Today I Choose

Hi, happy Tuesday and welcome back to Tea Times with Melissa and Tara, I’m Melissa Bingham and in these special episodes of the Today I Choose podcast, I’m talking with Tara Whiteman-Fager as she shares the multifaceted storytelling behind the scenes of her upcoming book Scientific Poetry & Prose, an Abstract Prequel to the Talk & Tales of the Tattooed Women.  

Talk and Tales of the Tattooed Women is intended to be her second publication and is the book that she initially had set out to write when she began this tattooing escapade so many years ago…dating back to her adolescence!

You can read all about the juicy details regarding her inking journey soon, in Scientific Poetry & Prose.   We are aiming for a February publication date.  Tara intentionally chose this month in honor of her biological Mother’s birthdate which is on 2/6  story Keep an ear out for the exact date.  We’ll certainly keep you posted!

Now, many of you listeners have already sat with us in circle and know that we don’t just stop there… 

…simply talking about books and tattoos.  

As a matter of fact, we’ve recently been told that some of our listeners have found inspiration in the words and ideas exchanged as Tara and I discuss little crumbs of our personal stories.  During past Tea Times, she and I had candid conversations regarding our experiences as friends, colleagues, and soul sisters.   We share talk about the tools we’ve used regarding our own healings.  And sometimes, but only with permission, talk about the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual healings we’ve witnessed in others - those of who we work with in our leadership roles.  

By now, our listeners know that when we speak of gossip with a purpose, this is what we mean.  Sharing stories of ours and those who have entrusted us to tell their tales…during Tea Times.  And sometimes…they even join in!

So, pour an extra large potion today…because this episode is packed with tips, tools, tales, and even a little chit chat with a guest who “spontaneously knocked’ on our door when Tara and I had just sat ourselves down for this week’s Tea Times!  We had invited her to join us last minute and weren’t sure if she could make it.  But she showed up!  

Alright now, take a moment, get comfy and listen as we drop in, starting with a pre conversation between Tara and I, regarding our own experiences thus far, while in process of producing these books and in tandem, the podcast series - known to y’all as Tea Times.  

To connect to today's guest, Katie, please visit:

When I recorded this meditation, it was a new moon. And that got me thinking…

First, I was reminded of the Albert Einstein quote, “You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it.” Next, this led me to consider: what does that mean? How do I, in other words, open to a new mind? How do I form new ways of thinking and new ways of being? To create new thoughts or to come to an out-of-the-box solution, Einstein suggests, one needs new neural pathways. And to start this process, one must disengage from the repetitivity of mental looping. For me, this new thinking begins with meditation.

Be open to something different

As you embark on a new moon or a new mind, I invite you to be curious. Truthfully, this way of being open to something different can feel like a mind-mess. If this happens, be curious. Personally speaking, even if there is no problem, I want to be open to looking at things with new eyes and new ways of being. I want to expand. I want my vision to widen. I want my beingness to evolve. So as we come together today, I invite you to use meditation as a way to be grounded in the shakeup of your thinking. Most of all and again, I invite you – through meditation – to be curious.

As always, please enjoy!

More from Melissa and Today I Choose

Clairvoyance, intuition, and the electromagnetic field of joy

On today’s episode, I am so excited to share my conversation with The Joy Healer, Cathy Weiss. In Cathy’s words, she describes herself as a fully recovered codependent, hide-behind-the-drama-and-BS-of-day-to-day-life person who was, tragically, trying to dim her own brightness. Since then, however, she’s spent the better part of the last 25 years healing those wounds and, in the process, has uncovered an incredible truth – that life is so much calmer, easier, and more FUN when we’re able to be ourselves. In other words and to her, being ourselves is what JOY looks and feels like.

Cathy Weiss: the mystical healer…AND Disney Travel Planner??

As you’ll hear, Cathy is an effervescent delight. We cover so much ground in this short conversation, including:

• The difference between joy and happiness
• Her work with electromagnetic fields and how those fields reacts and responds to one another
• The question of, “Can clairvoyance be taught?”
• How to tune into our own energy
• A clairvoyant reading on myself!
• and why she’s also a certified Disney Travel Planner…

If I had to describe this conversation in a word, I would call it…a JOY! And after you listen, it is my hope that you’ll find yourself in an energetically and vibrationally higher place than when you started. Most of all and as always, please enjoy!

Resources Related to this Episode

Today, we're visiting one of my favorite topics…and that is the ripple effect. To explain this, think about the ripple effect from an energetic perspective: we all walk around this earth with a radiating field that starts at our core and continually undulates outward. Like waves rippling from a single drop of water falling in a pond, we make ripples. And as these waves move further and further away from our center, they might lose visibility. Nonetheless, that energy is touching other energy, becoming one with the pond, one with the whole.

You are the nucleus.

Going back to this idea of a pond or a lake, this is how I see mediation. When the wind is blowing and the water is rough, the surface of the water is stirred. But if we are the water – all of the water – we are both the surface and the depth, the stillness underneath and the movement without. If this is confusing, here’s another way to think about it: we each ripple out what we are. What our brain is thinking at any given moment is the drop of water falling in the pond; our thoughts are the ripples calling from within the universe without.

So as we come together to mediate today, I invite you to consider: what are you rippling out and calling in? A ripple effect works because everyone influences everyone else. If you remember that your influence begins with you, ask: what are you sending out?

As always, please enjoy!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

There's a lot going on in our world. And personally speaking, I’m just trying to get through each day. To do this, the thing that keeps me grounded, calm, and centered is my meditation practice. And when I need more than my meditation practice to keep me grounded, calm, and centered? I go into nature. This might sound simple – and it is – yet looking at the beauty, wonder, and joy around me reminds me to change my internal picture.

Tapping into the pulse of the universe

In addition to nature without, I've been looking at nature within. And I do this by taking my pulse on my wrist, trying to feel my heartbeat and recognize that the same pulse that beats within me is the same pulse that beats within everybody else. All living, sentient beings beat within the heart of mother earth and the cosmos. The heartbeat, in other words, is an expansive reminder of oneness. If we can tap into that beat and anchor ourselves in oneness, peace, harmony, and love, we can hold that as the true picture of who and what we are. So as we come together to meditate today, I invite you to look at your heartbeat within and turn it to see a more harmonious world without.

As always, please enjoy!

More from Melissa and Today I Choose

I'm happy to welcome Paula Onysko to the podcast today. Interestingly, I found Paula at the beginning of the pandemic through synchronicity. I was doing research on the tapping technique and her website just…popped up. Since then, Paula has not only been a wonderful resource, she’s become a teacher, a mentor, and a friend. Her tools around abundance, wealth, and a personal money-story have become instrumental. And today we’re talking about everything from success, worth, alignment, and protecting your energy within a bubble.

Transform your beliefs about money and success

Paula Onysko is a Money & Business Coach who helps soulful entrepreneurs create strong, profitable businesses they love leading. She believes in stopping the hustle mentality that is draining women and creating success through peace, flow, and alignment instead. Through private and group coaching and her annual retreat, Paula guides clients to strengthen their pricing and service offerings, strategic planning, team leadership, and money mindset.

As always, please enjoy!

Resources from this episode:

Before recoding this episode, I’d been traveling and sensing into what I wanted to share with you. And over and over again, two words kept coming up: Grounded Presence. While traveling, people kept saying to me, “Melissa, you have so much going on!” And while traveling, I kept saying to myself, “Melissa,” – yes, I sometimes talk to myself in the third person – “You do have so much going on…but don’t we all?” In other words, isn’t “so much going on”…life? Each day, we all must navigate twists and turns, ups and downs, and surprises of all kinds. And to me, what helps to navigate the “so-much” of life is those two words: grounded presence.

The power to choose with grounded presence

Personally speaking, I can get so in my head and get so floaty/out-there that I often have to remind myself, “What's happening right here in my presence and in my body?” Being present allows me to consider: who's speaking? Being present allows me to see the task at hand. Being present allows me to witness the beauty all around. Simply, grounded presence enables me to navigate anything that comes about. Most of all, that's where meditation comes in. For me, meditation is the foundational practice that allows me to come into myself. So as we meditate together today, I invite you to consider: where can you replace “so-much” with “grounded in the now?”

Otherwise and as always, please enjoy!

More from Melissa and Today I Choose

As I was feeling into what to focus our meditation on today, I kept seeing champagne bubbles… “That’s a funny thing to meditation on,” I thought. “Champagne…” Yet the bubbles kept appearing in my mind’s eye and, like the burst of a champagne-bubble under my nose, it struck me: life IS like champagne. Picture this: toward the bottom of the glass, the golden liquid is settled, stable. But toward the top of the glass, bubbles cascade and crash. They float upward and they fizz out.

Bubbling up and out

So while this episode was recorded between Christmas and New Years (I’m sure this is why I was thinking about champagne…), it continues to be relevant. For instance, by reflecting back on the year or even the past month, picture all of the different things that have happened to you. Maybe you see somethings as good and others things as bad. Maybe you see somethings as right and other things as wrong. No matter how you look at it, everything that’s happened has bubbled up. The practice, then, is to get in touch with the bottom half of the glass, your base. That’s why we start each week in meditation. So as we come together to meditate today, I invite you to let those little champagne bubbles do their thing and bubble up. Perhaps let yourself tap into your grounded-center.

And as always, please enjoy!

Related resources from Melissa

Welcome to meditation. I'm so glad you're here. It's a rainy, chilly day in Northern California. It’s one of those days where you wanna snuggle up in bed. And that was me all day yesterday. Funny enough, doing podcast interviews last week, somebody brought up the book, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World by Admiral William McRaven. The premise of the book is simple: if you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day.

McRave suggests that by making your bed, you will receive a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do more. That makes sense. But it also got me thinking…what if we change “make your bed” and replaced it with “meditate?” Meditation is a foundational practice for me. It’s the stillness in the swirl of life. So as we meditate together today, I invite you to consider: what might your life look like if you mediated first thing every day?

As always, please enjoy!

Related resources from Melissa

In preparation for today’s meditation, I was looking at different books in order to bring added context to our session, but I couldn't find one that I wanted to settle on! I was, however, struck by how many beautiful books I’ve received as gifts over the years. And then I was struck by how many beautiful books I’ve given out over the years. So when I woke this morning, I felt into this idea of receiving and the reciprocity of giving.

When we give unconditionally, we also are receiving. In truth, it is in the giving that we receive. Think about this in terms of cyclical breath. As we breath in, we're receiving. As we breathe out, we're giving. That’s what we’ll use as the foundation for our meditation today.

As we prepare to meditate together, I invite you to consider: where else, like your breath, do you see giving to receive? I, for one, am struck by the wisdom of trees: always giving, always receiving.

As always, please enjoy!

Related resources from Melissa

I am so happy to be sharing my conversation with Meg Tobin. Meg is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor trained in – among other body-centered modalities – EFT Tapping, Brainspotting, EMDR, and Psychodrama. And today, we’re going to talk about the impact that trauma, anxiety, and stress has on our central nervous system.

According to Meg, we in the West tend to take a top-down approach to healing. That is, we use words and cognitive functioning to approach trauma. A bottom-up approach, on the other hand, starts within the body. And by beginning at the cellular level, Meg postulates that we can release our traumas fully. Plus, you’ll hear Meg help me overcome an obstacle in my life by leading me through a tapping session. In total, there’s so much here…I am excited for you to listen.

As always, please enjoy!

Links Mentioned:

As you ring in 2022, I want to share a meditation from Thanksgiving 2021 on gratitude because gratitude is a practice not just reserved for one day of the year. Personally, I try to practice gratitude often. And in today’s meditation, we’re going to reflect on a passage from M.J. Ryan’s book, Giving Thanks: The Gift of Gratitude. M.J. says, “To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course, everything originates in a will for the good which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude.”

As we prepare to meditate today, I invite you to consider: what are you grateful for? By seeing your abundance, you will begin to invite transformation, synchronicities, and opportunities into your life.

And as always, please enjoy!

…and there were so many places to stop and take pictures. I was by myself. I wasn’t on a schedule. So I stopped some 10 times to take spectacular picture after picture. The views were epic. And, to put it simply, the drive was a reminder to see what was in front of me.

Over the last six weeks, life has taught me that things can change in a second. Thus, being present is truly all that we can do. That’s why we meditate. Meditation reminds us to come back to the present. As we quiet our mind chatter – the monkey mind – and we pay attention to our body and our breath, we allow the outside noise to fade away and to come into alignment with our center.

Today, I invite you to meditate and consider: how do you feel in your body right now?

Finally…if you ever get the chance to drive along Highway One in California, I invite you to do it. It includes some of the most breathtaking views you’ll ever see.

Enjoy!

More resources from Melissa

I shared with the group a new mascot for my Monday Morning Meditations. His name is “Gn-OM” and he’s a beautiful ceramic gnome that I found at a holiday bizarre. Simply put, Gn-OM (get it?) brings me so much ridiculous joy. And Gn-OM matters because he can help during this crazy time. “How can Gn-OM help, Melissa?” I hear you ask. Well, Gn-OM helps because he keeps my frequency high. He raises my vibration. And he’s a small way that I can do my part to stay grounded and balanced in the world.

Now, Gn-OM doesn't mean that I get a spiritual bypass. And Gn-OM doesn't mean that I’m being Pollyanna. Rather, Gn-OM is a small way that I’m bringing more love and light and joy to my being. In other words, with Gn-OM, I raise my vibration and start to help. Gn-OM is a talisman that reminds me, “Remember the joy! Remember the fun.”

Today, I invite you to have fun and join me in meditation as we consider: where can you find more ridiculous joy?

More resources from Melissa

In today's episode, I'm very excited to share a beacon of intentional living, my friend, Tara Whiteman-Fager. Tara has been living her life with intention for over 10 years, incorporating a mind-body approach to self-care. Each day, Tara practices intentional living through all aspects of her life, including her relationships, her work, her parenting, her artistry, her ancestry, her coaching, and more. What you’ll hear is a self-proclaimed “emotional warrior” with so much wisdom to give.

More about Tara: Tara has a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from The College of Saint Rose, a Doctorate of Chiropractic from Northeast College of Health Sciences (formally known as New York Chiropractic College), is Acupuncture Certified by National University of Health Sciences, is Webster Certified for pre- and post-natal care, and is currently enrolled in the Integrative Wellness Academy, working through the Masters Coaching Program and Emotional Clearing Method Healing Technique. Additionally, Tara is the co-owner and Vice President of Operations at Hands On Family Heath, P.C. More recently, Tara became the owner and operator of Now’s the Time Integrative Health and Wellness Life Coaching Center. Tara would say she is many things...among them a mother by instinct, a healing artist by choice, and a very proud dog mom.

We’re going to talk about so much, but some highlights include:

• Tara’s choice to “sober” up from alcohol
• Her advocacy for suicide prevention and mental health importance
• Co-parenting
• Her Personal healing choices
• Navigating uncomfortable truths by dealing with traumas, trials, tribulations and transformations
• Authentic-healing practices
• Storytelling
• And tattooing as a healing modality

As always, please enjoy!

Links Mentioned in this Episode

The word “observe” keeps coming up.

For example, I have this great book called, The Observation Deck by Naomi Epel. Essentially, it’s a tool for writers. While re-reading it recently, one of the prompts jumped out at me: eavesdropping. “Yes!” I thought. "Eavesdropping...as in, listen to observe..."

While in observation, however, we often sit in judgment of ourselves and of others. But what if we could be the observer for the sake of enjoying what we notice? Put another way, what if we could observe for the sake of observing? This is, after all, why we meditate. We’re here to observe our thoughts.

So as we come together today, I invite you to meditate and ask: how can we hold ourselves in that place of judgement-free observation?

And as always, please enjoy!

Links Mentioned in this Episode

In today’s episode, I’m excited to share a conversation with my friend, Jess Coffman. Jess is an entertainer, choreographer, songwriter, poet, marathon runner and published author. She has toured singing and dancing nationally and internationally. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Industry Studies from California State University Northridge, and during that time completed internships at both Capitol Records in the Marketing Department and Paramount Studios in the Film Music Department. Jess recently published an original book of poetry entitled, In Pursuit of Peacocks: a compilation of poetry and lyrics, and has created The In Pursuit of Peacocks Live show which includes:
original songs and music, tap dancing, dance/poetry collaborations and spoken word. We’re going to cover everything from intentional living to having the communication chops to have hard conversations. Enjoy!

Road Trip Credo

We pledge allegiance to radical Love.

A Love that is built on integrity and the sacrifice of privilege.

A Love that listens with curiosity.

A Love that fosters opportunity led with empathy and compassion.

We commit to creating an inclusive nation built on selfless allyship.

One Humanity, with access to liberty and justice for all.

-Team Gumbo

Links Mentioned in this Episode

It’s a big week energetically. And as we near the end of the year, it’s a great time to reflect and ask: how do you want to feel as you move into the next? With only a few months left in 2021, I’m going to spend time journaling today. I may ask myself: how do I want to feel? Alternatively, it’s also harvest time, so I might ask: what am I harvesting? With these questions in mind, I invite you to do the same while we hold space and meditate.

Mantra Today:

Shanti

More resources from Melissa

While swimming this morning, I, when I got to the end of a lap, hung out on the edge of the pool and watched the sun come up. To my delight, there were these little clouds over the horizon that, together with the sun, produced a beautiful orange hue. For three minutes, I just held the edge of the pool and took it all in. I was trying to enjoy the beauty and be present to the moment. Interestingly, the moment also reminded me of the opposite: how often am I pulled into the future or jettisoned back to a memory of the past? How many sunrises had I missed by not being present?

In our meditation today, I invite you to stay in that present moment. To do this, you must continue to become an observer of the mind. And in contrast, while I've been meditating for a long time, I still catch my mind wandering occasionally. I’ll be thinking, “Gosh, I've got to pick up so-and-so at noon," or, "I've got to run this errand," or, "I've got to write that," or, "oh my God, did I really say that?” All the things. So, in an effort to get back to center, I invite you to observe and be present. This is precisely why we practice.

Mantra Today:

So hum

More resources from Melissa

Whether you’ve joined me on a past live Monday Morning Meditation call or whether you’re joining me here today on the podcast, it is always a pleasure to have you with me. Likewise, as we come together each week to take some breaths and connect, I invite you to, once again, join me in meditation. There is, presently, so much going on in our world. From what’s happening in the Middle East to inclement weather to fires to social unrest, I have, as a result, been sinking into one simple question: what energy am I putting into the world?

When I first started to meditate twenty-five years ago, there was a study floating around that expressed the benefits of meditation. It stated that one person meditating extended to a two mile radius. While the citation I, unfortunately, cannot recall, the sentiment is that our energy has an impact. And when we operate from a calm, grounded, and centered place, that’s when we emit that same loving-kindness energy out into the world. Right now, and perhaps more than ever, our world needs your centered, grounded, loving energy. Today, I want us to steep ourselves in that heart centered energy of love and radiate outward.

Today’s Mantra:

Sohum

Related Episodes:

This is my FAVORITE week of our meditation series with Deepak Chopra’s book, “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success,” because today we’re onto week 5 -- the law of intention and desire. As the name states, the law of intention and desire is all about intention, which, you know, I like. And if your joining me for the first time, please start here or jump back to the beginning of this series. You will receive the benefits either way. Most of all, the Law of Intention and Desire is, at heart, what we do each week on Today I Choose. That is, the law of intention and desire is about getting into a place of stillness, listening to where you’re being called, and then acting from that place.

Again, the law of intention is what we talk about each week. Intention, in other words, is the power behind desire. Intention is the act of naming and listing what you want. Deepak even suggests physically writing your intentions down. Perhaps surprisingly then, the next step is to release attachment and let the universe handle the details. When you release attachment, you come fully into the present moment. So as we prepare to meditate today, I invite you to check in, let go, and let the universe handle the details.

Today’s Law:

Law 5: “The Law of Intention and Desire”

“Inherent in every intention and desire is the mechanics for its fulfillment. Intention and desire in the field of pure potentiality have infinite organizing power. And when we introduce an intention in the fertile ground of pure potentiality, we put the infinite organizing power to work for us.” - From The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success quotes

Today’s Mantra:

Brahma

Day of the Week associated with this law:

Thursday

Chakra:

3rd Chakra

Color:

Yellow

Today we are continuing to meditate with Deepak Chopra’s book, “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success,” as our guide. And in this episode, we’re picking up with Law 4: the law of least effort. If this is your first time joining us, please either start here or jump back to the beginning of the series. Either way, you are in good company. Likewise, whether it’s the law of least effort in relationships or the law of least effort in all things, the foundation of this law is nature. For example, a few natural metaphors to express this law might be: grass doesn’t try to grow, it just grows. The sun doesn’t try to shine, it just shines. Fish don’t try to swim, they just swim. In total, the law of least effort is all about being in harmony with all nature, including your nature.

According to Deepak, there are three distinct components of this law: acceptance, responsibility, and defenselessness. For example, when we meditate, we accept what happens, we take responsibility by showing up, and we are defenselessness by just being there. By contrast, in our western culture, we’re often all about the do, do, do. This law, however, is all about the be, be, be. As we prepare to meditate, I invite you to check in and ask: how can you take responsibility in the now?

Today’s Law:

Law 4: “The Law of Least Effort”

“Nature’s intelligence functions with effortless ease, with carefreeness, harmony, and love. And when we harness the forces of harmony, joy, and love, we create success and good-fortune with effortless ease.” - From The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success quotes

Today’s Mantra:

In today’s podcast episode, I am continuing my exploration of Deepak Chopra’s “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success.” Throughout these meditations, Deepak’s book will serve as our guide. And today, we’re moving onto law 3, “The Law of Karma.” Simply, I like to explain the law of karma as a respond-instead-of-react method. Or as Deepak puts it, “Every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind. What we sow is what we reap.”

In other words, the law of karma is what we do when we meditate. That is, we connect with our mind, body, heart, and inner wisdom. Further, Deepak encourages us to ask two questions when we make a choice: (1) what are the consequences of this choice and (2) will this choice bring fulfillment and joy to me and to those impacted by this choice? In sum and as we prepare to meditate, I invite you to check in and ask: how does this choice feel in your body?

Law 3: “The Law of Karma”

“When we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruits of our karma is happiness and success.” - From The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

Today’s Mantra:

Law 2 of the 7 Spiritual Laws Meditation Series: The Law of Giving

In today’s podcast episode, I am continuing my exploration of Deepak Chopra’s “Seven Spiritual Laws of Success”. This week, we’re moving onto law number 2. According to The Seven Spiritual Laws, the Second Law is “The Law of Giving.” As Deepak explains, “Today, bring whoever you encounter a gift, a compliment, or a flower.” After a brief discussion and after I share an example of how I use this second spiritual law in my daily life, we’ll meditate.

”Flow” with the second spiritual law by always giving a gift

Admittedly, we talk a lot about “flow” regularly during these meditations. So perhaps it comes as no surprise, when I think about this second spiritual law, I think about breath as an example. There’s a constant exchange, a giving and a receiving, oxygen in, carbon dioxide out. With this in mind, as you move through this week, I invite you to consider: how might you give everyone you encounter a small and simple gift?

Today’s Law:

Law 2: “The Law of Giving”

“The universe operates through dynamic exchange. Giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe and in our willingness to give, that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.” - From 7 Spiritual Laws of Success

Today’s Mantra:

Start here - Law 1 of the 7 Spiritual Laws Meditation Series

In today’s episode, I’m talking with Lisa Cavallaro about the Law of Attraction, the power of our words and feelings, and intentional living as “playing offense.”

Lisa Cavallaro has enjoyed a diverse career that began in accounting, moved on to business ownership, and evolved into family therapy, coaching, and magazine publishing.

With no intention of adding to that list, Lisa says the pandemic provided her with some extra time to pursue new opportunities.

Unable to spend time with her family, Lisa and her husband left NY for Florida… where she was challenged to fill her days in different ways.

Friends inspired her to take up the game of tennis, so she began playing 5-6 days each week. In addition to continuing her coaching practice, Lisa RELUCTANTLY accepted an invitation to run for a seat on her Homeowners Association Board, assuming the role of Secretary.

Not surprisingly, Lisa quickly figured out that the politics of an HOA Board were NOT her cup of tea. But the writing she was able to do while on the Board was a labor of love she knew she would miss if she were to resign.

So she resigned anyway… and immediately felt a HUGE self-revelation.

Lisa discovered that the most enjoyable aspect of every job she’s ever had was always the Writing piece. She loves finding the right words to clearly convey her message, and she thrives on writing and/or fine-tuning other people’s projects as well.

Lisa’s bachelor’s degree is in accounting. Her master’s degree is in marriage & family therapy, and she’s also a master certified life coach. She received her Writing training in 11th & 12th Grade… from a teacher who made red corrections across everything Lisa wrote. Although she despised her teacher at the time, Lisa now praises Mrs. Notcher for cultivating a marketable and enjoyable skill she feels blessed to have.

Lisa is a wife, mother, grandmother, golfer, tennis player, and lover of nature. When she created her website SAAiTT, she called herself a “small projects editor and ghostwriter.” After just finishing editing another author’s book, Lisa removed “small projects” from her site.

According to Lisa, “it’s what you say and how you say it.” She helps people who want to  SAAiTT their best!

Carol CC Miller is a human potential activator, igniting people’s internal superpowers to live a life filled with LOVE, kindness, compassion, and peace. Her work has enriched the lives of over 1.5 million followers worldwide to embrace their lives by heightening celebrations and lessening sorrows with a positive focus.

Perhaps her favorite contribution to a kinder world is the Global Free Hug initiative she founded in 2008. Since then, huggers have joined her to spread kindness one hug at a time during the annual May event in 6 continents, 45 countries, and 32 US states. Plus, Desmond Tutu has joined twice.

Carol has a strong reputation as a positive force in every life she touches. Along with her coaching practice and Positive Focus, Carol has produced events and marketing for Iyanla Vanzant, Gabby Bernstein, Gregg Braden, Lynne Twist, and others.

Gordon McGregor is the founder and president of McGregor Media, a boutique company that specializes in developing and delivering wellness programming and spiritual events. He has worked extensively with high profile industry leaders such as Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, Marianne Williamson, Andrew Weil, Elizabeth Gilbert, Esther Hicks, Don Miguel Ruiz, Mike Dooley, Shawn Achor, Byron Katie, Caroline Myss, Martha Beck, Gabrielle Bernstein, Kris Carr, Lynne Twist, Ismael Cala, Michael Beckwith and Jean Houston.

Gordon has launched innovative wellness and meditation programs at sea and leads a team of Mindful Living Coaches on Celebrity and Seabourn Cruise Lines.

He is a Chopra Center certified meditation instructor and an ordained interfaith minister. Gordon joyfully calls Laguna Beach home where he is active in the yoga community and is an avid Indoor Cyclist. In his free time Gordon volunteers at the local Food Pantry.

Beulah Vega is a theatrical artist, poet, and horror writer from California's North Bay Area. Formerly the Managing Director of Narrow Way Stage Company, and Artistic Director of Pegasus Theater Company, she has spent the pandemic working with theaters to develop new works showcasing the global majority. She is also the founder of Heroines-Harpies-Harlots Productions, although she certainly never meant to be.