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I’d like to invite you to try something with me. It won’t take long. I know how many demands and “have-to’s” there are out there. I know how many things need to be done right now, so I only ask for five minutes of your time.

Let’s turn off all the noise. Silence the voice of the boss, the watercolor co-worker and the shouts of deadlines. Lower the volume on the girlfriend, boyfriend, partner or spouse. Don’t worry you will be back to listen to the tales of their day shortly. Put the baby cooing or the children’s laughter or tantrums on mute for a moment. You will be back to delight in them or discipline them momentarily. Dial down the voices of parents and/or grandparents. Quiet the voices of siblings and friends. As you bring about this silence, be sure to quiet more than just sound. Turn the volume down on any and all knowing looks and/or glances, from ones who know you well, that communicate more than spoken words. Let yourself come into a comfortable quiet space.

There you are, right there.
You are the leading lady or man of your life. Do you know that? Do you feel that?
What does silence mean to you?
How does it feel when you are just you…settled in your warm skin, breathing in and out?
What do YOU think about when it’s just you? When you erase all the things that others need/want from you? When you erase all the roles you play, take off all your hats and allow yourself to be in this moment, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

As I allowed myself the gift of a few moments of time and quiet, I closed my eyes and thought, “White sandy beach, blue/green ocean, warm sun, a pen, a journal, a smile, a warm, bear hug and wee hug.” These are the things that make me happy. These are all the things that bring me peace amid the chaos of daily life. As I stand in the center of the storm of life, I have clarity.

Sometimes I forget that I am the leading lady of my life. I act like a supporting actress or worse, an extra with throw away lines. I let all the other voices narrate my story. It’s easy to get lost with so much going on which is why it’s so important to come back to center stage, take a moment and remember who you are and what is the focus of your world. You don’t have to be everything to everyone. You simply have to be you. Remember that.

I ask you, when you pause in the middle of your life and silence all the noise, who are you? What things become crystal clear to you? What becomes most important?

On Saturday, I had the tremendous honor of being a part of Bridget and Joe’s wedding. Bridget and I first met when I was a little girl and she was a wee baby. As I sat on her parent’s couch, she was placed in my arms and from that moment forward we were like family. Bridget, her brother Marty, my brother Ian and I have been like siblings to one another; we have shared many of life’s moments together. We were the real-life cast of He-Man or She-ra one day and the kids who played hide and seek when no one was looking for us the next. We still have the “pizza parties” we became accustomed to having with our Moms when we were younger, although the beverages have changed for the better and our jokes telling has become a little naughtier. We have been one another’s rocks through tough times when we lost family members or were simply dealing with rough patches in life and we have been great sources of laughter and inspiration to each other when we weren’t 100% sure which path our life journey should follow. All in all, its been an incredible ride.

And this weekend, another, amazing member was added to our familial crew, Bridget’s husband Joe. What I love about him is the way he loves her. They have become one another’s best friend and isn’t that what we all want in this life? It’s not about the looks or the amount of money someone has because all of that can disappear in the blink of an eye. No, it’s about the way we listen and talk to one another, the support, comfort and care we share and the way we love one another. These two make each other laugh. They can battle like there’s no tomorrow but, at the end of the day, what matters most is that they always find their way back to one another. They adore one another and they love one another’s friends and family as well. Joe has always treated my brother and I like family.

During the wedding ceremony, I cried; they were all tears of happiness. I could not believe my little Bridget was getting married and as that thought crossed my mind a million memories of all of us flashed through my mind. What I realized was that despite the fact that we are all getting older and moving forward with our lives, we will always be the kids we were playing games and making one another laugh. This was crystal clear at the reception when Bridget and my brother got up to dance. The way they make one another laugh in this video is a testament to the good fun we all have with one another all the time. We are the best of friends, we are family; we grew by one and our lives are so much richer for it.

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan! To Bridget, Marty and Ian, may we always be there for one another. To Bridget and Ian may you dance and laugh like this throughout all the events in our future. To Bridget, Joe, Marty and Ian, I love you.

Tell me, do you have folks like this in your life? Tell me about them and wish the happy couple well here…oh and HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!!

When my daughter was five months old, I took this video of her. Every time she’d touch the camera, I’d make a noise and she’d laugh. It was the first time she really started to share her belly laughter. I could lose… I lost hours just making her laugh; it is still the best sound I’ve ever heard.

As I watch it, I am struck time and again at how the little things in life bring the greatest sense of joy. For her it was the sound I made when she touched something and for me it was the simply sound of her laugh. It just goes to show that the best things in this life have nothing to do with material things; it has to do with one another. Today, I invite you to spend time with someone you love….tell old stories, make one another laugh and wrap yourself in the wonder of the little things.

What brings you pure joy?