10 of my favorite 2014 moments.

If I could sum up 2014 in one word it would be transformational. Transformation by definition is the process of profound and radical change that orients one in a new direction. Well, that’s certainly been the case for me. When I began the year back in January, I felt pretty on top of things in all areas of life. I was starting to release some serious fears and became less and less influenced by the opinions and reactions of others.

However, I got attached to my identity at work as a well-known, trusted, valued, public figure. It was comfortable and it certainly made my ego feel good. Soon enough though, I felt the truth creeping up that it was time for a change. I wasn’t ready to face it, so I conveniently ignored the signs and feelings, and held on to what I knew.

But when the Universe started pushing me to move on, I was like “Ok, Universe. I hear you loud and clear. I’ll trust you on this one.” As I allowed my world to shift, it was painful, but things seemed to fall in to place with more ease when I allowed it.  So often, our tendency is to hold on to the familiar because we want things to stay the same so that we can feel safe. We resist change because it’s scary as hell. But it’s that very resistance that makes the process harder and take much longer. It’s literally as if you are swimming against the current of life, trying to go back into the past. It’s exhausting! When we stop and just go with the current, it’s easier and when we have faith that it will take us where we need to go, it can even become a blissful ride.

Analogies aside, this was by far the most challenging, rewarding, terrifying experience of 2014, but I’m so grateful for it. I’ve become more confident in my ability to move through life with grace no matter what happens, and I’ve learned to forgive myself often when grace feels inaccessible and I just want to lose my shit! The truth is, there are no guarantees in life so we might as well dance and have some fun while we figure it all out, right?

There were so MANY amazing moments from 2014 that I am grateful for. Here are the top 10.

1. Moved to Manhattan. Ever since I graduated college, I dreamed of living in the city. I wanted to be like Carrie Bradshaw with her cute clothes prancing around with friends at brunch, working at a job I loved, and just being surrounded by great stuff to do at all times. Living here has been a dream come true.

2. Started a book club. Ok, this may not seem meaningful, but in my eyes this was me putting myself out there. I wanted to invite lady friends into my home for deep discussion and connection. It felt so great to create a space for us all to talk about real life issues without judgement.

3. Met Deepak Chopra, Dr. Oz, and Arianna Huffington. Ah, I still can’t believe this happened. I had the pleasure of emceeing two of Integrative Nutrition’s life events and I had the honor of meeting and talking to all three of these icons. These were definitely pinch me moments.

4. Escaped the Snowpacalyps for Miami. Last January was brutal. I felt stiff, depressed, and tired. The winter definitely does that to ya. But when you throw on a ton of snow, you pretty much want to crawl into a warm cave and never leave. Stepping into the warm, sunny land of Miami made me feel like a human again.

5. Discovered 305 Fitness. Truth: I LOVE to dance. It makes me feel so happy and alive. For a while, I’d been looking for a class that would be fun and a decent workout. Cue Well + Good’s article about 305 Fitness. I went to a class and almost cried tears of joy. It was the perfect thing to pull me out of my winter coma.

6. Started a blog. Last spring, I felt like I needed to share my inner wisdom and thoughts on the internet (how original!). So I started blogging and it has been the most fun outlet for me to express myself and offer some personal stories that hopefully inspire others. I am so thankful for every single reader and every commenter. It makes me feel like I’m helping you all!

7. Became an entrepreneur. This is a crazy one to come to terms with but I am officially making money working for myself. It’s not nearly as much as I need, but it’s something and I’m really proud of that!

8. Met amazing new friends at Soul Camp. Going to Soul Camp was such a special experience. It could not have been more perfect timing as I was just embarking on my self-employed journey and needed support from fellow entrepreneurs. I’m so thankful for Ali Leipzig and Michelle Goldblum for dreaming this weekend into reality.

9. Wrote a business plan for my biggest vision. My dream is to create a homey, inspiring co-working space for wellness entrepreneurs. The bones of the business plan have been created and now my co-founder and I are just getting our ducks in a row. Lots more progress on this project will come in 2015.

10. Connected more deeply to my inner guidance. If I’m being really honest with myself, I’m more likely to trust my inner guidance when it tells me to do something that seems fun and liberating. I always struggle when it’s signaling that I should take an action that would cause me or anyone else pain. I’ve learned that our gut feelings are our guides and that if we don’t listen, we’ll likely wish we had down the line. This is a work in progress for me, but I’m so proud of how far I’ve come.

Take a moment to consider your 2014. What are your favorite moments? What are you most proud of? What challenges made you stronger?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.