| Greetings from Chicagoland, Illinois, USA!! I have been living here since late November 2017. I ventured across the country to temporarily relocate here for work. I've been living in the village suburbs of the "North Shore" area; a place I was previously familiar with. I am expected to live here until some time this summer to explore an unforeseeable, yet hopeful, future. I have been living out my first real winter with enthusiasm and appreciation. I love the variant weather and cold, especially the snow. There's something about walking out into a cold brisk morning and instantly feeling alive and awake; it is almost primal and instinctual the way cold activates your senses and being. Having been a SoCal native my whole life, and a valley girl at that, I welcomed the experience of "getting out of my comfort zone." So here I am, going within, hibernating, domesticating, appreciating, remembering, reminiscing, reflecting, dreaming, exercising, creating, connecting within, and looking ahead (when I'm not working). I will provide a thorough re-cap of my successful and magical month-long trip European adventure of last summer (2017). Italy was a blast, and England was and eye-opening cultural experience. Not only did every single person, moment, timing and thing work out, but I also gained some wisdom and insights along the way. Stay tuned for that. At the beginning of 2018 I started off the Gregorian New Year with strong intentions to improve my habits, short comings, and quality of life. On January 1st I started a 40 day Puja to Ganesha, and also an online work out program with one of my best friends, Melissa Banos of www.theinnertheory.com. The Puja to Ganesha proved worthwhile, grounding, exploratory, and soothing at times. The workouts have given me a sense of connection, accountability and virtual community. Aside from my exercise and work life, I have also been able to rekindle my fondness of making jewelry and facilitating experiences. I taught an 11 year old how to make earrings, and a necklace, and I also shared with her, a friend, and a 6 year old how to make vision boards and collage. I soon hope to share some rhythm and frame drumming wisdom while I am here. Chinese New Year just recently passed and I welcomed that Fire energy in along with the Year of the Mountain Dog. There is work to be done ahead. The Celestial new year is upon us as well with the arrival of the Spring Equinox when the Sun enters Aries. My inner landscape is being prepped for these seeds I am sowing... we shall see what summer and autumn will reap? Until then, stay tuned for the next blog post. Much love, Mary Ann. |    |