Love From Maria

Energy is a powerful thing. Sometimes just walking into a room can overwhelm us with energy, positive or negative. As a child I didn't understand what this was, but I do remember feeling it. I remember feeling responsible for it and I remember searching for solutions to deal with it. I spent a lot of energy trying to help others feel happier, I still do. Being a peacemaker comes naturally, maybe it's being the middle child, maybe it's just me, who knows. It brings me joy to lift others or help others to work through a problem but for all of the joy it brings it is equally exhausting. When I was young I can remember feeling the weight of peacemaking and finding ways to release it. As young as elementary school I can remember picturing to one side, my favourite things, and on the other, the things that felt heavy. With each exhale I would picture all of the heavy things leaving my brain and on the inhale I would picture my favourite things filling the space. In and out, unti...

The last few years have seen a lot of soul searching for me - a lot of likes, dislikes, needs and dreams. This year, while I set out to make more time for me and the things I love, or need, I am strengthening my awareness of it all. I'm paying attention to the things that are actually a treat, actually joyful, healthy, helpful, or empowering. For a while now I have been finding my way through the joy and reward of the constant evolution of communication and marketing. Of course, this would not be a joyful process without the support and encouragement of the incredible humans that choose to show up and give support in my life, both at home and at Vivo. The trust and freedom given to allow for the new, for risk, testing and even failing forward, lends to the joy of it all. Thank you to everyone who helps, gives, supports and trusts this process. And the process? Listening, developing, testing and launching something that you truly believe will help, will make a difference, and wi...

Last night I watched The Greatest Showman for the second time, on the big screen. I'll just get this out of the way right off the hop - go see it. There is no doubt in my mind that someone, or several someones, have poured their hearts and souls into it. I hope you will love it and find as much joy in it as I did.  This movie isn't just amazing, it's also incredibly timely. Every single song is powerful, beautiful, and true. While I love them all, the one that spoke the most to me is called  A Million Dreams . The feel-good, upbeat, "celebration of humanity" also happens to be directly in line with my intentions for this year, in particular, owning my crazy. I close my eyes and I can see, the world that's waiting up for me, that I call my own. I'm not a stranger to crazy - crazy ideas, crazy behavior, crazy happy - it's sort of something that's been a part of me for my whole life. In most situations, owning my crazy is something I've beco...

While I did just write about the importance of starting with you when it comes to living like love, I am one hundred percent still working on that. Coming out of the baby and toddler years has made space for so many other endeavors. Somehow, those endeavors always seem to be for others. You know, "oh, I don't have time for that workout, I have to do the laundry, get this project finished for work" - insert any wife/mother/human activity. For whatever reason, there seems to be a tendency to put ourselves last. Why is it that loving ourselves is the last thing we do? And the hardest thing to do? This last year pushed me to grow, and learn, and trust myself. I stepped up and out of my comfort zone, into new and different roles, and learned to balance work with home life. This year, I am adding a new piece to the balance. This year I am committing to loving myself - to giving myself as much love and attention as I am able to give to all of the other endeavors in my life. ...