Moving forward

After spending the better part of this year chronicling my desire to manifest a wonderful man for a romantic relationship, I end it happy in the knowledge that I made great strides toward that goal.

I'm not sure if I will pursue it as stridently in 2008. This is not a sign that my desire has diminished. It is more a testimony to my increased confidence level, which brings with it the ability to relax and let things be.

There will be dates and eventually one great guy will emerge and show himself to be a keeper.

Nice.

You better watch out

I have never quite felt like Santa Claus as much as I did today. I went to visit friends who adopted a little girl and they hadn't gotten around to putting up a Christmas tree and aren't really prone to holiday decorating.

So I got the idea last week to buy a small Christmas tree and some ornaments and trek down to Baltimore to spread a little cheer. I did the wise after-Christmas-sales approach and found a bunch of really cool animal ornaments in Macy's. Then, with the help of a friend, I grabbed the last four-foot tree in Duane Reade, complete with lights. This made the friend accompanying me exclaim, "A Christmas miracle!"

Today I unveiled the gift for my friends and little Pilar and let's just say it went over very well. It gave me such joy.

They say it's my birthday

I've never been one of those women who lies about her age. But I'm thinking about starting. HaHa.

It's after midnight, so it's officially my birthday.

I know, I know. You're only as old as you feel. I feel like I'm in my 30s, whatever that means. However, I must say that my 40s have been transformative and I wouldn't trade that for the world.

So, my 46-year-old self is ready to take on another year of possibilities with enthusiasm and grace.

Bring it.

Calling sweet dreams

So I've pretty much licked my conscious fear since having my apartment broken into a few weeks ago. As I wrote in an earlier post, I feel overwhelming gratitude that I am safe and that most of my belongings are intact.

However, my subconscious is not so restful on the topic. I've been having anxiety-ridden dreams. I think writing about it here will help release what is apparently pent-up.

Fear be gone. Please.

Sweet dreams, come on in.

Pondering

One of the best things about the home stretch of 2007 is that I can start to think about what I want to manifest in my life in 2008. Another whole year to grow and thrive and attract and create.

It's a clean slate.

Irresistible.

Merry and bright

As I embark on a Christmas weekend with friends and family, I find I'm feeling exceptionally blessed to have my parents healthy, my siblings actively in my life, my niece and nephew providing light as they grow, and my friends and their families engaged in celebration.

A nice recipe for a Merry Christmas.

Pretty pattern

Today I manifested a new client who seems to be a kindred spirit. I never tire of talking to people who get the big issues of life. A coaching session becomes more like a conversation.

Thanks, Universe. You've brought me another.

The Prayer Chest

I finished reading The Prayer Chest. It's a sweet story of a man who starts to realize the power of manifestation and how intricate the workings of The Universe can be. It's about love, loss, prayer, and interconnectedness.

My favorite quote:

Make yourself ready for loss and letting go as, perhaps, part of the answer to your prayer. It may not be immediately apparent how failure leads to flourishing or loss fertilizes the ground for gain, but trust that it shall.

Trust.

That it shall.

Surprise gift

Received a little package in the mail from Florida today. Couldn't imagine what it was. Opened it to find a Barbie ornament for my Christmas tree. It's called "Roman Holiday."

It turns out that a darling woman I met at a writers' workshop in September remembered me talking about my love of Barbie. So sweet.

And might I add that I also wouldn't mind manifesting a 'Roman holiday' of sorts? The gift has a double meaning to me.

Just putting it out there, oh grand Universe. Just putting it out there ...

The good, the bad and the ugly

So this blog is about the belief that I manifest things in my life. I vowed that I would not make it strictly about the good stuff. Here goes.

Last week my apartment was broken into. I came home in the afternoon and found my door ajar. I peeked in, saw things out of place, dropped my grocery bags and went outside to call the police. I heard noise in my neighbor's apartment on the way out, but decided not to knock because I'd never met him.

While I was calling the police from the front step of the building, a strange man came out, said hello and kept walking briskly away. I knew he had just robbed me and probably my neighbor and I watched him go as I excitedly told the 911 operator what was happening.

The hours that followed were a blur. My cousin, my brother, and a friend came to offer support. The police were helpful. The locksmith did a great job. I answered questions, tried to piece things together, gathered my thoughts.

Why did I manifest this intrusion?

To feel immense gratitude. Call me crazy, but that is what I feel. I could have not stopped at the grocery store and walked in a few minutes earlier while the intruder was in my apartment and who knows how that would have gone. I could have owned more things with the kind of "worth" this robber was seeking, but my items of value will get nary a red cent from a pawn shop because they are treasures of the sentimental or artistic kind.

Also, I made a phone call to my brother and was flanked by him and my cousin within the hour. I didn't ask them to come, but they came. I didn't ask. They came.

Somewhere in there might also be a lesson about being able to ask for help. Not a bad notion. But for now I'll stick with being grateful and taking a deep breath.

Thank you.

Ensemble

There's this tote and matching cosmetic bag I wanted. Clinique was giving it as a gift with a purchase over $25. I was going to buy a few things at Lord & Taylor, a lipstick I wanted and perhaps some gloss, and bring home the coveted set with the green and red design.

Hours before the scheduled trip to get it, a co-worker from the day job left a Lord & Taylor shopping bag under my desk. I came back from the restroom and there it was, THE tote and cosmetic ensemble. She had no idea I wanted it. She had made a Clinique purchase and thought I might like the bonus set.

Did I manifest that gift?

Oh, yes indeed.

Ripple

Opportunity continues to knock professionally. I like this kind of steady stream of possibilities.

Would that it would carry over to romance ...

Next up

Started reading a book called The Prayer Chest today. So far, so good.

It promises life lessons and insights and I'm always up for those.

Stay tuned.

The real thing

There are one-dimensional options -- three come to mind -- popping up around me in the dating realm.

I want more than one-dimenstional.

The Universe is testing me.

I'm up for the challenge.

Bring on the real thing.

O Christmas tree

Sometimes I think my ideal job would be to decorate Christmas trees in themes. Like, if you had a winery, you'd hire me to give your tree a wine theme. Or, if you owned a bridal shop, you'd hire me to do up a tree in pristine white and crystal. That would have me shopping for ornaments a lot, something that gives me great pleasure.

I wonder if I'd get sick of standing back and admiring my work before placing a few more bows or shimmery glass balls on the branches that looked bare. Or turning on the lights to see the final dazzling product.

I bet not.

Dream weaver

I am coaching.
I am writing.

I am coaching.
I am writing.

I am coaching.
I am writing.

This was/is the dream.
Coaching and writing.
For a living.

Call me the dream weaver.

My Game Plan

It's time to complete the circle. I've been hinting around at how I manifested a great professional opportunity. And so here it is, the debut of my life coaching column for FOX Business:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/travel-lifestyle/article/new-column-business-life-coaching_386466_22.html

I have been preparing for a life coaching column for a while now and I love the idea of expressing myself like this on a regular basis. I cleared the space in my life and in it came. It's not magic, it just feels that way.

If you're so inclined, please click over every Wednesday and Friday for a fresh dose of "Game Plan." It's part of my Universal Flow.

Frankie says

Two days ago I wrote about not having Internet at home at the moment and how disconcerting it is. Yet I heard the big message: Relax when you're home.

But now I think the message is even bigger than that.

Relax. Don't always be so intense and driven.

Relax. Don't feel like you have to announce to prospective dates, employers, clients that you are available and interested. Let them inquire once in a while.

Relax. It's a confident thing to do.

Relax. It's a healthy thing to do.

Relax. You're doing great at life.

Relax.

Relax ...

Life's riches

I signed a new life coaching client today. Another kindred spirit.

It's like I've set up a magnet over here in Hoboken and it's drawing witty, smart, cool people who want to live life a little fuller. This one came via a referral from a former client who happens to be witty, smart and cool.

I am open to receive life's riches and they are coming in droves.

It fills me with gratitude.

Couch

The Universe has decided I should be without Internet in my home this week. While it is inconvenient, I have already deciphered the big message.

Relax when you're home.

Relax, baby.

Relax ...

Mani-FEST

Free again
Lucky, lucky me
Free again
Time to call up all the crowd
Raise the roof and shout out loud
Time to have a party
-- from Free Again by Barbra Streisand

A few weeks ago I made up my mind to leave my day job. It has served me well. I cleared space in my head and made the decision. Two days later, an ad for a terrific-sounding life coaching job appeared in my email box. Over a week later, I received an email regarding the possibility of being a columnist -- a long-held dream.

I wrote my resignation letter early last week and dated it for Friday, November 30. The next day I got the column offer. I'm still waiting to hear about the life coaching job. But in the meantime, great new clients have appeared.

I can't stress it enough. I cleared the space first. Then came the good stuff. Manifesting at its finest.

I am so free.