Sanguine Stories

Last month, we started the conversation on how to look within. To be more mindful. To live with more intention. To take care of ourselves. This month, in our last Sanguine Element, we’re exploring how to expand out. To be more kind, compassionate and open-minded out in the world, in our everyday life. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I love words. Words can have an incredible impact, not only on ourselves and how we’re choosing to show up in the world but also on everyone around us. My intention is to share my words, my voice and hopefully, by doing so, to build community and create more harmony in the world. That is my purpose. To support people in living more happy, healthy and harmonious lives, for themselves and out in the world. Because words play such a big part of our purpose, and since they also make an impact on how we show up in the world - highlighting two of the 11 Sanguine Elements - today I wanted to share with you some examples of how the words we use can make an impact out in the world. I’d love to hear how you’re creating change by intentionally choosing your words or actions, what or who you’re speaking up for, or what help you need in learning to expand outwards, to be a cosmopolitan, a citizen of the earth. Listen to the podcast / Read the blog

Last month, we started the conversation on how to look within. To be more mindful. To live with more intention. To take care of ourselves. This month, in our last Sanguine Element, we’re exploring how to expand out. To be more kind, compassionate and open-minded out in the world, in our everyday life. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I love words. Words can have an incredible impact, not only on ourselves and how we’re choosing to show up in the world but also on everyone around us. My intention is to share my words, my voice and hopefully, by doing so, to build community and create more harmony in the world. That is my purpose. To support people in living more happy, healthy and harmonious lives, for themselves and out in the world. Because words play such a big part of our purpose, and since they also make an impact on how we show up in the world - highlighting two of the 11 Sanguine Elements - today I wanted to share with you some examples of how the words we use can make an impact out in the world - and how maybe we can shift our perspective on "what is mainstream" and "what is alternative". I’d love to hear how you’re creating change by intentionally choosing your words or actions, what or who you’re speaking up for, or what help you need in learning to expand outwards, to be a cosmopolitan, a citizen of the earth. Listen to the podcast / Read the blog

One of the most common concerns that kept popping up when I ran the live version of my free 5 day challenge was that the people in the group were taking care of everyone around them… but NOT taking care of themselves. And that made me think: You were likely taught the golden rule at a very young age. You learned that you are supposed to treat others as you wish they would treat you. But as you grow older, you may be finding it necessary to be reminded to take care of yourself as well as take care of others. On the podcast today, we’re flipping that adage around - Do for yourself as you do for others. I’m sharing with you 8 ideas on how to do just that - to take care of yourself, first. And I’d love to hear from you! How do you ensure that you’re caring for yourself so that you can better show up for others? Leave me a comment on the post. Listen to the podcast / Read the transcript

The last pose in most yoga classes is savasana. And often people will say it’s their favorite. But it’s not for me. Don’t get me wrong - savasana is great. But what I love the most? What creates the most ease and sense of the present moment, both as I get on the mat and after it’s rolled up? That’s what I’m sharing with you today. I’m also giving you a few ideas on how to bring that same sense of ease and presence, into your own life. Listen to the podcast / Read the blog

As we kick off our month long exploration of Sanguine Element #10: Look Within, I thought I’d share with you the first lesson in my DIY Inherent Harmony coaching program. The entire program is devoted to helping you become a better version of yourself - to look within and live your ONE beautiful life on your terms, for the benefit of all. And ... since it’s my birthday month, ALL of my online programs are available at 50% off their regular rate! I’m choosing to celebrate by supporting YOU in living a better life, as that’s the best gift I could receive, to know that what I offer has helped you, on your path in life. Check out my DIY programs here  

This month we’ve been talking about living on purpose… but what happens when life goes awry and we find ourselves off the path we'd intended to walk. Many years ago that happened to me. My status quo was disrupted when I got fired from a job. And this sudden change actually helped me discover my purpose. I’m sharing that story in this week’s Sanguine Stories Podcast + giving you 3 ways to get back on track when life gets derailed and you feel like you’ve lost your way. Listen to the podcast / Read the transcript

Last week on the Sanguine Stories podcast, we talked about why we need to live our ONE beautiful lives “on purpose”. But some of you have asked - How do I find my purpose? That’s what I’ll be sharing with you today. 4 ways to discover what your purpose is, in life. To show up every day, to live fully, to be wildhearted. Ready to find your purpose? Listen to the podcast / Read the transcript

  Why do we need a purpose in life? Why do we need to live on purpose? What does it mean to live your life on purpose, with purpose? Living on purpose means knowing what your story is and mindfully choosing how it unfolds. Even amongst the twists and turns, mishaps and missteps, your purpose is what keeps you on the path, pursuing your true north. Living with purpose implies knowing who you are and being responsible for your decisions, knowing that your everyday actions are intentionally leading you to where you want to be, and who you want to be. Over on the podcast, we’re exploring these three questions: Why is having a life purpose so important? What happens when you start living on purpose? How does living a purposeful life benefit us? Plus I ask you to contemplate on 3 important questions, to help you get started on living your life on purpose. Listen to the podcast / read the transcript

Hello my friends, this month we’ve been exploring how to be more innovative in our everyday lives. I would venture to guess that in most societies around the world, there is a status quo that one is expected to live up to. General rules and regulations that you are supposed to live by and adhere to, often being taught not to deviate from the existing norms. Granted, many of these rules are geared towards satisfying other people's expectations of our lives and in some ways, make life easier to navigate through. Standards such as:  You have to go to college and get a degree You have to pursue careers in 'insert industry' if you want to have a successful career You have to marry at a certain age You have to have children. Your kids must attend 'insert school' if you want to give them better opportunities to succeed You must respect your parents' wishes and obey them in everything These rules without a doubt do provide a safe guideline to critical decision making and to give direction. However, at what point are you living your own life and not holding yourself back by following them? Choosing to forge your own path to success does not in any way belittle these guidelines; it's merely you choosing to live your life on your terms. My wildhearted sanguine belief is that not everyone is meant to follow these pre-set standards, as no one-size fits all. So today, I’m sharing with you a few reasons why you should choose to color outside the lines and chart your own path in life. Read the transcript

This month we’re exploring Sanguine Element #8: Innovation. I once had a conversation with a property owner who had wanted to come over on a particular day to do some work at the house. I told her it wasn’t good timing as I would be taking an online training on that day and couldn’t be interrupted. She looked at me oddly and said – Why are you taking a class? You finished school decades ago, why are you still learning? Sigh. That’s a rather common sentiment for where I live. Especially in the rural areas, if they get to the 8th grade, many consider that sufficient. Which is so very different from my way of thinking. One of the best things about life – in my opinion - is that we never have to stop learning. Life in and of itself is a never-ending educational experience, and learning as part of our lives should never be limited to just the four walls of a schoolhouse and only for school-aged children. Learning should extend beyond –into our adult lives-- because it enriches our daily experiences, enhances our thinking capacities and widens the horizons of our minds. Learning helps us become more innovative and resilient. Which hits on 2 of the 11 sanguine elements! Over on the podcast, I’m sharing with you 5 reasons we should never stop learning… one of them being, it can even make us happier. On the blog, I’d love to hear from you.. what are you learning right now? What books are you reading? What other ways are you incorporating learning into your daily life?​ Read the transcript Interested in becoming a better version of your already beautiful self? Come check out the programs I offer – maybe one of them will resonate with you! DIY Wellness Programs

This month we’re exploring Sanguine Element #7: Simplify and today we’ll be looking at how to overcome overwhelm. Because feeling overwhelmed doesn’t just happen at the holidays! You could be feeling overwhelmed right now because your kids are getting ready to go back to school after the summer holiday [for those of you in the northern hemisphere], or the rainy dreary days of winter [for those in the southern hemisphere] are bringing you down and making you lethargic, or maybe you have a big work deadline coming up or too many events planned on your calendar. With the demands of work, family, friends, and even self-care placed on us every day, it's easy to fall into a state of feeling overwhelmed. So how do we overcome overwhelm and reduce the stress, creating a more easeful and happy life? In this Sanguine Stories podcast, I’m sharing with you 5 ways to do just that. Read the transcript

In our busy modern world, why is setting boundaries even more important? For our health, wellness, relationships, finances, work / life balance? And how can we do that? Why do we all too often say "yes" and how can we learn to say "no"? It's time to put some effort in learning how to stand up for yourself, create firm boundaries to free yourself and improve your life by following a few easy steps... Read the transcript.

This month we’re exploring personal wellness, how to be well, to live well. For most of human history, developing long-term success in life - be it physical, mental, emotional, relational, financial, spiritual - was a product of years of sacrifice and committed dedication – similar to Aesops' fable of the ant and the grasshopper. Despite living in relative luxury, however, more people are reporting unhappiness and dissatisfaction than ever before. With instant gratification available to anyone with an internet connection… discipline, discernment and delayed rewards have become collateral damage. With all the rich resources online life has to offer, have we become a world of quick fixes? Or is there room for long-term investments that pay lifelong dividends? Over on this episode of the Sanguine Stories podcast, I’m sharing with you some of the problems of the quick fix mentality as well as long-term solutions to improve your mind, body, and spirit and sustain a sanguine life. Read the transcript

It’s summertime up in the Northern Hemisphere and that’s making me think of the many vacations I would take when I lived in California. I remember when I would be flying home to California from Costa Rica and already on my laptop, booking my next vacation. I had lots of vacation days and travel miles so it was pretty easy to start dreaming about my next tropical vacation. Especially since I knew that upon arriving home, I would once again get knocked down with severe allergies. What kept me holding on [and sane] was the thought of my next vacation and being able to breathe freely again. I know I’m not the only who feels this way. The vacation fantasy at least, hopefully not so much the miserable illness. Dreaming about your next vacation can be fun. If you think about your tedious work schedules, the traffic, bills, noise, and overall stress why wouldn't you want – and dream about - a vacation? But leading a happy, healthy and harmonious life is never about vacations or getaways, it is about being content amongst the chaos – to be sanguine in your everyday life. I believe that happiness comes first from within, so over on the podcast, I’m sharing with you five ways to help you stop counting down the days until your next vacation and start living a life you love. Read the transcript.  

This month we’re exploring the Sanguine Element Authenticity and today, I wanted to share with you some thoughts on one of my biggest pet peeves: the fake it until you make it mentality. I am not an advocate of people who choose to “fake it until you make it”. In their personal lives or professionally. It really goes against everything I believe in. I believe in: It’s okay to not know everything. Be everything. Do everything. It’s okay to have weaknesses, flaws and imperfections. It’s okay to be vulnerable. You can’t learn just by “throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing if it sticks”. Especially if the actions you’re taking will affect someone else.A child, student, family member, friend, work associate. On the podcast, I’m sharing with you: Why people choose to “fake it” instead of being their authentic selves Questions to ask yourself, to determine if you’re putting on a false face in different areas of your life And how you can choose to be real instead. Read the transcript

This month, we’re exploring Sanguine Element #5: Authenticity. I often say that living in Costa Rica is like being back in high school. The cliques, the gossiping, the mean girls.  There’s the guy who thinks he’s the big man on campus and there’s the girl who won’t acknowledge you even after several meetings.  And then there’s the incessant judging that goes on. And on. And on. I just roll my eyes at all of it. I’ve never been one that had to fit in. But judging happens everywhere, and doesn’t stop just because we’ve entered adulthood. Today on the podcast, I’m sharing with you my own stories of people who judge me for the craziest of reasons but also how I’ve chosen to react to them and the lessons we can learn about ourselves and others when we take a step back and realize, we are all on different places of the path. Read the transcript

You know that feeling when you've found your groove, energy flows through you and time flies by? It’s often accompanied by a sense of deep, concentrated focus. For many, that is not so easy to come by. What happens when your life is turned upside down and you feel like you can't function, much less be in the flow? Last month we talked about being more grounded and stable but sometimes, life really can go awry and if you haven’t built up your resiliency muscle, it can really feel like life is falling apart, crumbling around you [I know, I’ve experienced that firsthand]. You may feel this way one day when, just simply, nothing goes right, or you may feel this way after a major loss like losing your job or worse, losing your general sense of direction in life. As normal as it is to become unfocused and out of flow, it still is distressing and distracting. How do you regroup, find your "flow," "get your groove back," or "get in the zone"? However you put it, here’s 3 ways on how to get in the flow when life becomes unfocused. Read the transcript here

Sheryl Crow said it best: "Every day is a winding road" So if that is the case [and for most of us, it probably is], how do we manage the never-ending twists and turns, to find contentment amongst all the chaos? How do we show up and live our ONE beautiful life, even when it feels like it's crumbling down around us? On the podcast today, I'm sharing with you 3 ways that can help you navigate those winding roads AND help make a positive difference in your everyday life... to support you in feeling more at ease when life goes awry. Read the full transcript here.

My friends, welcome to Chapter 36 of Sanguine Stories. This month we’ll be exploring the concept of how to be resilient, Sanguine Element #4. And how appropriate since this week marks the 6 year anniversary of moving to Costa Rica. Long before Beyonce made it popular, I've been signing off my emails to my community with Love and Lemonade. Because... Living in Costa Rica has NOT been easy. It is not a picture-perfect paradise to live in, by any stretch of the imagination. To vacation in, yes. To live in, not so much. Over the years, I have had many people tell me how impressed they are that I’m so “resilient”. And while I appreciate their sentiments, it can be tiring as well. The fact that I am always having to be resilient. Always having to pick myself back up, brush myself off and continue to move forward. And it sometimes feels like it’s ALL THE TIME. Like I just can’t get a break. A friend here in Costa Rica often says (and I agree): siempre hay algo (there is always something…). But I have learned to make lemonade. And to be love. Even amongst all the chaos. Listen to today's episode and/or read the transcript here.

This month we’re exploring Sanguine Element #3: How to stay grounded. As you probably well know, life is full of uncertainties. Whether it comes in the form of professional concerns, like the persistent questions about promotion, success at certain tasks, or conflicts with co-workers or clients, or in the form of personal challenges, like struggles with finances, or troubles with illnesses and interpersonal family or friend conflicts, achieving a calm, fulfilling life can be challenging. Doubt and uncertainty, unfortunately, plague many of us, throughout our life. There are a variety of coping strategies, but one of the best ways in which to navigate through the uncertainty of life is to first acknowledge that such uncertainty will always play a central factor in most aspects of life. Acknowledgment leads to less stress because it generally means you have a strategy for combating such uncertainty. The strategy that I’m going to recommend – you guessed it – choose to be simply sanguine. On this week's podcast, I'm sharing 4 sanguine strategies to help you better manage everyday life and be more grounded. Read the transcript here.

This month we're exploring the Sanguine Element: Grounded. How to be grounded, to feel strong and stable. Even when life goes awry. I'm sharing with you stories of my own life's mishaps, of feeling off-balance, of falling flat on my face and failing and dealing with the everyday uncertainties that life presents us. Also included is a grounding guided meditation. Read the transcript here.  

When we watch the news, looking at the world around us, it seems like people forget about the things that they have in common, and instead, focus on the pieces that separate us. Much of the conflict in the world is caused by ignoring our commonalities, and instead, focusing on the differences between cultures, genders, and socioeconomic status. When it comes to recognizing our interconnections, we don’t have to get all mushy and sing kumbaya but we can choose to get along better with one another... Read the full transcript here.

As we kick off our month long series on the importance of interconnections, I wanted to share with you something that is so near and dear to my heart – letting people know they matter. It seems like in the rat race society many of us live in, we have forgotten how to show others that we care, that we’re thinking of them and that we hope they are well. Think about it - when was the last time you wholeheartedly said I love you to someone, not just as a reflex, or a quick dispassionate response but really fully said it? Sure, it’s common to assume that the people around us care for us even if they don’t always say it. But think about just how much more love and positive energy would exist in the world if we really mindfully let other people know how much they matter to us. When we let people know we’re thinking of them, we begin to recognize the oneness all around us. Read the full transcript here.

This month we're exploring the Sanguine Element 'Making a Commitment' and I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you a change I made in my life last year. In an effort to live a more intentional and committed life, I pledged to give up one short word, that seriously undermines the credibility of any sentence it sits in. I thought I’d share with you all what I did last year which turned out to be harder than I thought it would be. When it comes to choosing our words, all too often, it’s like a rote task – we don’t even think about it. It’s why in 2016, I mindfully gave up the word UGH (and still haven’t used it since).  Doing so made me really think about what language I was using and how I wanted to be seen by those I was conversing with. Listen to the podcast to find out what word I gave up in 2017. Read the transcript here.

Today in this episode of Sanguine Stories, I’m going to share with you how to sustain a sanguine life. I’ll be talking about the 11 elements that make up Sanguine Living.  It can act as an intentional guide for you, on how to live sanguine, how to be wildhearted. Let’s get started… Through my own exploration of living fully, I’ve shared with you my thoughts on living a sanguine life, and I’ve outlined my ideas on what that means for anyone pursuing greater happiness, health and harmony. I believe that anyone can lead a more sanguine life — it just takes a bit of practice. Living with intention isn’t always easy, but the benefits to ourselves, our communities and the world are immeasurable. People often reach out to me and ask: how do I incorporate the elements of a sanguine life into my every day, in a practical, actionable way?  Well, I would love to share what I’ve learned with you! Click here to read the transcript.

My friends, welcome to the last podcast for 2017. Today on Sanguine Stories Chapter 29, we’ll be asking the question: Is 2017 to blame for all your problems?  And exploring how your attitude towards 2017 may just derail your 2018. You see, as 2016 came to a close, I noticed 2 types of posts circulating amongst my friend’s personal Facebook profiles. One was: “I can’t wait for 2016 to be over” The other was: “Screw 2016” (often said in terms of the celebrity deaths and / or world events taking place at the time) It was like, the thought process was – it’s all 2016’s fault.  2017 is gonna be amazing. Here’s the thing… It wasn’t 2016.  And it doesn’t do anyone any good to blame a “year” for all the problems that we experienced. Read the full transcript here.

Hello my friends, welcome to Chapter 28 of Sanguine Stories. Today I’ll be sharing with you a story that I wrote nearly 10 years ago. Here’s a little backstory just to catch you up: In the winter of 2008, I made my first visit to Luna, the tree that was given worldwide attention by Julia Butterfly Hill. It was 20 years ago on December 10th, 1997, that she climbed this giant redwood named Luna and didn’t come down for 738 days. I was so very fortunate to make 4 visits to Luna before moving to Costa Rica. My trips to Luna, this awe-inspiring tree, are one of only a few things that I miss about living in California. Walking into Luna’s grove is more like walking into sacred space, a sanctuary of harmony. If you’ve listened to Chapter 13 of this podcast, you know that I am not a woo-woo person. But there is something special about Luna’s grove, there’s an energy there. Read the full transcript here.

For many of you, winter is probably fast approaching where you are. For me, at latitude 9, we’re just finishing our rainy winter season. So today I thought I’d talk with you all about storm clouds, those dark clouds overhead that sometimes linger a little too long, and why we should all go out and get drenched in the rain. Click here to read the transcript.

The Starving Artist Myth: Fact or Fiction? Hello my friends, welcome to Chapter 26 of Sanguine Stories. With the holiday season fast approaching, I thought I’d share today some musings on the starving artist myth, Small Business Saturday and how being vulnerable leads to true connection. As a multi-passionate entrepreneur, I understand that there is a difference between putting yourself out there as a business owner (I’m an Online Business Manager for Eco and Wellness Companies), and putting yourself out there as an artist or creative entrepreneur (I’m also a writer & happiness mentor). Both of these types of small businesses require vulnerability, courage and A TON of commitment. I’ve found, though, that the “starving artist” myth can quickly become a reality for creatives as we struggle for visibility and authenticity in a media-saturated world, and that takes being vulnerable to a much deeper level. Read the full transcript here.

It’s my birthday tomorrow so I thought I’d share a little about my life path and how I got to where I am today. First, I’ll start by saying that some of this came from an exercise from Tony Robbins’ Personal Power Program, a program that I highly recommend and have always loved.  He asks you to recall five of your greatest successes and write a paragraph describing each one.  Then use the examples to remind yourself that we can always find a way when life feels like it has gone awry. When our journey in life feels like it has come to a stop or is stuck in neutral.  I took that exercise one step further in order to try to retrace my path and understand where I had been and how I got to where I am now.  What were the steps taken, positive and negative, that got me to where I am today? Read the full transcript here.

The last few Sanguine Stories, I’ve been talking about how to define success and how to overcome obstacles that all too often get in our way.  In Chapter 24, I want to zoom in on one particular topic – how to see life through a different lens, or really, many lenses. Read the full transcript here.

Can you overcome these six obstacles to living life fully? In life, in business, all too often I see people who are stalled in neutral or worse, moving backwards instead of progressing in a positive way forward. Today I'm sharing with you six obstacles that may be holding you back from living your life fully and how you can overcome them. Read the transcript here.

Success, for so many people in today’s world, is defined by what you have.  What your salary is.  How far up the corporate ladder you’ve gotten. What kind of car you drive.  How big your house is and where your house is located. Being able to buy fancy clothes or expensive coffee drinks. For some, in an archaic and myopic way, success is also if you’ve found a husband and have had children. Even google tells us that Success can be defined as: the attainment of popularity or profit. Today, I'm sharing with you some ideas on how to redefine what success means for YOU. Read the transcript / show notes here.

I can't believe it's been 3 years since I adopted my somewhat wild but so very sweet fur babies. To celebrate their furry-birthdays I want to talk about pet adoption. In this episode, I review the book Beg by Rory Freedman.  I also share with you my own adoption stories as well as my thoughts on spaying/neutering and animal abandonment. Read the show notes / transcript here.

I was debating on sharing this topic as it may be a bit controversial but there’s value to be had from it, so here goes. A few months ago, I came across a situation where I had to manage a close-minded person and decided to take that as a learning opportunity for us all. Listen to the podcast and then hop over to the show notes and let me know – how do you cope when you feel frustrated by someone else’s narrow mindedness. Click here for the show notes / transcript.  

Today’s Sanguine Story is being shared as a part of The Good Men Project’s Stop Sexism Campaign. I encourage you to search the hashtag #thisishowsexismends to read articles from other contributors. And please do consider sharing this podcast and blog with your communities as well. When I saw the call for articles with an option of “write about sexism in other countries”, of course, my hand instantly went up. You see, moving to a new country means a whole new set of rules and standards. I anticipated needing to make some adjustments based on the Tico culture, but I wasn’t ready for the level of everyday sexism and racism I’d experience while living in Costa Rica... Read the transcript here.

Are your priorities a bit out of whack? So often I hear people say: Oh, I could never afford to do that.  The “that” being whatever they find really exciting but an idea so farfetched and out of reach.  It could be a trip to a foreign land to experience a new culture, a personal trainer to help them get fit or even a home remodel. Here’s the thing.  So often when I talk with them, they’re also slurping down a $10 green juice or are driving around in their gas guzzling SUV on their $500 cell phone with their $300 purse in the seat next to them having just gone through a drive through at a mass marketed overpriced coffee shop for their $5 venti mocha cinnamon low fat coconut milk latte. Priorities, my friends.  When we really take a look at our lives, an honest deep dive kind of look, we sometimes can learn that our priorities are a little out of whack. Today, I'm offering 3 ways to assess and shift the priorities in your life. Read the full transcript here.

Priorities, my friends.  When we really take a look at our lives, an honest deep dive kind of look, we sometimes can learn that our priorities are a little out of whack. And all too often, it keeps us chasing our dreams, rather than living them, right now. Click here to read the transcript.

Keeping up with the Jones, we've all heard that expression, right?  But you know, maybe the Jones aren't so bad after all.  I'm exploring the upside of the Jones in today's Sanguine Stories Podcast. Read the transcript here.

Today I’m sharing with you a Sanguine Story from a previous client.  She came to me with an interesting dilemma… She believed that she couldn’t do anything on her own.  She couldn’t clean, she couldn’t cook, she couldn’t manage her own business, she couldn’t make any decisions, always relying on her support staff, husband and family to do everything for her.  She even let her husband tell her what hobbies she should be interested in and what food she should eat, rather than figuring out what she liked herself. On the surface, looking in from the outside, she seemed confident and in control.  So it was such a surprise to hear her saying all of these things. Listen in to hear more of her story, how being dependent on others is not going to get you very far in life and how to step into living your ONE beautiful life, accepting control of the choices you make, each and every day. Read the full transcript here.

Last time on Sanguine Stories, I mentioned the pot of gold (or lack of) and I wanted to do a follow up post about how we can make our own rainbows and treasures at the end (or even better - along the way). Here in Costa Rica, we’re just entering rainy season. The national bird, the clay colored thrush, is starting to sing its song.  The myth behind the story being that when it sings, the rain is coming.  And I’m excited as it means it’s not just rainy season but rainbow season. No exaggeration here – every time it’s raining and there’s even just a speck of sunlight peeking out from the stormy skies, I find myself running outside, sans umbrella, sometimes even without shoes, to search for a rainbow. I mean, rainbows come and go so quickly, there’s no time to try to put on shoes! Even if they are just flip flops ;-) Listen to the podcast and then let me know...how do you make your own rainbow? Read the full transcript here.  

When did we give up being ourselves, truly knowing ourselves, and start copying everyone else?  Or seeking results or answers outside of ourselves? So many people are looking for answers outside of themselves and I cannot stress enough that you’ve already met the person who could change your life.  That person is YOU. I get it. It’s so much easier to look outside of ourselves than do the inner work necessary to live a happy, healthy and harmonious life.  If we can wait for a sign from the universe to tell us what we need to do, it gives us an excuse to sit around until then, not being productive or reaching our goals. What it really means, when we wait around for signs, is that we’re not fully showing up in the world, we’re not doing our work and we’re not truly being our most authentic wildhearted selves. Read the full transcript here.

Five years ago, I jumped down a rabbit hole.  I packed up (and sold most of) my belongings and moved to Costa Rica with my 17 year old cat, Harmony.  Since that time, it’s been a wild Mr. Toad’s Ride.  This week I’m celebrating the 5th anniversary of living in Costa Rica.   It has most definitely been a wild ride. For those of you reading my book about living here, Lost and Found in the Land of Manana, Wildhearted Living in an Imperfect World, you may think it reads like some weird combo version of Once Upon a Time, Bonanza, Weeds, Californication and MadMen.   It’s the Wild West meets the 1950’s meets Woodstock. That being said, there have been some life lessons learned along the way and some steps I’ve taken to live a full wildhearted harmonious life. Today, as I celebrate my 5th anniversary, I’m looking at the top 12 life lessons I’ve learned living in Costa Rica and how really, they can be applied to anyone, anywhere. Read the full transcript here.

Today on the Sanguine Stories podcast, I'm sharing with you a special Earth Day episode. You see, one of my strongest beliefs is this: We must take care of the earth. She is, after all, our only place to live. And these days, there are so many things we have to do to be eco friendly and socially conscious. It can feel very overwhelming! Even for me, and I consider myself an eco kind of girl, there’s so much to consider. And sometimes, we have to make adjustments and do the best we can with the circumstances we have. One of the ways we can do this is based on our values. I wrote about this topic last year and I’ll post the link to the blog in the show notes but to give you the gist: "Everyday decisions are an opportunity to exercise your power and live in alignment with your values." Today, in honor of Earth Day, I’ll be sharing with you my most recent example of this. Read the full transcript here.

Today in Chapter 10, I’m sharing with you a Sanguine Story that happened a few months ago.  A story of feeling guilty, angry, frustrated, sad, shocked and through it all, doing my best to find compassion along the way. A story of helpless kittens. And helpful people. For an update on the kittens [+ pics!] and the full transcript, click here.

Living in the zone of fear or even just on the edge of where your happy place might actually be is not how I want you to live your ONE beautiful life. This life you’ve been given is your chance to live wildheartedly, freely, on your own terms. So how do we begin to overcome fear and do more than we thought possible? The first steps are here in today's show... Read the full transcript here.

In my opinion, International Women's Day is NOT a day to send flowers. It's for everyone - men and women - to stand up and speak up for all of the efforts that have been made to bring equality to our two genders. It's to honor all of those who have, in the past, worked tirelessly to bring about the change needed so women could be heard and not just seen.  Someone asked me to send flowers on this day and in this episode, I'm countering that action with what we need to do instead. Read the show notes here.

Today on Sanguine Stories, I want to talk about giving up. Not giving up hope, not giving up showing up and doing all that we’re here to do, but giving up a tiny thing, that really is not helpful. And once I'd let it go, the impact its absence had on my life was profound. Read the full transcript here.    

The ebb and flow of our lives. Sounds a bit like a soap opera, I know ;-) But it's reality right? We will have good moments and not so good moments.  Happy, sad, angry, disappointed, ecstatic, grateful.  All of these exist together.  When should we hold on and when should we let go?  That's what I talk about in today's Sanguine Story. Read the full transcript here.

Expanding our worldview... How can we create a sense of Oneness in our lives?  And what exactly is Oneness? Oneness, in its simplest terms, means that we acknowledge that every thought we have, word we speak and action we take has an impact.  Understanding Oneness is one of the first steps towards living a more intentional life, one in which we connect, communicate and collaborate with others to create positive effects for ourselves and the global community. See show notes, transcript and heart image.

In today’s podcast, I want to take the next step in how we can learn to live a sanguine life and meet in the middle. That step is to actively, mindfully live with intention (+ action). Life is always changing, as are each of us. The road of life will take us down many paths and in many different directions.  It will have twists and turns; some we see coming while others are totally unexpected.  But how we relate to those seen and unseen circumstances can make all the difference.  Not only in our life but in the lives of others as well. Intentional action is key to living a sanguine life! Read the transcript here.