Happy New Year, Fellow Unstoppable One…
While I have stories to tell from my recent holiday adventures, today I’m going to start off on a more serious note.
Because an hour ago my dear friend Susan (my first roommate after college) sent me a text –– telling me that her husband just passed away . . .
Clayton was only in his early 40’s. With a vibrant personality, a gorgeous young daughter, and a beautiful, brilliant wife.
Yet he was diagnosed about a year ago with the same kind of brain tumor my father had: A glioblastoma. Worst of its kind.
Of course this was the LAST thing a new, young married couple would have EVER anticipated. But cancer became the shocking reality of their lives last year. Like it or not.
And watching this couple’s loving, painful, challenging journey this year has really hit my heart …
I share their journey with you because every time someone I love transitions back into their glorious Spirit form, it feels like my DUTY to honor them –– by getting even more clear and dedicated to living MY best life, while I’m still here.
( Because trust me: Being a Medium, I’ve talked to enough dead folks to know that’s what they want for you and I! )
Yet far too many of us Mortals are walking around as if we don’t have an expiration date.
But we DO.
I’ve worked with mothers who’ve lost young children in car wrecks. Families who’ve lost teens to suicide. Friends whos young husbands just never woke up one day.
Yet somehow we assume we’ll be here forever. Enjoy our Golden Years. Have all the time in the world to get around to things that matter most.
I’m sure Clayton and Susan thought the same.
It’s easy to think that by avoiding the topic of our own mortality — this will somehow keep you and I ALIVE. (Or postpone the inevitable.)
Thing is: it usually has us WASTE time, put off things, and twiddle our thumbs instead (with our heads firmly planted in sand).
But avoiding things doesn’t make them go away.
Wasting time, running from fears, or numbing out does NOT make things better.
It only takes you one day closer to your own expiration date — yet without being fully present to yourself, your life, and your Truth.
Yick.
Don’t fret: I can waste PLENTY of time myself. And I can “Ostrich-It” with the best Avoiders on the planet. (Who doesn’t!?)
But this time in our spiritual evolution: It’s all about living with EYES-WIDE-OPEN! The sooner we catch our unique ways of checking out, dodging and suppressing — the faster we’ll evolve, and the smoother life’s ride can be . . .
So when precious people like Clayton or other loved ones pass on, we each get a rare-gem moment to take a deeper, harder, closer look at how we’re living . . . (or NOT living) . . . and make strategic, soulful changes, pronto.
This past year I was also inspired to join a very special weekly women’s Spiritual Circle — where we’ve been reading Stephen Levine’s “A Year to Live – How to Live This Year as If It Were Your Last” — a book that he wrote after helping many people ransition through the death process.
He took on a very unique challenge: to live for a full year – as if his death would be a REALITY just 12 short months later.
And knowing Clayton’s death was drawing near, it got me really thinking a LOT about this same experiment:
What if I took on this “1 Year to Live” challenge, too?
- What is REALLY important to me?
- What have I been putting off?
- What fears about death do I still hold deep inside — that actually KEEP me from truly living?
And I toss this to you, too.
Perhaps this coming year you and I team forces — to step into our lives, more fully and honestly and bravely than we’ve ever done before!
And this week, I do this in tribute to Clayton, and his beautiful family. And all those who have gone before us . . .
Because as Stephen Levine witnessed: many people who’ve receive “death sentences” actually stepped into a fearlessness within — giving them a sort of secret permission to finally stop holding back, or putting off –– and fully, totally throwing themselves INTO life!
They stopped giving a rats ass about “failing”.
They stopped giving a fudge about what others thought about them.
They stopped living for the elusive “One day when . . . “ –– and started enjoying life, as is.
Basically, they felt a whole lot o’ “FUCK IT!” freedom.
Many reported the realization that they began living MORE after their “death diagnosis” – than they ever did when things were just (seemingly) ho-hum and hunky-dory.
So why wait for a doctor to give you some bad news? Or taking your last breath?
No more putting things off.
- You want to ride horses? DO IT.
- You want to heal your mind and get powerfully present? DO IT.
- You want to fall in love with your own beautiful Self? DO IT.
Write the book.
Build that business.
Explore your depth.
Fall in love.
Heal your depression.
Start to meditate.
Travel the world.
Question your thoughts.
Leave that job.
Open your heart.
Speak your truth.
Learn to say no.
Run a marathon.
Wear polka dots on Wednesdays.
Now, I’m not saying this will be easy. Far from it.
It may kick up things long suppressed. Fears long avoided. Pains long dodged.
But no matter how hard . . . it’s ALWAYS worth it. Because it means you and I will actually be TRULY living. (Perhaps for the first time in our lives.)
And even if you fall, fail or flounder a little (or a whole whoppin’ lot!) . . . at least you gave it a good shot.
. . . That counts BIG TIME in my life’s book!
(And worst-case, you’re likely to be a whole lot o’ Baby-Steps closer to your 100% Soulful-Self than you ever were before.)
So consider joining me in this experiment . . .
- What have you been running from?
- What haven’t you wanted to face?
- What fears have you been dodging?
- What dreams have yet to come true?
- What grudges would you let go of?
- What fun would you make sure to have every day?
- What kind of happiness would you want to experience?
- What kind of deep, raw healing would you gift yourself?
- What kind of soft, sweet, loving self-talk would you develop?
Call me crazy, but. . . Let’s pretend like we’re DYING this year!
(Because one day we will.)
– Let’s stop worrying about what other silly people think.
– Let’s start doing what you’ve put on the back burner for decades.
– Let’s stop shoving down our emotions – and start feeling everything instead.
– Let’s stop waiting around for: tomorrow, retirement, when the time is right, or when you butt is smaller.
And let’s DEFINITELY start hugging, smiling, gushing, giggling, dancing and skipping a whole heck of a lot more!
THAT is Unstoppability at it’s finest.
I’d LOVE to hear some of your 1-year Bucket list ideas below — what changes would you make if you made this your MOST Unstoppable year ever?
(Warning: I might steal some of your ideas though… hope you don’t mind!)
Big love to you —
XOOX
Stephanie
PS: Please send Susan and her daughter some extra love this year too, if you have any extra to spare! They most definitely deserve it . . .
