Host Your Life

“All of us must make our own way…we must learn to depend for brief moments on fellow travelers for sanctuary, support and an occasional willingness to walk side by side.” – Brené Brown

When I think of the holidays, I think of the warmth that’s shared in intimate gatherings among the people who know you best. It’s always been my favorite time of year. And especially now that I live in another state away from my family, it’s even more special.

There are certain traits that I have taken from this beloved time of year to my every day. You too can take a bit of this holiday magic and sprinkle it into the rest of your year. Be the host of your life!

You can’t hide when you’re home.
Family understands. That’s what makes coming home feel so right. For a good portion of my life, I compartmentalized my day to day and my life goals. I felt like two different persons. Not many people knew my wholeheartedness; they just knew the version of me that was present in their phase. But I was the one who ended up feeling incomplete. Don’t be ashamed to be honest of who you are and who you intend to be. Feel at home in your skin, no matter where you are.

Be a generous greeter.
Being a host is a generous undertaking, because you prep and prime to open your home to others. But, it’s also about cultivating an experience where guests feel comfortable enough to live in your space for a brief moment and to open their time to share it with you. Treat every person that you’re introduced to as a guest, just as you would in your home. Understand that it is an exchange and you can set the tone.

Give yourself an invitation.
As a host, you labor behind the scenes so the event can unfold seamlessly. But don’t forget to enjoy it, too. Unfold with it. Leave the details behind. You have arrived at this moment, now let go of the tension and join in the festivities.

Everyday life is a series of hosted celebrations. First you must feel at home, so you are naturally inclined to welcome others in to celebrate with you.

Cleanse

Lately, I've been fascinated with juicing fruits and vegetables to eat more raw foods. It's refreshing to remove the fillers that weigh you down and to just give your body the core nutrients it needs. Similarly, your spirit needs a cleanse. It's a matter of removing the common layers piled on you by others and yourself through the years to become the purest form of you.

For a while I tried to follow the common routine: work, sleep, relax on weekends and begin again. But, I couldn't ignore the hunger for something more. I have to admit, I'm a planner. I love checklists. When I begin to feel overwhelmed at everything I'm attempting to accomplish, I jot it down to see these "attempts" truly become checked off accomplishments.

But there are some items so large, that they don't seem to fit on a checklist. These are aspirations. These items we carry deep in our souls. Sometimes too deep. But, they are never forgotten. As I have cleansed to re-evaluate myself and where I want to be, I naturally gravitate to chip away at these items. We have to make conscious efforts to move our lives forward in the direction we want. Don't fall asleep on your life!

I truly believe we all have a purpose. Yes, we can train ourselves to ignore it and find something where we feel comfortable and 100% capable of accomplishing. But, I challenge you. I challenge you to expect more from yourself. If you expect, you'll crave it. Ultimately, you'll master and develop it. 

Admire Your Artistry

I recently watched “Nightmare Factory,” a documentary on Oscar-winning special effects artist Greg Nicotero and his company KNB. Though I’m not a horror film fanatic, I admire the artistry behind it. The attention to detail and life-like prosthetics these artists create are truly and literally otherworldly.

There was a scene in the documentary where Nicotero showed his son a book he himself drew as a child. The book featured drawings of Dracula, a wolf and other monsters. This, to me is a beautiful love story. At a young age, he discovered his innate passion and pursued it to bring these monsters to life. 

Stories like these always ignite my pursuit for my passion. We all have our own set of challenges that make the road a little less than smooth to follow. It’s important to remember, your path creates your character and that each stride is a step closer to bringing your love story to life.

I’m not the same woman I was when I recorded my first album, but that’s the beauty of art—expressing a newfound perspective. My wish for you is to admire your artistry—the complexity that created you.