Your Friday Five

January 10th 2025

"“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

Howard Thurman

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What Broke My Brain (In a good way)

Another prompt from the book I am reading Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts by Oliver Burkeman:

I started this year with so many promises and obligations that felt overwhelming. I had done this to myself, quietly piling up more things I wanted to change about myself as the clock struck midnight on December 31st.

When January 1st rolled around, I was already feeling behind, and my to-do list was two pages long. Throughout much of 2024, I constantly felt behind, and my to-do list was never finished—in fact, it only seemed to get longer. Then I read a suggestion from Oliver Burkeman to start a done list: write down everything you accomplish throughout the day. For the first time in my life, I now keep a done list.

What this has done for me is remind me that I am not lazy but actually quite productive. And while my to-do list will never be completely done, my done list helps me recognize that I am accomplishing more than I think. I invite you to try this too and let me know your thoughts.

You can purchase this mind bending (in a great way) book here.

Something That Reduces My Anxiety

Birthday Cake Breathing

This is from a brilliant thought leader Dr. Robyne Hanley Dafoe, whom I had the pleasure of working with in 2023. Birthday Cake Breathing, is a simple and effective mindfulness technique that uses imagery to help calm the nervous system, and reduce stress. I'm using this a lot this week.

Here is how to do it:

Sit or stand comfortably, relaxing your shoulders
Close your eyes (if comfortable) and imagine a birthday cake with candles
Inhale deeply through your nose
Slowly exhale through your mouth, "blowing out" the candles one by one
Repeat for a minute or so

It really works.

A Poem That Moved Me

This was a poem that my dear friend Jenny Blake had included in her substack newsletter. It spoke to my heart, I hope you enjoy it too.

Do not try to save
the whole world
or do anything grandiose.
Instead, create
a clearing
in the dense forest
of your life
and wait there
patiently,
until the song
that is your life
falls into your own cupped hands
and you recognize and greet it.
Only then will you know
how to give yourself to this world
so worthy of rescue.

—Martha Postlethwaite, “Clearing”

What's Happening Tonight

I Am Teaching Cardio Dance at Equinox

So, it’s really happening. The last time I taught at an Equinox Fitness Club was back in 2012. Last year, I did a dance pop-up at a local studio and loved it, but I also realized I didn’t want to take on the pressure of promoting the class, etc. After all, this is a “want to do” versus a “need to do” on my list. I blame all of this on my dear friend Calvin Wiley. I took his cardio dance class in November of last year while on a trip to NYC. I loved it so much that I was inspired to get back into the studio.

And I have to admit, last night I had an anxiety dream about my class. 😊 Some things will never change.

I miss dancing. I miss being in a real-life community. My hope is to let this class be a time for people to “dance off” the stress from the week, celebrate their magnificence, and go into their weekend feeling joyful and empowered.

Where: Equinox South Bay: 5400 Rosecrans Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250

Time: Friday Evenings: 6.15pm - 7:05pm

If you’re in the area and would like to come as my guest, just reach out.

I'll share next week how my first class went.

Your Friday Five Reflection Question

This question is something I saw in one of Seth Godin's books and I have it taped to my computer.