15 Minutes for You...

About a year ago, FurtherEd CEO, David Schnurman, sat me and ten other employees down and handed us all a piece of paper. On it, was a madlibs formula that told a story about what life was currently like and what it would eventually be in five years. Everyone in the room took fifteen minutes and filled it out - and then we all went around the room and shared our vision for ourselves.

What I discovered about myself were things I wasn't even aware were so important to me. I discovered I wanted the following things to be part of every single day moving forward:

• To make sure vegetables are the first thing in my body every morning.
• To sing and dance every day - just because.
• To write - because when I don't, I feel too full.
• To be around people who make me laugh ... hard.
• To be challenged and never succumb to complacency.

Perhaps most importantly, however, was the realization that the insight I gained was a product of just fifteen minutes of focusing. What, I began to imagine, could I learn if I took an hour, a day, or even a week to really think about what I wanted? In that moment, I learned to stop floating with only a vague understanding of where I was heading. In that moment, I understood that I had been somewhat of a passenger rather than the driving factor of how my life was panning out.

Now, that was a year ago and admittedly I haven't been as diligent in practicing the preach but ... the lesson was ingrained enough to inform the important decisions I made throughout 2013. Despite that, what better time than now to pause, review and take my fifteen minutes? Thus, I encourage everyone who reads this to do the same and, if you would be comfortable sharing, I would be honored to read your past achievements and future goals as well!

2013 Accomplishments:

• High Five'd Moby in Brooklyn
• Fell in love in New Orleans
• Served as a juror for 6 weeks
• Invented 3 new recipes
• Ran a 5k in 36 minutes
• Got promoted
• Chose air over smoke
• Chose the harder path for the greater good
• Lost 25 pounds
• Achieved the Crow Pose
• Traveled Alone...and met my travel soul mates
• Navigated a Bamboo Raft
• Rode an Elephant
• Learned 6 new recipes
• Found Peace in a Buddhist Temple
• Wished on a shooting Star in the Jungle
• Danced on the beaches of Ko Phi Phi
• Dived with sharks in the Andaman Sea
• Made and implemented a financial plan

2014 Goals

• Volunteer at least 3 times
• Spend more time not just with but knowing my family
• Take 1 risk a day
• Go on a yoga retreat
• Listen more and talk less
• Do at least 3 things that scare me
• Write, Write, Write
• Leave the country again at least once
• Save at least 2 months salary
• Get Scuba Certified
• Achieve a head stand
• Read 3 books that will help me grow
• Dance on the beaches of another foreign sea
• Travel to at least 2 new U.S. states
• Eat 1 thing I have never eaten before

Happy New Years Everyone!

I hope 2014 brings you EVERYTHING you want, need and desire.