• Saying NO!  Can lead to a powerful opportunity to say YES! 
  

The last six weeks had been challenging for me. I was struggling with a difficult decision in my personal life.  I had to say NO! to a pattern/behavior/experience that I was not willing to tolerate or perpetuate.  It brought up lots of fear, karma and truthfully a swell of emotions.  And yet deep down after painting, processing, journaling and getting loads of support--I found the courage to say NO! and say Yes! to diving in head first into the unknown, into my heart.  To my dreams. To being true to myself. To what I know to be in alignment for my highest truth.  A week after making this challenging decision, I had a friend call me with a gift -- an ABUNDANT trip of a lifetime for a friend's 40th Birthday cruising the Almafi Coast. 

• Loving myself is always about taking loving actions that are in alignment with my deeper knowing and intuition. 
  

What made this personal decision so hard was that I had disregarded my intuition a few months ago.  And now, without judgement and with bowls full of compassion ...I was ready to take action on my deeper knowing.   Once I did, so much heaviness cleared as I let go and paved way for new opportunities, La Dolce Vita!

• The Universe aligns possibilities in 'Divine Timing' when we love ourselves and make tough choices.

I could have never imagined this trip in a million years. I totally trusted in myself, my process and was open to say Yes! And received an experience of a lifetime.  It was truly a gift I will never forget. I was so inspired...I envisioned leading a retreat in Italy on La Dolce Vita!  Eat, Paint, Cook & Love.   More on that coming soon....

• Trust and take action on what feels good!

When I received the call to go on this trip I was booked for a business retreat in Florida that I had already invested in.  I could have thought of a million other excuses of why I shouldn't go...blah blah blah. However my inner being was like...YES!  Go-- this is a trip of a lifetime--you are being called to say yes to Life!  When I said yes-- it felt good. It felt right. And preparing to go to Italy in a weeks noticed became effortless as the Universe opened up to ME SAYING YES TO FEELING GOOD!

Not to mention when I got to Italy...it was all about feeling good! Celebrating the senses, the Mediterranean coast, the wine, the food, the Local Italian people, the beauty, Friendship, Sisterhood and the shopping...La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life!!)

• Pleasure and Joy are essential to well-being and a powerful way to express the vibration of Love!

Enjoying La Dolce Vita was all about allowing myself to feel pleasure, joy and abundance. Allowing myself to eat what I wanted to eat and drink wine with lunch everyday and have dessert at every meal.  And you know what---I didn't gain any weight on my trip!  Which is totally crazy cause I ate 3+ full meals with at least 4 courses (its Italy you know...when in Roma!) a day and drank wine with almost every meal.  ; )

Do you know why?  And this is the secret of the Europeans--its because we ate with PLEASURE and without guilt.  We enjoyed ourselves.  We took time. We connected with each other.  We laughed. We cried. We told stories.  We had four hour meals on occasion!  We also walked, biked, swam and hiked pretty much every day.  La Dolce Vita!

• Take time and PLEASURE in eating.  

• Passion is Love in Action!

While in Nerano on the coast a small fishing village right north of Positano, we had the opportunity to take a cooking glass with world renown chef,  Antonio Mellino of RestaurantQuattro Passi.   This man was the epitome of an Italian chef, passionate and like a mad chemist running around his lab, that was the kitchen.  It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.  The energy was palpable as was the aromas of artful food.

• Never ever give up on your dreams, love them and you, that much.  I mean what else are you going to do with your life?
  

• Sisterhood love is primal. 
  

• Love is Everywhere when you love yourself!

I have known that life, like a painting is a mirror.  And when you learn to love what you look upon no matter what it looks like, you learn to see love everywhere.  Even in the darkest of places.  I came back from Italy completely liberated and inspired by life, recommitted to living La Dolce Vita! 

XO