Sum-sum-summertime!

iStock.com/AbElena

As a fair-skinned, blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman from Minnesota, I’ve never been a big fan of the sun and the heat. In previous summers, I’d avoid the outdoors as much as possible from sun up to sun down. When we moved to Atlanta eleven years ago, my biggest fear was how to deal with the heat while living in the south.

However, this summer has been different. I finally feel like I’m truly embracing the summer heat and humidity like never before. What brought about this change was my desire to stop avoiding the discomfort and learning to embrace what is.

Changing my mindset has been extremely liberating. By choosing acceptance over avoidance, I’ve opened up new pathways for growth and understanding because, instead of using my energy to fight, I’m using my energy to stay open.

As a result, I am also discovering and embracing how I want to be in the world and have written a mission statement to support this:

I am an expert in joyful living who shows up curious every day. I look for the joy and seek out the beauty in life instead of employing a “running and numbing” mindset. I focus on progress, not perfection, and recognize that life is imperfect and beautiful. I embrace change and empower and inspire others. I believe we should use things and love people because the opposite never works.

This openness has also led to exciting opportunities that are currently in the works. Stay tuned as I’ll be sharing more with you in the coming weeks, including a big announcement about a change to my business.

As always, I’m eternally grateful for the love and support from all y’all. To be able to do what I love for a living is such an incredible gift!