My 2011 Year in Review: What a Ride!

Posted by on December 27, 2011

My 2011 Year in Review: What a Ride!

Introspection. Looking Back. Living and Learning.

Ultimately though… Gratitude.

I want to point out that this post is mostly for my introspective benefit. But if you are so inclined and interested, by all means, keep reading.

The New Year started out with a large statement as my partner and I visited the Big Apple for New Year’s Eve.  Arriving just in time for New York’s major blizzard, I was dreaming of being on the beach with a bit of regret. Nevertheless, we had a ball shopping, eating pizza and pretzels, getting lost, riding the subway, Times Square, and all things New York. In hindsight, this trip was a foreshadowing of what was to come for the year ahead.

At the stroke of midnight and as the calendar page turned to 2011, it was if all of my karma of 2010 had been cleared and erased. I had passed the test. It was time for my soul to move on. Our home that was the source of most of this karma closed in mid-January. Two weeks later, I received one of those phone calls you wait your entire life to get.

It was my publisher’s Managing Editor.

“We want to take your book out of its current series, re-design it, re-name it, and re-release it. Would you be okay with that?,” she says.

“Uh. yeh,” I respond in a deer-caught-in-the-headlights voice.

And from there, Feng Shui Your Life: The Quick Guide to Decluttering Your Home and Renewing Your Life was born. I was already sitting in a pool of gratitude from the house closing. And then this. I was swimming in an ocean of Eureka-level gratitude. And this is why you take the time to look back: Remembering just how taken care of we are. In fact, I remember making a pact with the God-Universe-Divine Source that day: I will never not trust again. I do slip up here and there but for the most part, I was transformed from those successive events.

And so for the rest of Spring 2011, I worked on updates and a book marketing plan. You hear that it takes a couple of years for a book to actually be released. This book took only 6 months! No wonder it holds the energy of transformation. It is a Quick Guide afterall.

In March, I did take a respite from writing. After spending the Christmas break in the East Coast blizzard, I was jones-ing for the West Coast. We planned a trip to my favorite West Coast destination: Santa Barbara. Palm trees, sunny skies, walking on the beach. I couldn’t wait.

It rained 4 out of 5 days. I think they received around 20 inches – 14 inches in 24 hours. Nevertheless, we had a great time at the yoga studio, drinking almond milk concoctions at the Sojourner Café, watching March Madness at the local watering holes, and splashing around State Street.

In April, I officially incorporated and launched my first product: Earth Home Smudge Spray.  Later in the year, I put my attorney skills to use and trademarked it. I so love this product and use it for my clients, my home, and hoping for it to be eventually used world-wide to help cleanse the sludge – physically and emotionally – that we humans have created on the Planet.

My book released on July 19th – the same week as my 40th birthday. What a gift.

The Summer went by blissfully. Seriously. It was one of the best summers I’ve had in many years to be quite honest. I was at peace enjoying all things Summer. I love the heat. I love being outdoors. I love walking to the coffeeshop. I love my front porch.  It was also in Summer 2011 when I started teaching at a yoga studio again. The Universe had bestowed another gift: teaching at my favorite studio alongside the most amazing teachers.

Nine months after enduring the New York blizzard, I returned to New York City in sunny September for book promotion festivities. I had the honor to do a book signing and workshop at Namaste Bookshop on Union Square followed by a workshop in Brooklyn at Art and Words Gallery. The first trip was my initiation into New York. The second time I felt more than welcome. I made up with New York and hope to be back.

Soon after returning from the publishing hub, I had the urge to dive back into writing. For the next two months, I worked on a book proposal. With my 2011 luck embedded into this project, I am optimistic that it will manifest into my next book. This book encompasses my heart, soul, and my initial, raw inspiration for practicing feng shui. You will hopefully hear more about this in 2012.

As the season changed, temperatures dropped, and the days shortened, my attention shifted to my dog, Horatia (a.k.a Rooney Roo). Within a month she rapidly declined and on December 5th, I had to say goodbye to my best friend of 14 years. She knew me better than anyone. She was my Memory Keeper.  She witnessed and was always at my side through the ups and downs over practically my entire adult life. For some reason, over 40 years I had escaped the emotion of grief. I made up for lost time.

At the end of each year, I inevitably say, “I can’t believe how much has happened this year.” I always think that if you told me at the beginning of the year what was to happen, I wouldn’t believe it. And so is the case with 2011. It’s hard to believe how much life can be lived in one year.

And something tells me that 2012 will be one for the ages: globally and personally.

I will be spending New Year’s at the beach this year. Yes, I won out this year and hoping the beach will set the theme for 2012.  Many “Thank Yous” to all of my clients and readers over the last year.  You keep me real and grounded.

Wishing YOU an amazing holiday season and a Magical 2012!

Peace To All-  Tisha

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