Your Friday Five

January 17th 2025

"You just need to have the courage to eliminate everything that doesn't directly feed what you really want."

James Clear

Click the + Icon to read more on the topics that interest you

Quote that I am pondering

“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” T.S. Eliot

A Meditation to Find Calm Within the Chaos

Mindful Moments

Tension is still high in California, and we call have moments when we feel ourselves spiraling into anxiety and overwhelm. I created this short meditation at the end of last year. Here is the link should you be looking for a way to find some Calm within the Chaos.

Something I am Working On

I’ve been working on an idea for my second book, and I could use your help! I’ve started gathering stories of people who did something for the first time in their 50s, 60s, and beyond.

The book will feature a collection of stories from everyday people who decided to strengthen their courage muscle and embark on something new in midlife. Whether the catalyst for this next step was born out of necessity or curiosity, each story highlights their unique journey.

At the end of every story, there will be a reflection and an invitation for readers to apply the lessons from that story to their own lives, if they feel inspired to do so.

If you know someone I should interview—perhaps even you 💕—please reply to this email with the following details:

What they did for the first time.
The age at which they began their journey.

What Happened Last Week

I Taught Cardio Dance at Equinox

So, it finally happened. I taught a dance class for the first time in over 10 years inside a fitness club. When I went through all the onboarding, I saw that I had been an instructor with Equinox since 2003 and that my last pay stub was issued in 2012!

Being my first class, I arrived at the club about 30 minutes early—which meant half an hour to let my nerves get the better of me. There was a class in session when I arrived: it was athletic, it was hard, and it was packed... And I began to second-guess myself. Who was going to come to a new class with a new instructor on a Friday evening? What had I been thinking? As my nerves started to go into overdrive, I called my good friend Jeffrey Scott. In just 5 minutes, he had me laughing, and my anxiety lowered immediately.

At 6:15 pm, I was set up, the music was working, and I was ready...

One person arrived, then two, then a few more. About 10 minutes after we started, two more people joined. For 50 minutes, nine beautiful souls—who had no idea about my Equinox history (I told them at the end)—smiled, danced, clapped, and sweated with me. I had a blast!!!!!

For anyone who teaches group fitness, you know the drill. It can often take a couple of months for a new class to find its home on a schedule. I got lucky with this one. At the end of class, I said, "If you liked my class, please spread the word. If you didn’t, please don’t say a word!"

Bottom line: I’m so glad I pursued teaching again. This isn’t about going back to teaching as a career but creating a once-a-week moment where I can bring people together around music, dance, and community—all things I need more of in my life.

If you’re ever in town and would like to come as my guest, please don’t hesitate to reach out. It would be such a treat to dance with you.

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

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

Your Friday Five Reflection Question

This week I invite you to do a sentence stem. Write down the first six things that come to mind. Don't worry about spelling and please don't downgrade your dreams:

If I felt more confident I would...