FALL into change.

Fall is my favorite time of year here in Ohio. The fall foliage on the trees is refreshing and calming. I love the weather despite the drastic shift it can do sometimes, like a matter of 20 degrees from week to week! It makes you hold off from switching out your summer wardrobe with your fall/winter wardrobe for as long as possible. A funny habit I got into is keeping my flip flops out by the door for as long as possible in hopes that it’ll send a message to Jupiter, the Roman God of the skies, to keep the warm sunshine coming for just a bit longer so I can get a few more wears in them until my toesies need the warmth of socks and shoes. Fall is a season of change and also closer to the end of the year, so I feel not only a shift in the weather patterns and nature, but also within myself.

Fall also usually is a crazy busy time of year for me as DJ (pre-COVID)…I am full steam ahead, hustlin, grindin, and rockin 10–15 events a month! This Fall is different….along with the rest of the year since March. I did have 3 amazing weddings that didn’t postpone to next year and I soaked up every bit of the high-energy vibes which fuel me! but overall, the vast majority of live events are still “on pause” due to the global pandemic and its’ effect on the events industry..sigh…oh how I miss the energy of a dance crowd! With the slower pace lifestyle, I got to experience this time of year in a different way while managing to stay COVID safe. I went on more nature hikes and rollerblading adventures, socialized safely with my small circle of friends, took a trip to visit a friend, do fun fall things that I never got to do before like pumpkin picking with my nephews.

It also is a good time of year to reflect on the year thus far and what I have achieved, not achieved, and what I still want to accomplish by the end of the year. From a business perspective, I have consistently been adapting and figuring out how to navigate my business in the best direction that drastically changed in this new world. I have reinvented myself as a DJ and MC, and now offer Virtual Event services. I have tried new things while working on eliminating what no longer serves me. I realized I was a burnout DJ and business owner and that I had to make a choice and commitment to change and shout “I am willing!!” at the top of my lungs while jumping up and down to a fav song of mine that gets me pumped; currently Disclosure — Energy….did you know that jumping detoxifies and enhances lymphatic circulation?! Wild fact! I have redefined what my priorities are. I ask myself “what is my why?” a heck of a lot more than I use to. I am learning to embrace stillness, surrender, and “chill into myself.” I have felt lost and stuck in the mud sometimes and have ridden a lot of emotional waves of various sizes…but I’ve gotten back up on my board with the shaka sign and kept going. I have taking a deep dive into the personal development journey to unravel, activate, explore, and discover more of my true authentic self to allow my inner light to shine even more to be more vulnerable and unapologetic.

Here is a list of some new habits I’ve started that have been life game-changers:

1. Meditation — finally! I am a regular meditator and have had a few wild meditation experiences…namaste.
2. Becoming a part of a fitness soul tribe of like-minded women led by a bad ass, courageous, inspiring instructor, Kelly Sodergren. I’m on my way to reaching my goals I’ve had for a loooooong time! I feel stronger both, mentally and physically.
3. Going to bed and waking up around the same time Sun-Fri. BOOM! I have found my body’s circadian rhythm and it thanks me for it.
4. Focusing more on being rather than doing.
5. Revamped my already cool morning routine and made it more kick ass…and came up with a weekly routine that keeps my productivity on track.
6. Saying “No” more than “Yes.”
7. Embracing and leaning into emotions rather then pushing them away.
8. Not being afraid to ask for help.
9. Joined a book club. (this is more recent, but I love it so much already I see myself sticking to it!)
10. Set time limits on social media. this one is still a work in progress…some days I’m solid, others I go down the rabbit hole. hey, I’m human!

“We often view ourselves as procrastinators or lazy or unmotivated. When in reality, we’re simply unwilling. We put things off or avoid them completely because we tell ourselves we just don’t want to do it or that we can’t do it.”
― Gary John Bishop, Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life