for months. One day, I even started searching for jobs online in the music industry. I knew I wanted to do something creative. But I still continued to spend my days poring over Balance Sheets, 10K’s and creating Excel spreadsheets. I was miserable. I cried. A lot.

I was working one night late – like 1 am late – when the partner on the job brought in a coffee machine and passed out bottles of No-Doz type pills to keep us awake and productive. I felt so trapped and depressed. Was this REALLY my life?

My breaking point came on Valentine’s Day. My boyfriend Justin had made dinner reservations for us somewhere fancy, and I had even told him to make it late since my work days had been never-ending. Well, our 10 pm date at Candela came and went, and I was still stuck at my desk. I was hysterical. Work had completely taken over my life, and I didn’t even like what I was doing!

That week, I made an appointment with a psychiatrist who was a friend of our family. I explained my situation to him and he told me I was suffering from really bad anxiety. No shit.

But along with a prescription for Paxil, Doc gave me a doctor’s note. He had signed off on a medical leave of absence due to exhaustion and stress. I didn’t even know that existed but I was overjoyed.

I dropped my note off with HR and bid adieu to my personal hell – for at least a few months, full salary.

Then, the most amazing thing happened. Arthur Andersen was found guilty of criminal charges related to their audit of Enron. The company I despised was no more.

I went into the office to collect my severance – I was still an employee, after all – wearing a red Michael Jackson jacket, tight jeans and pointy toe black pumps. It was nice to see some of my old co-workers, but even nicer to walk through the hallways knowing I would never, ever be back.

When I’m feeling blocked or unproductive, I love going for a walk or a bike ride – something active and outdoors. In NYC, I would walk all over the place at the oddest hours. A 2 am bike ride around Tribeca on my little BMX was not uncommon. (Don’t judge my bike – I liked that even at 5’2″, my feet could touch the ground!)

Now that I’m a city mouse living in the country, I have learned to appreciate the beach. I rarely go to lay out or swim, but I am a huge fan of walking the path that runs along the ocean and just breathing and thinking.

So what inspires you? Are you really living the life you’ve imagined?

I’d love to hear your thoughts 🙂

A major part of launching my new business as a health counselor is marketing myself. I am REALLY bad at that. I know that the service I am providing to people is unbelievably valuable but I am still just not good at promoting myself – it feels so vain and self-serving. Which I guess is the point.

But I have realized that in order to be a successful health coach, I will need more than just an arsenal of amazing, healthy recipes and answers for clients on how to lose weight, destress and have more energy. First, I have to get them to become clients.

So I have changed my ‘don’t talk about myself or how awesome I am’ tune. My good friend Marisa is also a health coach – she is awesome! – and she is really good at getting out there and giving talks and meeting people. She has a health talk schedule for November 13 and may not be able to give it so she asked me to take her place, or join her in speaking if she is able to go. It was such a perfect opportunity, just 2 days after I launched my website and my business. Of course I said YES! And I am not even nervous. I know that what I have to say is interesting and can help lots of people change their lives and be so much healthier.

About an hour after Marisa gave me that awesome news, I went to my gynocologist. She has a yoga instructor come to her office once a month to lead classes for women. I was feeling very confident so I asked her if I could give her a health talk and introduce myself to her patients before or after one of these monthly yoga classes. And she said yes!!!

I have also linked up with my chiropractor, Dr. Friedman (getpainfree.com) and am going to start giving health consultations to his clients. He administers the HCG diet in his office and wants me to help him devise a diet plan for people finishing up the program. We are also going to put together a cookbook with easy, natural meals for people to make. He also does endermologie and has an infared sauna (which I am obsessed with!) in his office, so I know there will be a great synergy between our businesses.

I am also still working on getting my Yoga Teacher Training certificate at YogaFox in Delray Beach. I had to travel a lot this year (as always) so I missed a lot of sessions. But I am ready and willing to do whatever it takes to get my certification and start to bring yoga into my clients’ lives. It will be such a perfect complement to my healthy diet plans and will really help clients get balanced and more centered. It really worked for me. I may not be here right now if it wasn’t for my dedication to my practice.

I feel like I have some momentum going and I am determined to keep it that way. I feel like I need to pinch myself. Am I really running my own company doing exactly what I love? But it wasn’t easy to get here. I had to take giant leaps of faith, thankfully with a lot of support from my amazing friends and family.

I am going confidently in the direction of my dream, and living the life I have always imagined.