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FIND PEOPLE||❄️Find people who can handle your darkest truths, who don’t change the subject when you share your pain, or try to make you feel bad for feeling bad.❄️ Find people who understand we all struggle, some more than others, and that there’s no weakness in admitting it. ❄️Find people who want to be real, however that looks and feels real, who celebrates life and who wants you to be real, too.❄️Find people who get that life is hard and beautiful, and who aren’t afraid to handle both realities. ❄️Find people who make you feel more at home in your heart, mind and body, and who take joy in joy. ❄️These people aren’t out there. Find them and don’t ever let them go. Find people. Find your tribe. Find your soulmate. #people #heart #life #love #photo #pic #photography #photographer #travel #travelblogger #blogger #friend #naturephotography #instamoment #inspirationalquotes #motivationalquotes #wedding #BBQ #fitness #attitude #entrepreneur #entrepreneurquotes #mindset #you #pickuplines #picsofinstagram

How Do You, We, I Define Epiphany, Exactly?

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Throughout my research and discussions about epiphanies over the past couple of years, I get asked this a lot: “What do you mean by “epiphany,” exactly?”

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As I say in my blog, everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Mutual of Omaha is talking about realizations and awakenings, and many times these are referred to as “aha moments.” But to me, that term is a little more casual and speaks more to everyday insights. By epiphanies I mean the major, life-changing revelations that have had the greatest impact on our lives. It’s been very interesting to notice that every single person I’ve talked to, whether the person has spiritual beliefs or not, speaks of these kinds of moments with a sense of reverence. In fact, yesterday I watched Oprah disclose to the world that she just discovered she had a half-sister she had no idea about because their mother had hidden and denied it for the past almost 50 years. Oprah said several times with tears in her eyes that she had an epiphanyupon leaving their mother’s home after meeting and speaking with her about it. Her realization was that their mother couldn’t fully embrace this daughter she had given up for adoption because she was carrying so much shame about it and couldn’t let it go. Oprah realized her mother was stuck because of her shame and revealed that she recognized this because she also once had carried a burden of shame for getting pregnant and having a baby. Oprah, the woman who basically coined the term “aha moment,” did not use that term in talking about this powerful and extremely personal story. To describe this profound and emotional moment of revelation about her mother, Oprah used the term “epiphany.”

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History of “Epiphany”

The word “epiphany” has a deep, archetypal resonance for us, dating back to ancient Greece. It comes from the Greek “epiphaneia,” meaning “appearance” or “manifestation,” and referred to the revelations brought to us by the gods. “Epiphany,” when it’s capitalized, is the name of the Christian church celebration of the three wise men or magi coming to see the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. This is usually celebrated on January 6, which in the Western church calendar starts an Epiphany season that lasts until the first day of Lent. The Epiphany season is a season of new beginnings; after the visit of the magi, church feast days and readings recount the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, and Jesus’ first public miracle at Cana, where he turned water into wine.

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“Epiphany” was first seen in English around 1310. For about three hundred years, it meant the religious feast day and nothing else. By the mid-1600s, epiphany-with a lowercase e-was being used to refer to other manifestations of Christ and to appearances of divine beings in other religions. Since the nineteenth century, the meanings of epiphany began expanding. Writers such as Thomas De Quincey (who wrote of “bright epiphanies of the Grecian intellect”) and William Wordsworth, then later James Joyce (who wrote that epiphanies “are the most delicate and evanescent of moments”) and John Updike, helped broaden the definition of epiphany to include the secular realm.

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Definitions of “Epiphany”

Today “epiphany” carries a range of meanings, including “an intuitive grasp of reality,” “an illuminating discovery, realization, disclosure, or insight,” or simply “a revealing scene or moment.” My definition of an epiphany is “a moment of sudden or great revelation that usually changes you in some way.”

I started asking the people I interviewed for their definitions and was enchanted and inspired by some of the answers I received:

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An epiphany is…

“a realization; an opening; a portal to the Divine; growing up; a magic moment that impacts you and changes you forever and you can remember it as vividly as you experienced it; a moment that changes the lens through which you view your life; our soul scratching around our head and giving us a signal to guide our lives with; a moment of descending light, open knowledge, and choice; a drastic shift in energy and change of perspective that happens in the form of a moment of clarity; something that gives you the strength to take a different direction or move forward and opens up everything; a sense of wonderment; a clarifying direction; and, that moment where you know your life is never going to be the same.”

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One of my favorites is Maya Angelou’s answer:

“It probably has a million definitions. It’s the occurrence when the mind, the body, the heart, and the soul focus together and see an old thing in a new way.”

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Someone interviewing me the other day defined an epiphany as “a miracle of thought.” I find this definition beautiful and promptly wrote it down. I’m constantly hearing new definitions and ways of expressing what these moments are to people and am always redefining them for myself. They are all a little different for everyone yet all are also accurate. I lovethis about the nature of epiphanies. They are a reflection of us. They are all different and unique how they come to people. No two people’s stories are the same. We are all so very different in backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, etc. but the core of these epiphanies, if you really ask what someone learned or about the wisdomgained, always boils down to a universal wisdom or truth we can all relate to. It’s just like us – we’re all so different and unique yet all so very much the same. The goal in talking about our stories, and about epiphanies in particular, is to understand, honor and respect both our differences and our likenesses – and to celebrate them.

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How are we different? How are we the same? What can we learn from one another about ourselves, about our fellow man and about the world around us in talking about these moments and insights? A lot. At least that’s been my experience. Dr. Oz summarizes it perfectly:

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“The goal is to move from just knowledge, which is information, to understanding, which is awareness.”

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An “Epiphany”

The 2018 Epiphany season begins January 6 – 13, 2018 – I realized that I started this blog the same week the Epiphany season started, which was completely accidental and serendipitous. Serendipity is another constant aspect of epiphanies I observed…but that is a blog for another day.

What is your definition of epiphany? I’d love to hear!

Once you’re done with your year-end reflection📝 for the year that’s ending, it’s time to look forward🗓️ to the year📅 that’s about to start. What will you write✒️ for the next chapter🗳️ of your life? It’s entirely up to you👸🤵. Take the first step 👠to make sure that it’s a great chapter 📝by setting New Year’s Goals that are realistic and aligned to your year-end reflection. Growth only occurs when you take your setbacks and turn them into set-up’s😁 #newyearseve #2017 #2018 ##2018goals #resolutions #lifestylechange #life #lifequotes #lifestyleblogger #blogger #pic #photo #photography #photographer #quotesoftheday #quotestoliveby #photooftheday #picoftheday #travel #travelblogger #author #authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram #write #fitness #fitnessmotivation #bride #relationshipgoals #relationshipquotes #relationship #BBQ #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlifestyle #bossbabes

The Christmas Tree 🎄 is all lit up, but there are no presents 🎁 to gaze and dazzle upon. I thought about wrapping 🎁 presents. Then, my mind became as numb as a dead tree limb. My body froze and suddenly I began to reflect upon the earth shattering events of December 20, 2016 @ 10:00 a.m. Oh, my! There are moments in time you’ll never forget and this was one I wish I didn’t relive everyday. Here I am singing Christmas carols. Music playing in background and the smell of a pumpkin🎃 pie cooking. Not a care in the world 🌍. Scissors in hand, previewing Christmas 🎁 paper and carefully selecting the perfect wrapping paper to match their personality. Then, my phone rang. Caller ID read 📖 Al. Al? What? Why in the world would he be calling while he’s working👩‍🏭. Surely, if you know anything about my brother and our family. When it’s time to work; you work and talk later. Apprehensively, I answered the phone📲. Oh, I could here the cracky, shaky voice on the other end and my heart fell to the ground. The words. The words I never wanted to here. Then, as stoicly as possible, he said, “Sister, it’s daddy. One of the workers found him in the front of Sam Hill Fencing 🤺. They tried to revive him. You need to come.” I dropped to the floor sickened with grief and dismay. An undescribable moment in time where you feel as though your whole body has been ripped to shreds. Terry, my husband wasn’t home. Only Brock. I gathered what senses I had and called my husband. Pacing until he arrived. The first 🙋 words from Terry, ” Shannon, you don’t know how bad it is. Let’s not think the worst.” Frozen in time. No, a zombie! We left Lamar headed to Timmonsville. As we turned down Twin Church road I could feel my heart sink to the floor of the car. As we rounded the corner I kept thinking, “What will I find🔍? Is daddy 👨 o.k.? As we pulled in the parking 🅿️ lot it was quite obvious 🌊. There I saw my daddy motionless lying on the ground; stone cold 😨 dead 💀. Immediately, I flew out the SUV and ran to be by his side. Holding him. Praying that what I felt and saw was just a dream. Screaming softly inside, ” Wake Up Daddy! Come on, Wake Up! Praying to Jesus! You raised Lazarus from the dead. Please bring my daddy back.” My daddy would not want to be back on this earth. He’s having the time of his life putting fences up in Heaven. However, that doesn’t ease the loss and help with the grief each day. He’s gone. I miss him. Regrets, yeah! Just a few. What are they you maybe thinking? Most importantly, I would have not focused so much on my career. I would have come home more. Calling is great, but there’s something about being there. There’s no going back to fix it, but I can do better today. Hold your loved ones tight. Tell them often you love them. Visit and spend quality time with them. Cherish them. If you hold grudges, make amends. We are not promised tomorrow so make each day very special. As far as Christmas 🎅🎄🎁, there will be a chair for Sammy Clause. If only he were here, but he’s not and it’s tough as nails. Christmas will definitely be different and there will always be an ache and a hole in my heart. Miss ya’ so much, daddy!

In Japanese culture, YUGEN😲 is “a profound experience of the Universe that triggers an inexplicably deep emotional response too mysterious🤔 for words.” I dig yugen moments. When you find yourself speechless😲, vibrating and ONE with the heartbeat of the Universe. When nothing is more beautiful🎄. When you are awestruck and blissed out and in deep appreciation, all at the same time🙆.

We’ve all had moments of YUGEN😲. I believe there are two kinds. The ones that take you by surprise😲, and the ones you choose. Yep, I think you can choose a yugen moment. A yugen life for that matter. The questions are – what are you willing to allow in? Where’s your focus? What are you willing to notice?

Today – notice🤔, allow, expect😲 and create a little yugen. And being in yugen, deserves a little writing rampage, so do it in the comments or in your journal.Start like this, or create your version: Today, I created a little yugen. It went like this. (And describe your yugen moment!!) (Feel stretched? Good. Go for it, don’t hold back.)😲😁🎄🌹
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#christmas #christmastree #quotes #quotestoliveby #japenese #photooftheday📷 #photography #photo #photographer #winterwonderland #winter #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlifestyle #travel #travelblog #blogger #bloggerstyle #bloggerlife #author #authorsofinstagram #inspirationalquotes #Instagram #insta #decor #mua #wedding #wine #mom #momlife #momlifeisthebestlife

What part of the pill do you need? “I need the whole mother-jamming thing,” my husband said. 🙄Does anyone else need this pill as badly as I do on some days? With mental health front and center of the media hype right now I felt compelled to share that we all need this pill from time to time or day to day. 😥Heck in reality hour to hour! And, it is okay! I am the first to admit. I have days of doom and gloom and tears turned to laughter. It is okay to admit it! It really is! Embrace it. 🙄I have struggled with my some mental health issues for years. When you are faced with adversity and feel like an outcast it is hard to reach out for help. The feelings of loneliness set in and can be crippling, but you have to stand up, brush it off, and move forward. 👢 I have been in the chair across from a counselor crying and begging to give me a resolve or a QUICK FIX! Yes, I have set across from many who asked for a QUICK FIX. Yes, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and doctors are not exempt. Social status does not have an exemption status for depression. There is no quick fix! It is okay to be different, it is okay to not fit the mold that society seems to think we all should fit in. Gosh, some days I am a recluse and want ZERO interaction with people! I want to shut the world out and live in my own crazy bubble. When I look back at the things that used to paralyze me in my own life. I am able to laugh at them now. I used to hate to go out to eat at restaurants with some people. I mean hate it. 🤔It was always a shit show that ended in vomit or a full out meltdown. I HATED IT🐒 and it threw me into a depression that I cannot even begin to explain. But, I kept going. Keep Moving. Flip the page. You see, we MUST embrace 🌈that we are all accepted on our own levels and others judgements of us are just that…JUDGEMENTS! Heaven knows I am quick to judge without realizing they are judging me back, but have come to the realization that is part of our human nature. ❤ We desire what others have and they desire aspects of my life as well! We can all be CRAZY at times.🤣 It is not a race. We will all reach the finish line in our own due time! It is okay to have these days, these emotions, but the key is not letting them define you! Be Refined. 😐 Recognize where you are in your own life. If you want a change, be the change and work on it every single day! That really is all we can do, right? You are NOT ALONE!!!! We are all in this together and ADMITTING it is the first step!! Have a blessed day and Flip that page.📖 #flipthepage #attitude #depression #bad #day

Your energy is so strong that when you walk in a room, post online, live stream, etc. your vibe is ARRESTING 🔥🔥🔥

You’re engaging, but your presence can also be perceived as threatening.

And you often attract clients, friends, and family members who D R A I N you.

You give, give, give. But struggle to RECEIVE in return.

Do you know why that is?

It’s because somewhere along the line you discovered it was “safer” to give to others more than or before you give to yourself.

And by safer I mean you get to avoid judgement or criticism for being “too much”, “too selfish”, “too demanding”, “too ambitious” or your personal favorite – a downright “bitch”.

Being a “nice” people pleaser is how you’ve managed to “fit in” all these years, so you don’t have to face the painful prospect of being alone.

But the truth is that you often FEEL alone…even when you’re surrounded by people.

Because most of them are NOT your peeps.

AND if you really pay attention, you’ll realize that you’re fear of abandonment has lead you to subtly abandon yourself.

Your needs. Your wants. Your feelings. Your truth. And your desire for full self-expression have landed at the BOTTOM of your priority list.

Because you’re so busy doing, doing, doing for EVERYONE else first.

It’s why you’re STILL charging too little for your gifts and expertise.

It’s the reason you’ve put up with clients who don’t value all you have to offer.

And why you’re not getting the level of support you desire in your closest relationships.

I feel for you. Because I was you.

And if I were to coach you through this, I’d ask you…

How often do you FEEL as powerful as you know you are?

Be honest with yourself. Because your answer here is the REAL reason you’re STILL performing below your potential.

That’s why I recommend you get your priorities in order…and give to YOURSELF FIRST, woman.

See, how we treat ourselves is what gets reflected back to us from others.

So your next level of growth is to put an end to the one-sized-giving nonsense.

And open up to RECEIVING more.

Because that’s how you’ll energetically invite your clients, friends, and family members to pour into YOU for a change.

You are the power. Always. 👊💰🔥💪

The one constant you can be sure of? Everything changes. Life is fluid, every flowing, and forever morphing into something new – perhaps subtle from day to day, but changing none the less.
Most likely, this is something you intellectually know. But here’s what is interesting – we have SOME things that we deem as permanent and never changing. Some things about yourself. People. The way things are.

(Just listen to your inner dialogue – it will show you where you’re stuck. You’ll use words like “never” and “always.”) One of the biggest lies you can tell ? “It’s just the way I am.”

One of the biggest lies you can believe about others? “It’s just the way they are.” And about life circumstances – anywhere? “It’s the way it is.”

Repetitive focus on “what is” creates more of what is. Married to the beliefs above, and you’ve got a life with little change. Certainly, there is something beautiful about accepting what is – but what if, what is could change?What if you could accept what is, and know it WILL change? What might happen if you simply held the belief that ALL of life is fluid? Including the people in it? Including yourself? Life as you know it – in your living room or across the globe?

/Share my thoughts.
Tell you my secrets.
Visit. Smile. Laugh.
You think: “Ah, so sweet a friendship. This is priceless.”

//Cook. Dine. Travel.
The sights . The scenes.
The late night libations.
You think: “Ah, so sweet a friendship.
This is priceless.”

//Compliments. Hugs.
You’re my very best friend.
Life wouldn’t be fun without you.
You think: “Ah, so sweet a friendship.
This is priceless.”

//Chatter. Clatter. Splatter.
Smeared. Laughed at by others.
What happened to,”You’re my very best friend. I would never hurt you.”
Really?
You think: “Ah, not so sweet a friendship. NOT so priceless.

//So, let me get this straight.
You love me when you’re with me.
I’m your very best friend. Yet, when with others you have so much fun sharing those precious moments and secrets of the heart.
I think: “NOT so sweet a friendship. NOT so priceless. The value you placed on our friendship was not so priceless.