Embracing Change
My New Year’s intention for 2018 was to “embrace change,” “allow,” and “surrender.”
Boy, has it been a wild ride! The universe heard me loud and clear, and has gifted me with lots of opportunities for change, as well as big lessons in trust and surrender.
At the beginning of March, my husband Ryan and I moved to Orange County in California. I had dreamt about moving to California, and an opportunity presented itself for Ryan to work on a project there, so without hesitation, we said yes. We packed up our dog, cat, and our belongings, and drove cross country to our new home. Not without challenges of course. On our move out day, Ryan injured his back severely, and was fully incapacitated. Being the guy he is, he insisted on leaving anyway, assuring me that once in the car, he would be fine. That was not the case, so our first full day of travel, he spent in the ER instead. Once we arrived to California with great delay, he began work at his new job site the very next day, still not fully healed. I unpacked and tried to p
ut our home together. The transition was much easier for me than for Ryan, since he never really got a chance to settle in before beginning his work. Two weeks later, we received heart crushing news that our cat was terminally ill. His kidneys were functioning at less than 5% and his health declined rapidly. We lost him just two weeks later. California was off to a rocky start, but I was determined to soak in the beauty, beach, and all the opportunities that came my way.
And the opportunities came! I was given the opportunity to substitute teach at a rehab center for my dear friend and sister, Jade Alectra. I absolutely loved it, and it began to plant seeds to pave my path! I was also offered the opportunity to teach at the OC Yoga Festival. I was ecstatic and cherish this experience so much! I also taught at a 1 day Retreat for Natura Culina in Malibu, which I loved! I met a number of wonderful and inspiring people, participated in New Moon Circles, and took classes that were filmed for Alo Moves. All of the experiences contributed toward my greater vision and downloads I received. Some of my projects are still a secret, but what I can share is that I know that my path is to create a community and lead healing events, such as Women Gatherings, Retreats, Yoga, and much more.
After only 3 month in beautiful California, we received news that my husband’s project was cancelled, and we would have to move back to Virginia. I was devastated, as we had just begun to settle into our new home. As expected, I had fallen in love with California, the laid back lifestyle, conscious community, beautiful weather and beaches, and emphasis on healthy living. I kicked and screamed and threw a major fit, resisting the move back as best I could! I was not ready to go. We were able to postpone our departure by a few weeks, so I could finish up my scheduled events, like teaching at the OC Yoga Festival. I continued to gather inspiration and became clear on my vision and path! I manifested my dream home, and in early August, we moved back to Virginia. We closed on our house the day we arrived, and I was eager to begin taking action on all of my plans.
Then, another test arrived from the universe. On the return trip, we decided to fly, and ship our belongings back. Unfortunately, we fell victim to a very shady scam company, and are still without our belongings, 7 weeks later. After being in complete resistance, fighting, experiencing a side of me that I hadn’t seen in years, I understood the lessons I was supposed to learn and moved into complete surrender. Of course that does not mean sitting back and doing nothing, but it does mean to soften, breathe, trust, and take inspired action rather than raging all day.
2018 has given me so many ups and downs so far, and I am grateful for it all! Grateful for all the blessings, and equally as grateful for all the lessons!
I was welcomed back into the community joyously, and am grateful to be teaching again at the studio I taught at before leaving, Mind the Mat, as well as another studio now, Refresh Yoga Center. I am grateful to have reconnected with dear friends, and am completely in love with our new home! I have so many visions and have already taken actions toward realizing my dreams. On Sunday, I hosted my very first New Moon Goddess Gathering. It was an opportunity to combine my passion for food, deep connection, and healing, while stepping into my role as a leader and light worker. I am immensely grateful to all the women who came and shared space, spoke from the heart, and connected deeply. I look forward to continuing to build this community and can’t wait to share some of my additional offerings. Stay tuned!!
With love, from my heart to yours!
Marina