Happy 2017 to everyone!  This is the time of year that a lot of people set a new goal or intention for something wanted in our life or a new direction we want our life to go in.  I would like to propose that instead of seating a new goal/resolution/intention, set a question.  You might say WHAT? What does setting a question mean?

When we set a goal most of the time it is within the frame work of how we understand life to be.  We set goals inside of what we think is possible.  If we think XYZ is "impossible" we will not even approach it.  It doesn't matter where your line is, what one person might think is impossible, is where another person functions everyday.  So why not set a question?  You want to loose weight?  Ask what is the best I can look and feel this year?  What is the hottest I can become?  How long can I run?  How healthy can I eat?

You want to make more money or pay off debt?  Aks, how much money can I make this year?  How fast can I pay off my debt?  How fabulous will it feel to be financially free?

I want to go on more adventures this year... How adventurous can I make my life? ...

Or another game I love to play is "What if?" but only in a good way.  For example, the other day, I got my self pretty excited, by simply playing this game.  I said "What if this year I win $10,000? Oh! What if I receive $100,000?! What if I meet my right man, and I become a mom? What if I become a mom this year? What if I buy a house? What if I win a house???  What if I get a Cancun layover? (this one actually happened yesterday, I'm pretty excited)"

The other thing I really like about the what if game, is that it makes any situation more light hearted.  When something isn't going well, I'll say, well what if...  Some people will roll their eyes, but they won't argue, so that's already a pivotal moment towards what you do want.  I'd also like to mention the power of "maybe;" "Maybe" is another word or way to phrase things, to help a situation turn around.  I find it especially useful when I am working with negative people.  For example we are at the airport and all of the flights are delayed, and I wanted to get to my desitation ontime, I'll say "Well, maybe our flight will be the one that still gets there on time, or maybe the delay will be lifted - meaning ATC has removed the delay restrictions that they have put on all flights of that airport.  Maybe there is something MUCH more beneficial in this for me than what I can see...  It works :)  But more importantly it takes the edge off the negative people, and it also opens myself up to other possibilities that maybe I couldn't see.

I also like to start the day, by wondering out loud "how many good things can happen today?" And "What is the most awesome thing that can happen today?  Its a good idea to write down all the good stuff that happens in the day too, you will be very impressed.

Another day I will go more into "limits" but for now just try to see a limit as the edge.  Its just an edge of somewhere you haven't been before.  Yes most of the time its uncomfortable, but its just a new fronteir, it doesn't mean you can't go there.

How wonderful can this year be? How much fun can you have? How happy can you be? How much can you achieve?  I would love to see you be open to these questoins, and look back in awe of how amazing 2017 turned out to be.

Sending you SO much love,
​Jessica

I just want to express a moment of gratitude.  I woke up this morning made my coffee and went for a walk around the neighborhood.  Its one of my favorite things to do, especially in the morning.  Its such a wonderful way to start the day.  I always let my mind wander during these walks, but today it was especially nice, maybe because I haven't done it in a while.  

Today I was enjoying all the progress I have made over the years, I caught myself thinking of how grateful I was for all that has passed.  There is a loop that I like to do around my neighborhood, and I will walk for many different reasons: because I want exercise, because I am confused about my life, and what to do; because I am sad; because I am angry; just to start the day...  And on this walk today I was remembering all the different moments in my life: when I would have done anything to live in a different country (I didn't even care which country); when I have felt so angry and hopeless about my life, terrified and not understanding how the things I truly wanted would come;  Trying to come up with a plan just to get me in a different position, particularly relating to my finances; when I was painfully waiting to hear back from the interview I went to for my dream job, which I now have...

Then I noticed myself thinking about all the wonderful things in my life.  Each thought was grateful, and effortless - I was grateful for that!  Typically feeling gratitude is something that requires effort for me (well in the past, maybe that has changed :)

In this moment as I'm typing, I am especially grateful for this blog.  Today, when logging in, the viewer tracker said that I had 160 views for the week.  I haven't told anybody about this blog.  I haven't advertised.  
---Well my business coach Rebecca knows.  Because of her, I started this blog.  Until one of our calls, I was so scared I just couldn't get myself to do it.  And with her magical insight, coaching, and encouragement I started this bog.---
But no advertising, no talking about this, and I have 160 views!  I think that is amazing.  And its so satisfying to write,  I feel heard, and less of a need to explain my point of view to others in conversation (only to be shut down).  Some kind of shift happened, I am much more balanced.  I am extreemely grateful for this feeling.  And I would like to say thank you.  I hope that you enjoy my thoughts.  I hope that somethings on here are ideas that you have inorporated into your life, and now enjoy the benefits.  Maybe you would love to have your own blog?  Its really fun, you should try it out :)

Sending you hugs, Merry Christmas
Jessica

I just watched my absolute favorite movie, "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" with Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman.  This movies is so jam packed with details, jokes, metaphores, and inspiration.  I have seen this movie well over 20 times, and I just noticed a new detail today.  It was this boy "Eric" saying "I don't know why grown ups don't believe in themselves when they get older, aren't they supposed to be smarter?"  Isn't this so true.  That's why I love this movie, well visually its so satisfying, its so beautiful, and its a kids movie, so its very colorful, they really do a great job with the color composition, litterally every sceen is balanced, in composition and color.
Then not to mention all the encouraging inspirations; believe in your self, love is magic, and magic is love, play...  This movie is how I think the world should be.  I wish for everyone to do what they truly love, take enjoyment in simple things, believe in impossible things, to follow your heart, go for the scary stuff, LOVE your environment....  Then I realized while watching this movie, that right now I am actually reading the book, and explains very clearly how to get there.  Its 'Shadows Before Dawn' by Teal Swan.  I'm only in the beginning, but I can already see, that by following her very simple method, this will lead me to create and live the life that I truly love, moment by moment.  I am very excited for this, because I have seen for quite some time that my life in the future looks absolutly nothing like it does right now.  I'm very happy about that, but I can't imagine it and I had no idea how I would get there.  Now I have a guide.  
If everyone followed their happiness we would have a magical world - where magic is common place - not just "a miracle."  Although I feel quite lucky in mylife, I do experience a lot of good things that some people might call magical, I am just extreemely grateful for my connection to the universe, but I want this for everyone.  I want everyone to experice magic, wonder, love, awe in their lives; of course we all have bad days, but what if we all had a lot more good ones? 

What is the smallest change that you can make in you daily life that would bring more happiness on a daily basis?

What is something that you really want in your life?  Or maybe just for this month?  And what can you do everysingle day to bring it closer?  Is there a beliefe that you need to change?  Do you need to set asside $5 a day? or maybe just $1 a day.  Is there some research you need to do? Or anything you could practice?  I promise that the smaller the change or modification is, the more permanent it will be, and you will be surprised, your goal, desire, thing you want will show up a whole lot quicker than you might have imagined.

My new commitment is to follow my happiness, whatever will make me happiest for the next moment.  This blog is one of those things.

Thank you Teal, thank you Rebecca (soon she'll get her own article) thank you to all the people that are visiting my blog, thank you to every creative person that puts themselves out there.  

Sending you love and Merry Christmas, Jessica

In continuation of Blue Heart.  I am trying to draw every day, it doesn't matter what it is, as long as I do it for at least 5 minutes.  So today when I sat down, I pulled out my drawing book, and I chose pastels (again, they are my favorite).  My favorite thing to do is to scribble, then highlight what you see, usually with the intention of drawing a face.  I will use this method for designing as well.  But I decided to draw a heart again.  Then decided to try to draw what it looks like right now.  I think that I did a good job, although I don't know how pretty this one is.  But in drawing it, I understand much better what is going on in my heart.  This is where I feel the most things, in reference to meditation, and inner child work...

So its mostly happy and passionate.  The blue is a cover for saddness.  Deep in the center there is a tiny hurt, like a splinter.  I have been trying to see this and heal it for a very long time, but when I try to look at it in meditation I fall asleep.  I have been dating someone, and I can see that I will fall for him,  but I think that is already happening.  While I am happy, I am equally if not more, freaking out, feeling past hurts, and shooting up walls.  He calls me on it, and demands that I explain what going on to him.  That is exactly what I have always wanted, no guy has ever noticed or cared to understand.  And the fact that he can see it, and wants to talk about it makes me so vulnerable.  I'm on the verge of tears just writing about it, and this blog is annomys!  Well unless you already know my art. And this splinter becomes sharp, like a pulsing heartbeat...  What is it that you want to tell me sharp very burried hurt?  It says don't leave me.  What if I didn't leave you?  What if you came with?  Wow, it got quiet, and said ok.
..............................................................................
I understand this article probably made the least sense.  It kind of turned into a journal entry, where often I personify parts of myself, and have conversations with myself.  There aren't very good transitions from the thoughts that I want to share with you all, to the conversations with myself.  But I'm not going to change it.  If you would like to send in your heart portrait, I would love to see it!  I'll post anyone's authentic heart portrait.  I'd also encourage you to do it everyday, or as often as you can.  Just like the Blue Heart, I was feeling sad, but then it turned out so pretty, that I wasn't sad anymore, I actually became very happy, and felt a feeling of being inlove - I think its very easy to be inlove with things, moments, art, life... not just in a relationship.

You can e-mail me at                  5minutesistheway@gmail.com
(5 minutes is the way)

​Heart you, Jessica

Hello!

​Do you wish you could fit a workout into your day, but you just don't have the time?  That's where sticking to just 5 minutes comes into play!  I know, I have those days very often that a real work out doesn't fit into my 16 hour day.  But... have you ever noticed that there are moments that you are waiting on someone else?  Where you actually can't do anything until someone else finishes their task?  There is an aray of physical activity that you could squeese into your day, no matter what your day looks like.

Say you are waiting in line for your coffee or at the grocery store, you can do toe raises, or releve's.  If you know there is nobody behind you, or you just don't care, you can just simply squeese your butt.  I promise if you do this every time you remember you will get an incredible butt.  

When nobody is around you can take a minute to stretch, punch the air forwards, backwards, and upwards, do squats, jete's plie's releve's, jumping jacks...what every you can come up with.  Whenever I have down time I try to do 100 reps at a time, that takes roughly 1 minute.

And if your are at home, or have a large private office, you can pop on a youtube workout.  We all have smart phones, you can literally do a mini work out anytime anywhere.  I'll share my favorite channels (the videos I've posted below are some of my normal go to's), but that is only the beginning.  I have fallen in love with youtube, its endless and portable!

For the dancer in you, its impossible not to feel happy after one of RevFit's videos.
https://www.youtube.com/user/ReFitRev

If you want a killer body and only have ten minutes this is where I go.  They have a very wide selection, so you can type in "10 minute workout" to edit the selection
https://www.youtube.com/user/popsugartvfit

And yoga... I just love yoga, I think its the perfect way to start the day or transition from a long day at work to being present at home.  Again just type in "10 minute yoga," but of course if you feel like doing more, pick a longer video :)
​https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene
https://www.youtube.com/user/SarahBethShow

I'm in hotels a lot, youtube workouts are my go to, and this actually saves space in my bag, because all you really need is a sports bra.  I never bring work out shoes anymore, and that makes my bag lighter, or allows me to bring a cute outfit for going out :)

Cheres to a hot you in 5 minutes a day!

Merry Christmas everyone.  I wish each person a happy holiday season, and I hope each person gets what they truly want.  It doesn't have to be a gift that someone bought you, and wrapped up to put under your tree :)  I wrote quite a long list this year, writing lists is something I really like doing... And on there, I included that I want a boyfriend, that will turn into my husband eventually; my dog, which is a Berniese Mountain Dog, but I would be really happy with a pug too, similar to the one I drew above.  I really want to inspire creativity, and to teach children they have power in creating their own reality, specifically throgh their room, lipstick, $10,000, some workout stuff...  The things I truly want cannot be purchased and wrapped up to sit under the tree.  So I hope that everyone gets what they truly want including me!

But today's article is just to share my re-making of a memory.  Now that you know I just absolutly love Teal Swan, I followed her meditation process.  And what came up one night was how devastated I was to wake up in the morning seeing that my mom and dad put up the tree without me.  I was particularly mad at my mom, because I made it very clear I wanted her to wait for me.  And I don't remember much after that, I must have been brushed off or shamed for feeling so hurt.  This has been a constant theme, and thanks to Teal, its happening less and less :)  So in the re-do, I bought a tree for little Jessica and we put it in her room, and decorated it together.  She was happy and we built a fort, read books, and drank hot chocolate after we were done.  How happy little Jessica was, was so sweet.  And so today, I actually did that.  I  bought a lttle tree for myself, and put on music, and decorated the tree with myself.  Something that I promissed little Jessica druing meditation that I would do this year, since she asked.  I am teary eyed, but it feels good.  It feels like a lot of relief in my heart.  

Close your eyes right now, and ask your self, what is one thing you could do right now that would make you happy and your christmas good?  And then just do it - Regardless of whatever emotional state you are in at the moment happy, sad, or any of the hundreds of emotional variations we all have.  You might be surprised by your answer, but do it - if not for yourself, then for me.  Mine was to decorate a tree together with little me.

​HUGS

I just finished the book by Teal Swan - "The Completion Process."  Wow, this is an incredible book.  Possibly the best book I have ever read.  I am excited to read her other book, that I've got waiting at home.  Yes I do read quite a bit.  But The Completion Process, is SO much more than a book.  I just bought three to give to other people.  I'd say this book is in the geanra of self-help, but its way more than that.  I began to intergrate her processes into my meditation practice, which by the way, if you are one of the thousands of people that say "I'don't know how to meditate" she has a step by step process.  While there are endless approaches to meditation, and even self-help, this is a very active style, that will benefit anyone no matter what they want to acheive, or even escape.

I found Teal, by listening to youtube videos, her videos poped up because they were related to other videos I was listening to.  I tried it out, and at first was distracted by her style.  One she is super pretty, and although that has nothing to do with anything, it was a distraction, then I didn't understand why her videos (the first ones I saw) were kind of retro looking, and they seemed to be so sexual (she did eventually explain this in one of her videos); BUT everything she was saying made a lot of sense, and I had never heard anything regarding healing or phychology related spelled out so well.  Very quickly she became the person I listed to the most on youtube.  After a few months, I finally bought her books.  I think I got to a point where I had listened to all of her videos, and I was trying her methods on my own, but she kept referencing her books.  And I was in need of a new book...

While reading The Completion Process, things in my life begun to change immediately - for the happier.  This book will deffinately bring a lot of good in your life, though it will be different for everyone.  Some moments I cried, of course, some things are just very touching.  If you have watched a lot of her videos, I am/was one of those people that she has said to not watch her videos, my coping mechanism is to 'fix' things/myself.  I see that its something I learned from my mom, and also did to myself so that she wouldn't do this to me.  Of course I could never beat her.  We all have our things, and its all ok.  Since reading this book, I have been able to sit with the emotions, that I really didn't like.  This alone has been so transformative.  One, the emotions I didn't like feeling are less intense.  Mostly because its ok.  And two, I can feel that I am less annoying to be around, this has always been a source of pain, yet I didn't understand that I was also trying to "fix" the people closest to me, and thus pushing them away.  I am so grateful for Teal, that she wrote this book, and is courageous enough to put herself out there.  She is one person that I would really love to meet, I meet famous people often enough, and have met many A-List celebrities, but Teal is the person I really wish to meet.  Even though I could go on and on and on...  I don't feel that doing so would could ever do this book justice.  No matter if you have debilitating traumas, simply want to uncover some financial blocks to get to the next level, or just heighten your happiness experience.  This book, is one of the most transformative books I've ever read, and will go back to; and most definately bring good into your life too!
​
Thank you SO MUCH Teal, I am forever grateful, Jessica

​Today's article is a comentary on little girl named Lilly.  I just met her for one day.  She is my brother's, roomate's, brother's daughter. How is that for he said she said!  Since it is unlikely I will ever see her again, I think it's ok to write about her, or rather the the truth of humanity that I experienced with her.

I LOVE kids, its normal for them to become glued to me within minutes of meeting them.  I am used to this now, and only my mom knows this will always happen when there are kids around.  And so yes, this 3 1/2 year old and I were best friends for the night.  This is so sweet and wonderful, and I love it every single time, I never get sick of kids.  I think they know that I love them, and that's what enables them to open up so quickly.  We colored together, span around in a chair, even as an adult being spun is so fun; we decorated the christmas tree, and played like dogs.  She was "A Molly Dog"  I was "A Mom Dog"  named by Lilly.

We were having so much fun, and in one moment, she came up to me, and half tried to sit in my lap, half tried to hug me, and said "I love you...r band-aids."  This makes me laugh so hard, and yet is one of the sweetest things ever.  After a few hours she had decided that she loved me, and yet an element of our collective "growing up" which is also a bit self rejecting, showed up.  She said she loved me, and rather quickly (especially for a three year old) corrected herself to not show her feelings.  What is wrong with showing our feelings?  What is wrong with loving someone within hours of meeting them?  I'm still laughing at how cute this was.  

Personally I am one of those people that still loves people within hours of meeting them too, sometimes there is some type of connection, and it happens within minutes.  And yet, I do everything I can to hide that I love them (especially when it comes to romance).  It comes from a complete fear that it won't be returned, and therefore I will look stupid for loving someone that doen't love me back.  This moment with Lilly, was very fitting for what is going on in my personal life.  I can see that I already love the guy that I have been talking too.  And yes, it is very quick to "love" someone.  I can feel the fear of him running for the hills if I said those words; yet, I don't know how he can't see it.  Just like this little girl who wanted all of my attention last night, I want all of his attention daily.  I can see, how in the moments when I let it peek through, when I am not paying attention, there is a distancing.  Which hurts.  When did showing love become a bad thing?  And what can we do to allow more love to radiate from our own hearts, and accecpt love from others, even strangers that we just met.  I think that we all long to be as open, genuine, accecpted as a 3 year old. 

Right as I am trying to find the words to conclude my thoughts, which I can't, one of the dogs nuzzles her head in my lap for a hug.  I hug her back as I say out loud "I love you too."

Today's dates is Christmas Eve, December 24th, 2016

I am very new to having my own website, let alone a blog.  I am not tech savy in the slightest.  For some reason, I have created this artilce space, but then I could never delete it.  Luckily I do understand how to edit things, yay!

So I decided to keep this date, and use this space.  I looked back to what happened on December 4th.  I keep a positive aspects journal, and write down all the good things that happen throughout the day.  On this day I was in Kansas with my Mom visiting my brother.  It was the second day there.  I needed space from my Mom.  I ate breakfast with Lilly, this very cute little girl.  She was my brother's roommate's neice.  After playing with her the night before (the first time we met) she hugged me and we ate breakfast together.  She was so sweet.  I was enjoying my coffee with marshmallows, if you haven't tried it, its SO delicious.  She she was having her kid cofffee - hot chocolate.  She was happy to see me, that just warmed my heart.  

My brother's roommate took Lilly back to her parents, a 3 hour drive.  And I took the two dogs out for a walk.  The neighborhood is pretty cute, mostly revolving around a lake.  Its man made but its very pretty.  The dogs loved it, and were pretty hard to control.  The struggle was fun for me.  They were so excited, and prettty strong, so it took all of my body weight, and my arms held high to keep hold ofthem.  It was so cold that I needed to keep my hands inside my jacket, so I was kind of holding them with my elbos.  For sure the neighbors that saw me, thought I looked dumb.  But they are not my dogs, and I am not used to dogs.  It was an adventure :)

When I got back inside I defrosted, it was so nice to take off all the jackets, and feel the warmth of the house.  I took a delicious shower, again after going for a walk in the very cold, snowy outdoors, its so nice to melt into the warmth.  I was rejuvinated, and able to let go of my feelings of annoyance towards my Mom.  We all got ready for the day, and went to eat.  It was a basic day.  But I got to hang out with my brother :)  I love being around my brother.  Even if he doesn't talk, which he doesn't very much, I still love his energy.  I love how incontrol he is, I love watching how good he is with people, and his random very hilarious comments.  He is so funny.  I miss him a lot, and really hope he moves to a city that is closer, or at least easier to go visit, that I would only need to take one flight to get to.  And I am so proud of the man he has become.  If you ever talk to me I will most deffinately brag about how awesome my brother is.