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TIME GOES BY
Let's Retire on a Princess Cruise
The president has been particularly chatty lately. Last week, he gave the State of the Union Address and sparred with Republicans and then tried the latter with Democratic senators this week. I tuned out during his third public discussion yesterday......
Now, don't go thinking this is boring - it's not. It is something that could be dangerous but has a simple, easy solution. How often does that happen in life? Last Monday la peregrina, who blogs at Santiago Dreaming, made......
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Saul Friedman (bio) writes the twice-monthly Reflections column for Time Goes By in which he comments on news, politics and social issues from his perspective as one of the younger members of the greatest generation. His other......
One of the things I dislike about the cultural markers related to elders is that so much of it is about poor health. There are uncounted numbers television commercials, repeated in static and video ads on the internet that also......
ELDER MUSIC: 1950s – Pre-Heartbreak Hotel, Part 1
You never know who you're going to meet on the internet and I came to know Peter Tibbles (bio here) via email over the past couple of years. His extensive knowledge of most genres of music and his excellent taste......
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Saul Friedman (bio) writes the weekly Gray Matters column which appears here each Saturday. Links to past Gray Matters columns can be found here. Saul's Reflections column, in which he comments on news, politics and social issues......
Simple Marriage
Simple Marriage Podcast #2: Wanting and Being Wanted
Welcome to the second episode of the Simple Marriage Podcast. In this episode we dive further into the idea’s discussed in our first episode about sexual desire differences, but come at it from a different angle. Today we discuss the idea of wanting and being wanted. Yep, there’s still a lot of talk...
“I thought we agreed on this!”
You were so prepared. You talked about how you want to parent your kids before they even showed up on the scene. You agreed on the lessons you want to teach your kids. You have the same vision for the type of people you hope to raise. Then you realize...
There was a defining moment I realized my relationship with Mr. Right’s ex mattered. I was on the phone with him, complaining about a recent “disaster” with scheduling visitation. With Little Girl in earshot, I loudly proclaimed: “She is such an idiot.” When that corner of the room went silent in...
Two Words for a Better Marriage
If you venture into the world of marriage bigification and self-improvement, you’ll be inundated with all types of awesome speak. It’s everywhere in the blogoshere. Why does it have to be so hard? What if two words could improve your marriage? Two words can … and will. Think big (look at the big picture of...
This is the third post in a series about living the virtuous life like Benjamin Franklin. We’re taking his life and applying it to marriage and relationships. Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time. Let’s face it, we live in a fairly scattered...
I’ve brought this question up a couple of times thus far, but it’s always been buried in a post somewhere towards the bottom. Today it’s front and center. This weekend, spend some time examining your response. Be open. Be realistic. But most importantly, be honest. So what’s the best question you can ask? Would you...
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A simple master - piece made with simple steps in a simply awesome software (Photoshop :P). ...
The person who means a lot to me . . .
Hey guys I am gonna tell you a small part of my coming into this world.I was in this other world of mine which was very magical and beautiful, which had everything that one aspires in life, everything that makes you happy. And then . . .On January 4 1989,...
Just two photos to describe my evening. The moon coming up in the eastern sky.The glorious sun going down in the western sky.One that goes up eventually comes down . . ....
Well the name's WICGACHistorically speaking, WICGAC = Wish I Could Get Another Chance. A blog which was started by me to pour my thoughts on my life actions which couldn't be reversed. It so happened one night, I was very disappointed that day and was restless with no means to restore my...
This is one of my recent works. For the first time I made use of the pictures which were taken by me. The image down was taken at the time of sandhi puja during Durga Puja 08. Similarly the the image of godesses Durga was taken on vijaya dashami during...
Shiny Bits of Life
When I saw this photo of the Queen of England shaking hands with Lady Gaga, my main thought was – who is the person who plans her schedule? That person needs to be fired. Lady Gaga, for those of you who don’t know, is one of the latest pop sensations. Or...
I’d love for you to visit 300 Words a Day. I wrote today’s post today, thanks to Jon Swanson. Share on Facebook...
The biggest thing I learned from my own children is how selfish I am. This is a lesson I continue to learn in new and different ways with each passing year. Children (particularly the younger variety) don’t ask for their parents’ time – they demand it. Every time their request is...
If you shop at Amazon, bookmark this post – and you can contribute to the Shiny Bits of Life tip jar, by starting your shopping with this link. Reason? Shiny Bits of Life is an Amazon affiliate. If you buy anything from Amazon and you start from that link, Shiny Bits...
I was amused when I saw the new Sun-Maid girl. She is a computer-generated illustration. I miss the old days when an artist would bring out an actual brush and paint. Unlike some product icon people, the Sun-Maid girl was originally based on a real person. Not anymore. Share on Facebook...
I like watches. I rarely wear them. The trend these days is big watches. I have very skinny wrists. Those kinds of watches look ridiculous on me. I did not buy this watch. But it was fun to try it on. Nixon makes some pretty cool watches. Share on Facebook...
Nothing But Bonfires
In Other News, The Pope Is Catholic
On Monday, I went to the gym for the first time in.....well, I don't think I'm ready to reveal that yet. It's too embarrassing. But it was in a month beginning with "A." No, not April! I'm not that lazy. Oh alright, it was August. Yes, friends, before Monday, I hadn't been to...
One Man's Groundhog Is Another Man's Burning Effigy
I think I could live in America for the rest of my life and I would still not really understand Groundhog Day. It catches me off guard every year. I'll be making polite small talk about the weather with someone in an elevator or a shop and all of a sudden they'll...
Does This Dress Make Me Look Thirty?
I turn thirty a week from today and I am not afraid to tell you that I have been sucker-punched by that old cliche, big time. You know the cliche I'm talking about: the one where you dread turning thirty. Every prime-time sitcom in the history of the world has made rampant...
So there I was, with a blog post all written in my head already about my haaaaaiiiiiiiirrrrrrrr---you know, the sort of self-absorbed little nugget that some social media professor at a third-rate university would hold up as Exhibit A in a lecture entitled Why Bloggers Are Navel-Gazing Twerps Who Assume...
Three Stories My Mother Tells That Make Me Shriek
ONE It is roughly 1990. We are living in Hong Kong. My mother wakes up in the middle of the night to nurse my baby brother and sister, as people with recently born infants often do. She is sitting up in bed, in the dark. She is breastfeeding Luke. She feels...
Anything I Can Do, You Can Do Better
Friends, I have found the chink in my armor. It's not that I can't do a cartwheel or burp on command or count to five on my fingers without inadvertently putting the pinkie before the ring finger EVERY SINGLE TIME, none of which I have ever been able to do. No, the chink in my...
Indexed
Architecture, romance, careers, whatnot.
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They are out to get you. And they’re stealthy, too.
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Dateline: Oblivion
How I Am Stunning the World (Not!) with a Self-Published Book!
By Si DunnOnline sites such as Lulu, CreateSpace and Amazon’s Digital Text Platform for Kindle now make it easy to publish your own book at affordable prices.What is not easy is figuring out how to sell what you self-publish, particularly if it is fiction, without paying hundreds of dollars—and up--to...
Art & Fear: Don't Let Worries Stop Your Creativity
The book Art & Fear is a compact work with only 122 pages. But it lives up to its tagline, "An Artist's Survival Guide," and to its official subtitle: "Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking."The book's co-authors, David Bayles and Ted Orland, describe it as "a book about...
Texas Needs to Rework Its Movie, TV and Game Production Incentives
The Austin American-Statesman gets it, and that newspaper doggedly is staying on the Texas Legislature's case, even if many Texas politicians and entertainment people seem to be paying scant attention."State officials shouldn't be cast in roles of movie producers, scriptwriters or fact checkers, yet that's exactly where Texas legislators have...
Fiction Is as Fiction Does: The 'Waco' Movie Controversy Rolls On
One essential point –- fiction -- keeps getting missed as criticisms and free publicity continue for the screenplay for Entertainment 7’s Waco movie project.No matter how “accurate” anyone thinks it should be, a screenplay –- any screenplay -- is a fabrication, a “play” for presentation on a “screen.” And any...
Do not be fooled by how simple a screenplay appears on the printed page. You may spend up to a year or more writing and rewriting a feature-length script.Be prepared to rework each new screenplay several times. And get feedback from others -- friends, relatives, strangers, actors, script readers --...
Waco and Branch Davidians Cited by Iran's Supreme Leader
According to "The Lede," the New York Times blog, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has cited the 1993 Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, Texas, as a reason for rejecting American criticism of Iran's response to opposition protests.In a translation posted by Iran's Press TV, Ayatollah Khamenei stated at the...
Jonniker.
Still busy out the hoo-ha, and Jillian Michaels has taken my knees hostage, which has resulted in me on a foam roller every night and HOBBLING by 9 p.m. HOBBLING. Thanks, Jillian! You’re a bitch! Thank you, Wii yoga, for at least giving me something to DO. Anyway, to get...
When it comes to motherhood/kids, I think I’m pretty reasonable. I get why people don’t have them — really, I do — and it’s a choice I almost made and would have been quite happy with. It’s not for everyone, and there are plenty of people who have children who...
A brief weekend update to what I alluded to on my last entry, this time with purpose! About a month ago, Jennie mentioned her company was doing an upcoming anthology on True Blood. And people, you KNOW how I feel about True Blood, considering it’s the only show I’ve seen in...
I went to Costco today with Julie, and frankly, either one of those things on their own (a visit to Costco OR a visit with Julie) is swoon-worthy and enough entertainment for an entire week, but in combination, hoo boy, it was practically the perfect storm of wonder and delight....
So there was a time, once, when I considered myself to be a smart person. Then, sadly, I took the Jeopardy online test and was rendered a drooling cro magnon, because GEEZUZ, you guys, that shit is HARD. How is it possible that a show — a show I consistently...
We’re going through a bit of a stressy situation over here at chez jonniker that really isn’t worth going into for right now, but on levels of family stresses of the largeish variety is about as mundane as it gets. However, what is frustrating me most about this particular stressy...
Life on the High Wire
Quote of the Night: “Passion Is Not Mania” (So We’d Better Go Back on Our Meds)
I went to the “Art of the Pitch” panel at the Grad Center last night, which featured an agent as well as editors from major mags including The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, and The Paris Review. I’d heard much of their advice before, which isn’t a bad thing...
But If Your Goal Is Removing a Brain Tumor, I'd Say Set the Bar a Little Higher
230 pages, 71,000 words, and 3 million seconds of doubt later, I’m done with the first draft of the memoir. Let’s honor my achievement with a moment of silence. Now. Make me a margarita.Ha ha! I’m afraid the margarita has to wait, because a) I’m writing this at 8 a.m.,...
Or, I Could Include a Mouse Who’s an Inspector
Spring semester officially starts today, so as a warm-up for what’s likely to be four months of briefer blog posts, here’s a website recommendation:“Curious Pages: Recommended Inappropriate Books for Kids” (Thanks to Very Short List for the tip.)The commentary is hilarious – the labels are particularly brilliant – and it...
Also comforting? Flannel Sheets and Arrested Development Reruns, But Those Will Have To Wait
This weekend I finished the penultimate chapter of the memoir. (I’m a writer. I’m allowed to use words that don’t sound like what they mean.) It was such a satisfying moment that I immediately ate a bunch of dried mango and danced around my apartment, and after hooting my joy...
In Other Words, The “Shut Up and Shop” Magnet on My Fridge Is Meant to Be Ironic
Regular readers know I’m a big fan of living below your means. Earn more than you spend, bank some then leave it alone, don’t go crazy with housing, and quit buying stuff you don’t really need. (Yes, fellow Americans, this includes 3G phones, Kindles, and, gasp, even TVs. Want, sure....
Not an Option: The Ghost or the Ship
Confession time: I got no writing done this weekend. None. Because really, who has time when there’s serious frolicking to be done? And if there were any post-frolic time left, who could possibly get any writing done when that time was needed to recover from said frolicking?I used to be...
just my thoughts
So it seems I couldn’t keep my word of posting more often. Maybe it’s not my destiny to consistently write in a blog. Maybe I’m just too lazy to actually take the time every other week or so to write a new post. Life’s been crazy. Ok not really, but there’s...
Sallie Mae, X-ray vision, and weddings
I’m going to not even mention that it’s been over two months since I’ve posted. There’s been a lot going on, but I’m certain I won’t be able to remember most of it… I suppose that is why I should write more often, so there isn’t a huge gap in between...
So my parents are back from Indonesia, finally. It was a long trip, about 11 weeks or so total I guess, but they’re home safe and sound. Time to relinquish my kingdom to its rightful owner (the house - my dad). They actually got back over a month ago now,...
You can put your excuses in a sack, mister
I never really understood that expression… but from where I’ve heard it used, it applies here. A lot has been going on, but I haven’t had the initiative to actually write it all out. I’ve been riding the Percocet train pretty hard, and it’s made my sleeping, eating and spare-time habits...
All while watching Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’s debut
So I’ve been tweeting a lot lately. It took me a while to get into the jist of it, however it seems to really be a pretty productive networking tool. It’s not really about just letting people know that you had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch, that...
Evolving our basic necessities
A couple things boggled my mind last night as I was lying in TJ’s living room at 3AM wondering why I wasn’t asleep yet. Nevermind it was because I stayed up working on more freelance work, as apparently I have to continually be working on something. It all started while we...
Hole In The Donut Travels
Hope in a Changing Climate – Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in China, Ethiopa, and Rwanda
Efforts to improve the situation of indigenous peoples through restoration of the environment is one of the most intriguing stories to emerge from travel. One of the organizations doing important work in this field, the Environmental Educational Media Project, produced the documentary Hope In A Changing Climate, which promotes the...
Blogging Boomers Carnival #147 Hosted by the Baby Boomer Entrepreneur
It’s Monday and that means it’s time for another Blogging Boomers Carnival, our weekly collection of posts written by some of the Internet’s most fascinating baby boomers. Check out reviews of this week’s posts at our most excellent host, The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur....
Why I (Probably) Won’t Buy an Apple iPad
I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of Apple’s new iPad because I was absolutely convinced it would be a “must have” product for me. As I watched the Keynote event where Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad this past Wednesday, I was initially very impressed. The sleek design and giant touchpad screen...
Two Tips for Safe Driving in Bad Weather
Since we’re all driving more and flying less, I want to pass along two very interesting safe driving tips that were emailed to me yesterday. WEAR YOUR SUNGLASSES WHEN DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN: During a heavy downpour, visibility is bad, even with the wipers on high. Wearing your sunglasses will vastly...
Drive Cross Country in Someone Else’s Car for Free
Don’t look now but the open road is calling. Faced with onerous security regulations, endless add-on fees, and uncomfortable planes that squeeze customers in like sardines, more and more travelers are opting for the highways rather than the skyways. Americans are rediscovering the joy of driving cross-country with the wind...
Morton Arboretum – 1,700 Acres of Winter Wonderland
After a few housebound weeks in Illinois’ sub-freezing winter weather, a thirty-six degree day felt positively balmy. Although the weatherman called for yet another dreary, overcast day, no snow or freezing rain was forecast, so I seized the opportunity to visit the Morton Arboretum, a 1,700-acre park in the Chicago’s...
Trying to follow
God Told Me That She Loves Atheists The Best
Open Discussion: God Told Me That She Loves Atheists The Best ...
YouTubesday: Visitation Monastery
These are the awesome Nuns that live a few doors down from us. They’ve been in the neighborhood for 20 years!...
Felt like keeping it light hearted today. Q: When’s the last time you had a snowball fight?...
YouTubesday: Waste Not, Want Not
Another interesting look at our food consumption....
Professional Sports: Another Opiate for the Masses
I’ll start by saying, I watched the Vikings game last night and I was into it. I’ve watched a few games this season, urged on by the throngs of die-hard vikings fans around me, and some old nostalgia toward Favre. That being said, I haven’t been able to watch a...
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Kam Family Blog - Life in Hawaii as we live and enjoy it!
VIDEO: On the Sail of the Navy’s USS Santa Fe
I had the incredible opportunity of embarking on the USS Santa Fe Naval submarine as a distinguished guest this past Friday with social media friends Melissa Chang and Burt Lum. I’ll be posting more about the experience over the next week. However, thought I’d post some video (taken with my...
Dream of opening for Bon Jovi will become reality for two Hawaii bands
Photo courtesy of AEG Live I received a press release from my PR friend Tracy Larrua last week announcing the “Opening Act Contest” for Bon Jovi’s concerts in Honolulu next month and immediately though what a freaking amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this is going to be for two local bands. Then I...
Mele Kalikimaka and Happy Holidays!
From our family to yours, Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)! May the holiday season be filled with family, friends, fun, and great food (and beer)! Please click this link or the photo above to enjoy our holiday greeting to you! Warmest Aloha, Nathan, Kelly, Ensen, Jabbey, and Tikki Posted in Ensen (aka Little...
Random photos of Little E taken with the Canon EOS Rebel T1i. Think he looks better as a cool dude or a cool chef? I might be biased, but I love both! -NGK Posted in Ensen (aka Little E) Tagged: Canon EOS Rebel T1i ...
Got holiday sushi/sashimi platters?
If you follow this blog, you know the Kam family is a big fan of Therapy Sportsgrill in Koko Marina. My pal Regan sent me an email the other day alerting me the restaurant is doing sushi/sashimi platters this holiday season. Based on the photo above, anyone sporting this platter...
5 reasons PCC’s Ha: Breath of Life is worth seeing
The Kam family had the pleasure of seeing the Polynesian Cultural Center’s new show “Ha: Breath of Life” a few weeks ago as a guest of the center and really enjoyed it. It’s a colorful production the entire family can enjoy with a touching storyline and action packed performances from...
Dragos Roua - Brilliantly Better
Why And How I Wrote And Published 4 Books In One Month
I don’t really believe in advertising as a valid, long-term monetizing strategy for a blog. There are more cons than pros, if you take the time to really look at it. Yet, many bloggers are rushing towards advertising and fill up their blog real estate with tons of banners and...
Don’t Hit It Big! Unless You’re Ready For It…
So, you want to hit it big? Go on, do it! Just don’t fantasize too much about how it’s going to be when you’ll do it. And you know why? Because it’s going to be completely different from what you think it would. Let me tell you a story about...
This is a guest post by my friend Zeenat Merchant-Syal, @zeenatsyal. Aren’t we all craving for success? In whatever endeavor we take up success is what we are after. Be it a project or a job. Be it as small a task as completing a good book. We always want to be...
I wish I could make this post the shorter post on DragosRoua.com, but I’m afraid this honor will go to my last one, about how to be a great blogger, with only 17 words. Nevertheless, I’ll keep it as short as I can. So, the Mariner Promo Code for this...
Choose to live an extraordinary life day in and day out. Then describe it word by word....
How To Defrag Your Mind In 5 Easy Steps
This is a follow up to my post: “Are You The Best Version Of Yourself?”. Specifically, that article used a geeky metaphor, comparing our own being with a computer. In order to be sure you run the best version of yourself, a certain number of maintenance tasks have to be...
Reality Me
So you want to work for youself
The grass is always greener on the other side. If you dream of escaping Cubeville to work as a freelancer or consultant taking business calls from the beach, setting your own schedule, working in pajamas or nothing at all, and taking vacations whenever you want, I am here to warn...
For the record, I have thought for a long time that Season 1 was the middle of this story and not the first time that the main characters had been to the island. But there’s holes in that theory....
There’s something wonderfully amusing in listening to the four year old talk smack with the thirteen year old....
Student: I am overwhelmed.Master: Perhaps you do too much at once....
Student: I was very happy until I was told I wasn’t.Master: With great effort, we climb to heights from which it is so easy to be knocked down....
The children are playing in the snow and taking breaks to warm in front of various video games from killing zombies, to fighting a Legoized Darth Vader, to playing songs with the Beetles. In the meantime, I’m day dreaming of working on the house while pounding keys on the computer....
THE SUMMER HOUSE
Sit down to eat....well that seems easy. Or does it. Try it for just one day. I didn't really think that I ate standing up.I do...or should I say I did.Skip the snacks at Costco and skip the making dinner munching. It's really not satisfying eating anyway.I've been reading The...
The dreaded "b" word.... yes I budget. I love having a budget. It allows me to spend money guilt free. The new year is a great time to try this out.Don't worry about all the pennies. To get started, keep track of all the money you spend in a month...
There's really no reason to go without chocolate. It's a plant so it must be healthy. Just make sure it's a good qualitychocolate! I discovered Ritter sport while going to school in Germany during college. This is the best!! The yogurt filling is to die for....
Tip #2 Eat Food. Not Much. Mostly Plants.
I just read a wonderful book called In Defense of Food, An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan."Eat food. Not to much. Mostly plants." That's how this book begins....Pollan helps us see what real food is.He shows us how government policies in the US affect what we eat and what is available...
Volunteer this yearand you will recievea free Disneyland ticket!I love this conceptTo get all the nitty-grittydetails.....Give a Day. Get a Disney Day....
You can start saving money today by making your own dryer balls. Dryer balls help your clothes come out of the dryer with less wrinkles and less static cling. They are reusable and environmentally friendly too-chemical free. You can make 2 dryer balls with one skein of yarn. You can...
turnings
A headline from the New York Tribune: Notwithstanding a few drawbacks, there is still much to be thankful for this winter. (Click on the Tribune logo to see the headline in all its glory.) David Bransby, photographer. Brought to you by the Library of Congress and flickr. [And little ol' me, but,...
Not that long a go a “workstation” implied an integrated effort. Hardware and Operating System engineered by the same company which ensured a more seamless experience. There have been many companies that have produced these integrated efforts including Sun and Apple. Certainly the out of box experience of Lisa’s iMac was...
The can’t help themselves. Even when they’re bashing Apple they praise Apple. From “Why the iPad will fail and help Windows 7 to succeed.“ Firstly this new type of device, obviously based on something that’s been around since 2002 but we’ll skip lightly over that one, is a very interesting form-factor...
As it should be, some things don’t change. ...
That’s my opinion of the weather. Gray, wet, cold… nasty. Upside of getting out? I chatted with a nice guy on Richard Sachs road bike. Classic Sachs color and “atmo”. The guy passed me pleasantly enough, but I called out “Richard Sachs? You bastard!” with a big smile on my...
I didn’t think it was going to happen at all…
…cause the weather looks like this: But I managed before it started sleeting/frozen raining. I try and do some sort of epic ride every year around my birthday. I used to try and do it on my birthday, but that’s almost never possible somehow. But it doesn’t matter because it seems...
Divine Purpose Unleashed - New Articles and News!
How to Feng Shui Your Life Purpose
You’re invited to a special call with Linda Binns… I’m joining Feng Shui consultant Linda Binns of Harmony In and Out for a discussion on Life Purpose Tuesday February 2, 2010 at 5pm Pacific (8pm Eastern). Linda is interviewing me, but I hope she’s going to give us feng shui...
I listen to TED. It’s the only “news” I turn on. I was looking for some inspiration and surprised to have found it in a college graduation commencement speech! Do you know Steve Jobs? You’ve likely heard of his name; he’s the Co-founder and CEO of Apple computer. So, even if...
Can you find your Divine Purpose in twenty minutes? Some say you can find your life purpose by simply sitting down with pen and paper. Exercises using lists and journaling will connect you with your unique gifts. Employ all the exercises you can get your hands on! What you’re looking for...
Why Create A Life Purpose Mission Statement?
It’s time to focus your energy! A great way to connect with your Divine Purpose is to create a mission statement. I had fun over at Tina Su’s blog, Think Simple Now. Tina is a great person to connect with if you want to create a positive mental attitude. She has...
Life Purpose – Can You Live It When Life Screws With You?
Does life make it easier or more difficult to live your Life Purpose? It’s easy to live your Life Purpose when you know what it is and life is cooperating with you. It’s easy to feel supported on your path when circumstances consistently unfold to your benefit. But, what about when...
Life Purpose Requires You To Make Some Changes…
Big changes! In order to step into your light, you must let go of that which no longer serves you. For some it’s a career, for others it’s a relationship. For some it’s a pattern of thoughts and behaviors or even crazy making people in their life. Among the more daunting...