Why I said, "YES"... to the Adventure of Life

Life is an Adventure!

Before sharing the details of my "life is an adventure" reflection, I want to acknowledge that in some ways I was born with this philosophy. From early childhood I can remember thinking that life was a magical, mystical adventure. And in my life, I have also had my share of doubts, fear, pain, despair, and even wishing I could just die. Yes, the pain in my life has been so deep that there have been times I wanted to cash in my chips and go home. "I am done. I can't find a way out of this pain. Take me home!"

But every time I have reached that depth of pain, there has been something inside of me that keeps driving me from within to remember the magic. It reminds me that living life is a gift and to find the adventure in everything. Every time I have climbed out of the deep hole and I have said YES to Life, there is more joy, more expansion and the return of the magic of life.

When faced with:

An illness, I ask myself, "What can I learn?"
An eviction process. "What is my soul calling me to do or to be?"
A trip to Denver. "How can I expand and share myself in my full essence and see the essence of everyone I meet?"

Asking the questions, opens my mind, my heart, my experience to reach into deeper places within me.


I was reminded of this idea, "Life is an Adventure," in two conversations recently. I was talking with someone who travels a lot. We were talking about getting to the airport early. And I shared that I like getting here early because it gives me more time for the adventure. When I have extra time, I am more relaxed and in the moment with what is happening. A delay in the baggage screening gives me more time to look around and see people. Waiting in line is a way to have a conversation or look into the eyes of another person and smile, instead of just pushing forward. Or I get a cup of coffee. Look out the windows to see the land outside of the airport. I watch the crews that are loading the airplanes with suitcases. I listen and engage in conversations. I have time to reflect, read a magazine, or close my eyes, feel the love in my heart and radiate that into the airport. I live life in the moment.

In the conversation, I shared how flying is another adventure. Her response, "I fly too much for it to be an adventure." And she rushed off to her next appointment, I was feeling sad for her. How sad that flying is no longer an adventure. If there had been more time I would have shared with her that everything is an adventure to me. "Enjoy the adventure" is an attitude.

If we had more time, I would have shared how several times a week I walk a mile to Trader Joe's and it is always an adventure. Who will I meet along the walk? What is blooming in the gardens? What does the sky look like today? When I enter Trader Joe's I head to the back corner for a sample cup of coffee and a sample of food. I wonder, what will the sample be today? I have my grocery list in my hand, but I always take a few minutes to look at the food that is highlighted in different areas of the store. Is there a new food that is calling to me? A bread, a fruit, or something exotic?

On the way home I continue to open my eyes and see what words pop out from a sign, a bus passing me. I feel the gratitude of the walk, the bags filled with food and the opportunity to walk to the store. I stop for a few minutes and I breathe in the beauty of the mountains, the trees, the sun. I look at everything with childlike wonder and fresh eyes.

It is so great to be alive!

This week, James Twyman sent a video called The Three Secrets of Being the Change.

Secret #1 is Just Say, YES!

If you want to Be The Change, just say, "YES!" If you want to shift things in your life, listen to your heart and say YES!


ENJOY the ADVENTURE!

Andrea Hylen is a Life Energy Coach specializing in Grief Transformation, founder of Heal My Voice, a Minister of Spiritual Peacemaking and co-author of Conscious Choices: An Evolutionary Woman's Guide to Life. Her next book: Open to Inspiration: The summer a woman discovered herself with a teenage daughter and the Jonas Brothers on a 10,000 mile road trip will be published in 2012. Her greatest desire is to inspire people to live a deeper, richer life as leaders of their own lives and to connect with people for deeper conversations.

Why I said, "YES"... Quiet the Mind and Take Baby Steps

(Originally written by Andrea Hylen for the Living on the Edge Blog on February 12, 2011)

Stuart Mooney, a scientist and a Buddhist wrote on his blog that the great awakening has arrived. Between Feb 11, 2011 and Oct 28, 2011, we will all wake up!

I have been waiting all of my life for this moment in time. All over the planet there is an awakening and an inner shift that is calling us to move from the mind to the heart. To move from a linear thinking to a wisdom spoken by and through the heart. I feel like finally I can be a round peg and I don’t have to fit into a square hole. I can be myself and allow other people to be themselves.

In this time of awakening we are all reminded to quiet the mind, listen for our inner wisdom, and take action in baby steps. It can be exciting and scary bringing waves of grief, as we let go. There can be discomfort as things are always shifting. I feel this way every day, do you?

I listened to Jo Dunning, a healer, last night as she talked about the shift that is happening. She reminded us to quiet the mind and cultivate gratitude and trust. For example, An event has already happened. Now how do we respond.

Here are some quotes from the interview:

"We very seldom get the big picture. We usually get the next baby step and then the next baby step. Occasionally, we may think we have the next picture and we find ourselves moving towards it, only to find it was just the way to get us moving so something else could be the opportunity for us. Tune into the guidance and then take action on this deep knowing."

It takes tremendous courage to be on a spiritual path. You can do it! Quiet the mind…take baby steps.

**********

Andrea Hylen is the Founder of Heal My Voice, http://www.healmyvoice.org/

Why I said, "YES"...a Day in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City: An Example of Peace on Earth

Oklahoma City: An example of Peace on Earth by Andrea Hylen

(This was originally published in Beloved World- Voices of Peace Newsletter Sept 2008) 

Voices of Peace: Sept 2008

July 7, 2008 - A journal entry

Words seem so inadequate on this day.

By spending the morning and the evening at the Oklahoma City Memorial, I feel that my life has been touched in a profound way. I sit here staring at the blank page feeling the stillness, not knowing how to capture this experience in words.

A field of empty chairs represents the lives lost on April 19, 1995. My heart felt like it was bursting open when I first entered the Memorial Gateway. Tears ran down by cheeks, as I opened to the emotion. I felt  like my heart was bursting with love and gratitude. Love and gratitude? This took me by surprise. I found out later that the entrance we walked through was the Door of Hope. And that is what I felt.

Through the tragedy of loss, the powerful emotions of forgiveness, healing, hope and love have arisen here. Beginning with the people who responded with help immediately, to those who came from afar, to the words of love from children, this is an example of the hope and beauty that is arising on the planet.

 

 

The people of Oklahoma City have risen from the ashes and chosen peace. They are an example of peace on Earth as we each make conscious choices for inner peace.

An educator in the museum shared the peace programs that have been birthed here. Conflict resolution classes in schools; Cards and artwork from children, like the tile that reads, ”The world cares.” Sharing tools of peace with the children.

Every night when the sun goes down, the lights below each chair shine brighter and brighter. As the darkness spreads throughout the city, I see the moon at the highest point in the sky. There is stillness. The chairs that represent loss are transformed and emerge into brilliant candles of hope and light.

 

I see in this moment, it is in the greatest times of darkness that we become the brightest lights.

 

 

 

Why I said, "YES" ...to P.S. I LOVE YOU (grieving the loss of a spouse)

Two years after my husband died, a film came out called, "P.S. I Love You." Several people recommended the film to me about a widow whose husband leaves a series of letters and gifts for her to receive during the first year after his death. When I first heard the words and the description, I knew I couldn't watch it for several reasons.

One, during the last year of my husband's life, he was fighting to live. There were a few conversations about the future where he told me to take some of the life insurance money and go to Greece on a trip which was one of my dreams. But most of the last year of his life was spent researching treatments and watching him fight for his life. No time was spent on saying goodbye and looking at the end.

Two, I was angry. I did not want to watch a film about how two people loved each other so much. I didn't want to see this amazing husband who left his grieving widow lovely gifts and positive messages. My husband left me with paperwork and junk and a drug addicted business tenant. He left me with unanswered questions and an incomplete ending. He left the family with anger and hurt from his prescription drug induced rage and insanity. Thorns instead of roses.

Over a period of time, the film kept crossing my path. One summer evening, I was at the video store and there it was on DVD. I felt ready to see it. I had moved through the anger and was ready to forgive my husband and forgive myself. I had developed more compassion and with time I had filtered through the physical experience and the unresolved junk in our relationship. I was beginning to remember some of the amazing moments in our relationship. I rented the DVD, popped some popcorn and grabbed a box of tissues. No one else was home.

Throughout the film, I cried silent tears with occasional sobbing inhalations. Finally, the last letter arrived. I knew that these were the words my husband would have said to me. In the last few weeks of his life, he did say these words with his eyes.

"Dear Holly (replaced in my heart with Andrea), I don't have much time. I don't mean literally, I mean you're out buying ice cream and you'll be home soon. But I have a feeling this is the last letter, because there is only one thing left to tell you. It isn't to go down memory lane or make you buy a lamp, you can take care of yourself without any help from me. It's to tell you how much you move me, how you changed me. You made me a man, by loving me Holly. And for that, I am eternally grateful... literally. If you can promise me anything, promise me that whenever you're sad, or unsure, or you lose complete faith, that you'll try to see yourself through my eyes. Thank you for the honor of being my wife. I'm a man with no regrets. How lucky am I. You made my life, Holly. But I'm just one chapter in yours. There'll be more. I promise. So here it comes, the big one. Don't be afraid to fall in love again. Watch out for that signal, when life as you know it ends. P.S. I will always love you".

As I watched the film all alone in my house, a sound came out of me that I had never heard before. When the words of the letter were spoken, a howling, guttural sound of pain burst from me. It was the loudest, most primitive sound I had ever heard. It sounded like an animal in excruciating pain. Without controlling anything, the sound was released from my soul.

As I watched the end of the film and cried more tears, I knew the film had arrived at the perfect time. I was ready to heal the deeper pain and loss of my husband. I was ready to close the chapter. I was ready to fall in love with life again.

It has been several more years now. I think of my husband with feelings of love and gratitude and honor. I remember the night after ten years of marriage when he told me I was not his soul mate but his destiny. With the deep life journey we were on for over fifteen years, I would agree. The deepest most profound learning of my life happened over and over during those fifteen years. It is now my life work and my husband is my guardian angel.

I have fallen in love with myself and with life again and the next book of my life has begun.

Hurley (RIP 2005) and our son Cooper (RIP 1993)

*****

Andrea Hylen is a Life Energy Coach specializing in Grief Transformation, founder of Heal My Voice, a Minister of Spiritual Peacemaking and co-author of Conscious Choices: An Evolutionary Woman's Guide to Life. Some day she will finish writing the book: Open to Inspiration: The summer a woman discovered herself with a teenage daughter and the Jonas Brothers on a 10,000 mile road trip. Her greatest desire is to inspire people to live a deeper, richer life as leaders of their own lives and to connect with people for deeper conversations. 

Why I said, "YES"...to the Journey of Releasing aka Life As a Butterfly

Although I wrote this in a journal a year ago, I still find myself on a journey of releasing, releasing, releasing. Every time I think I have reached a place of stability, there is another call to shift physically, emotionally, mentally, spirituality.

In the spirit of releasing, I share the words of Life As A Butterfly.

Life as a Butterfly
July 7, 2010

In 2005, my daughter, Hannah, told me we would be moving from Baltimore to Los Angeles. It was two weeks after her father died and the clarity of the future flowed through her. It took me another 3 1/2 years to see it. 

It was January of 2009. I felt a deep calling to release my house and most of my personal belongings. It took a year for everything to be released and sold. Since arriving in California in Jan. 2010, I have met people every week who have the same deep calling to transform and change. I feel the wave of movement from one part of the world to the other.

I meet people on Facebook, at Priscilla's Coffee and Tea in Burbank and at the Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles. We are in a state of releasing. From releasing identities that no longer serve us to material possessions that have been clogging our lives to old beliefs that place limitations on new life. As we release, we open to embrace something new. Most of our futures are unplanned. We live on the edge of uncertainty of what is next until it appears. Underneath there is an aliveness about infinite possibilities and expectancy, like waiting to go into labor. I know the new birth is coming and soon!

The one common element is the consciousness around the release. No one is rejecting their old life. Everyone is releasing and moving towards something unknown. No one is running away. They are choosing a different path. The old life was fine. Maybe even great!

On this new path, there are elements of freedom and music. At the center of it all is a spiritual connection to their heart and destiny. Step 1 is to renew their spirit. Step 2 is opening to the path that is leading them to serve. Something is stirring in each heart. There is a link to the great awakening on planet Earth.

Around the world, old structures are crumbling. Education, banking, government, health systems, resources, and jobs. In nature, there are earthquakes, volcanoes, oil spills and hurricanes. Barbara Marx Hubbard is a futurist who has been teaching for 40 years about a time in the world when the old structures would break down and fall apart. She has used the phrase, "Our crisis is a birth." Spiritual leaders like Michael Bernard Beckwith, speak of the natural breakdown of the old, "Something new is trying to emerge. That which is dissolving has to fall apart." We can not receive the new without the breakdown. Just as a baby is birthed with labor pains, the world is experiencing labor pains of its own.

I am filled with both fear and excitement. When I feel fear, I am examining my life from an old paradigm. Focused on old solutions that do not work any longer. When I feel excited, I am seeing infinite possibilities and open to the inspiration of new ideas and new solutions.

Do you know what happens inside the chrysalis when the caterpillar is changing into a butterfly?

The caterpillar sheds it's skin one last time as the chrysalis is forming. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar's body begins to die. The juices used to digest food, now turn and digest the body. The body dies from the inside out. There are special formative cells that were stored in the tissue of the caterpillar that were never used for anything until now. When the old body becomes a caterpillar soup, the cells awaken for the first time. The cells are called imaginal buds or discs. As they awaken, they begin to multiply. At first, the caterpillar's immune system kills them. It isn't until the cells link together and join forces that they can become strong enough to overpower the immune system attack. The immune system dies and the imaginal cells become the body of the butterfly. The butterfly is very vulnerable and needs protection to complete the process of metamorphosis.

What can we learn from the metamorphosis?

1. The old skin is shed one last time before a new process begins.

2. There is a change from the inside out.

3. A memory or blueprint wakes up when the release of the old begins.

4. There is an internal struggle as the old resists and fights the new.

5. To strengthen the new and release the old, we join together in community, cooperation, and collaboration that supports our new birth.

6. As we awaken, something magnificent is created.

7. There is vulnerability at first. Be gentle with yourself. Rest.

Do you feel the call to become a butterfly and transform?

Why I said, "YES" ... surrendering on the 4th of July

Fourth of July
July 4, 2008

Preparing for a summer road trip with my daughter, I played with the idea of our 4th of July location for months. I thought the ideal situation would be a hotel in St. Louis, MO within walking distance to the Arch. Westward Expansion. What a great symbol to celebrate Independence Day and the expansion of ourselves on this journey.

But, the hotels were booked. I checked the hotels regularly. I thought there would be cancellations and a room would open in downtown St. Louis. Nothing...

The idea of parking and crowds and traffic was not appealing to me.

I reviewed the hotels outside of St. Louis and finally, I chose a spot two days before our arrival. It was close to our destination for the next day.

I released the idea of going to see fireworks. It was hard to let this go. Since the death of my husband, I tried to organize a 4th of July fireworks adventure every year. When he was alive, this was his thing, along with the annual carnival in town. It was something we enjoyed as a family, but he always organized it. Since his death, I didn’t want to let Hannah down. Hannah was the youngest of my daughters, only 12 years old when her father died. I wanted to create the best childhood I could for her. Fireworks felt important.

We talked about it and Hannah said she didn’t care. I let it go. I surrendered. We checked into the hotel and both of us started reviewing pictures and writing blogs for our travel websites.

Around 8:30pm, I heard a pounding, a steady rhythm of noise. It sounded like someone banging on the wall next door. Finally, I looked out the window and saw fireworks. I called to Hannah and she looked out the window and saw them, too.

My heart felt like it was bursting . There were fireworks in four different locations right out the window of our hotel! I saw fireworks from downtown St. Louis and Cahokia Mounds across the river and two other places I couldn’t identify. I watched them for 10 minutes feeling the gratitude of the location I had chosen...or was I guided here by an inner inspiration after I surrendered?

With a full heart and appreciation for a moment of fireworks with my daughter, I walked outside to put something in the car. Right outside the front door of the hotel, I stopped and gasped. There were fireworks EVERYWHERE! I walked around the parking lot. We were on top of a hill and I saw four.. seven..twelve.. sixteen... over twenty different fireworks locations. Some were so close, I could hear the boom and crackle and pop. I could smell the burning of fireworks powder. We were in the middle of the most spectacular fireworks event I had ever seen.

I saw a couple sitting in lawn chairs with the trunk of their car open. They told me they live in the area and this is the best location in the St Louis area. The fireworks displays continued for over an hour!

I felt the gratitude of what it really meant to trust, let go and open to the inspiration to surrender. A 4th of July to remember!

Westward Expansion. Opening to the expansion and guidance from within mySelf.

Why I said, "YES!" … and, what it meant to me once I did!

Awesome Women Hub Leaders

By Guest Blogger: Beth Bracaglia 
Awesome Women Hub Local Leader Baltimore/DC 

Why did I say “YES” to the Awesome Women Hub tour?    

Many people have asked me about the journey as to why I said YES initially to the tour.  There are several reasons, but I would have to say that the main reason is because I wanted to give back to this AWESOME community of women who inspired me.  Over the course of the past year and a half, I have met women from all over the country and the world, and they have become a part of who I am and have changed my life forever.

About a year ago, I discovered the Awesome Women Hub when there were about (200) members on it.  It was going to grow quickly, and I could just feel the energy.  I was already connected to Robin Rice’s Be Who You Are page, and I knew that anything that she was going to lead would be golden.  So, I joined the community at AWH, and began to meet really amazing women from all over.  I was involved in the very first gift basket by giving away a Simply Organized phone consultation, and it just moved forward from there. 

At the time, Robin was starting to offer social media training with her company UpTribe Media, and was going to be offering an in-person seminar for only a few attendees in National Harbor, MD.  In my previous position as a restaurant consultant, built one of the very first restaurants at National Harbor, so I felt that it was just meant to be.  So, I signed up for the seminar and took that very first training to assist me with the Simply Organized page and the creation of a brand new page as well.  At the time I began training, Simply Organized had about (500) “fans/likes” at the time, and during that weekend, I started the page “Beth Bracaglia’s Simply Inspired” and learned the new techniques.  All I can say is “WOW” ~ in less than a year, I now have over (1900) people in the Simply Organized Community, and over (2800) in the Beth Bracaglia’s Simply Inspired community thanks to UpTribe training and the always visionary Robin Rice.  How could I not give back to this grassroots cause to change the world? 

And so the journey began ~ it all started with a dream and a unique vision…and we ALL made it happen, piece by piece, by planning the first stop of the tour, together. 

The leaders of the Baltimore/DC/NoVA tour stop included:

Me:  I AM the Chief Organizing Officer of Simply Organized, where we assist busy people organize their homes and/or offices and help them to create the areas that better reflects their space & the life they want.  I coach my clients in space utilization, time management and how to simplify their life overall.  My journey with them also includes inspiration and motivation.  What I do is organize people, places & all kinds of things! 

Laurissa Heller:  A woman who began my latest journey with me over a year ago during UpTribe training, my wonderful Tribe Sister and beautiful friend.  She’s a spiritual intuitive, yoga teacher, meditation leader, astrologist, conscious living guru, and inspiration to me to assist me in living the life of my dreams.

Beth and Debbie

Debbie Kabin:  My true Earth”momma”, who promotes & supports events all over the DC Metro area and beyond through her company Earthmother Holistic Events.  Deb is an incredible woman, filled with love and compassion who lifts and supports us all in everything we do.  She amazes me each & every day!

Sharon Fallon Shreve:  A High Magdeline Priestess ~ what was that I really didn’t know at the beginning of this journey, but my Goddess, I am learning!  She amazes & delights me with her strong presence, love, light & teaching.

Beth and Sharon

Tiffany Montavon:  A soul coach, self-described “nature woman”, and the person who has taught me so much about honoring all of our seasons, the world outside, and appreciating the beauty all around us.  A truly amazing lady, and I’m fortunate that our paths have crossed.

Joan Schramm: A life & career coach, who stands by her strong ideas on how to help each & every person she coaches to find the life of their dreams.  Joan is a wonderful lady, who supports & lifts us all when we need it the most.  Her quiet strength and honesty always help to move things along.

Together, we helped change our part of the world, honoring our authentic journeys, all while lifting & supporting the other (50) women in attendance on that magical weekend.  We are now forever connected by being FEARLESS together, and living a life where we lead in each of our lives, our careers, by helping others.  Together, we stand even stronger together.  What happens next?  Only time will tell, but I can tell you all one thing…it’s going to continue to be AWESOME!  

To connect with Beth Bracaglia: 

http://www.facebook.com/simplyorganizedtoday

http://www.facebook.com/bethbracaglias.simplyinspired 
http://www.awesomewomenhub.com/