In the New Year... 

​May you have the courage to go against the way things have always been.
May you have a dream and not question if you should chase it.
May you live with intention.
May you find your purpose and passion.
May you live each day in gratitude for the gifts you've been given.
May you know you are making a difference.
May you see growth and progress.
May you come back stronger after you've been knocked down.
May you show others deep compassion.
May your kindness be felt by everyone you meet.
May you be the bright spot in the world.
​

Remember...

You will not be perfect in 2019. You’ll make mistakes, all your plans won’t work out just as you hoped, and you will never have it all figured out.

But unless you go into the new year with intention, while also opening yourself to the limitless possibilities, you will never know how far you can go.

​You are meant for greatness.

It's time to start thinking... what do you want your word to be in 2019?! 

This isn't a New Year's Resolution. It's not something you commit to on January 1st and you must be perfect with every single day or just go ahead and forget it for the rest of the year.

It's a wider perspective than that. One word to work on throughout 2019. My words in the past have been yoga, "yes / year of yes," write... and my family has picked things like time (be on time), read, exercise, positive, etc.

I've found it to be life changing if you pick a word and commit to working on it for the next 12 months. 
​
So... what's your word for 2019?

Anger, hurt, resentment... 

A grudge hurts you more than the person you're holding it against. You are the one killing your happiness by holding onto those negative emotions.

Even when the other person is wrong, even when they should be the one coming to you to apologize... you cannot let this resentment pull you down any longer.

​Choose forgiveness for this other person (even if they won't accept it) to give yourself the peace and happiness you deserve.
​

Be present.

At this time of year, being present is one of the hardest things to do. How can you be present when you’re planning for eight upcoming holiday parties? Plus, you want to look back on 2018 and reflect on the events of the year and your growth.

In December, we are torn between the past and the future – and as a result, we miss the present.

It also means we are tied to the emotions of yesterday and tomorrow. Those emotions can be stress, anxiety, or depression.

​I read this quote the other day:

​Let’s all try to finish this December living in the present. Let go of what’s passed, embrace the uncertainty of the unknown, and be in the moment today. Only there will we find peace.
​

Despite Martin Ditto being the founder and CEO of Ditto Residential, a property development company, our Minute Motivation discussion focused very little on buildings and a lot on wellness... the perfect subject for achievement, success and happiness (in my opinion!).

Here's our clip from today's Get Up DC. It's a snapshot of my discussion with Martin about finding the right energy.
​

And, I also branched off my conversation with Martin for my own Minute Motivation today about "it's not what you say, it's what people hear."
​

This weekend, I heard Michael Morales speak at TEDxTysons about always staying curious. For some background, Mike is an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with more than 200 combat airlift missions into Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mike's TEDx Speech was incredible and I found him during the break in speeches to interview him for Minute Motivation. Everything he said hit home for me.

Being a self-confident person, but still having insecurities...
Caring too much what other people think about him...
Wanting to tell his younger self to have fun and take it easy on himself...

Here's our full conversation:

Plus! Our on air discussion about when Mike said, "You care too much about what people think. Not everybody is equipped to grade your homework. " 
​

I was also inspired to do my personal Minute Motivation today about something Mike said too. We tend to think people who are successful don't have doubts or struggles. Mike reminded me that even the most confident people can question themselves.
​

I've always found the best photos come when you shoot with a friend. Where he/she expands his/her craft, and you have a chance to just be you.

It's not about having a great camera, a crisply focused photo, the best pose, a perfect outfit... it's about you being you, the photographer being him/her, and letting that shine.

Outdoors is my favorite place to shoot. Natural light makes you glow (plan for sunrise or sunset for best light). I also find you can relax so much more outside than when you're sitting in a studio.

What you wear, your makeup, your hair... stop stressing about it. Wear something you feel good in, don't change your make-up routine just for a shoot (unless you're doing something really artsy), and pick a hair style that will last for hours. You want to know why a lot of my shots have my hair half back? If I leave it down, it goes flat instantly.

But most importantly, choose a photographer who you feel comfortable with, not intimidated by. This is the most important part. If someone is giving you too much direction or has unreasonable expectations... you won't look like you in the photos.

And getting great shots that represent YOU is the most important part.

Almost my entire Instagram page is filled with shots from a friend snapping a pictures in portrait mode on an Apple phone. It doesn't have to be a fancy, formal thing. 

Like this! I wore this little black Caara dress to work, the same day my co-worker, Nay Renee brought her camera. The result? A really great time with some lovely prints to show for it.

Bonus Shot: Me and Marcel. My go-to digital / social media consultant.

Fortitude: courage in pain or adversity

Until last week, I hadn't thought much about fortitude. Then Holly Bertone, CEO of Pink Fortitude joined me for a Minute Motivation interview and I now vow to add fortitude to my vocabulary as much as possible.
​

Fortitude, courage, persistence... all words to describe Holly. Here's our full interview as she talked about beating breast cancer and fighting an autoimmune disease.

Plus! The clip from Get Up DC this morning on WUSA 9. 
​

Rest in peace, my sweet Crosby.

Crosby came into my life six years ago when I needed him more than anything. I was a young journalist just starting out in Lexington, Kentucky and was scared and lonely. 

I have dozens of journal entries saying “I don’t know what I would do without Crosby.” And I mean it. He was always the brightest spot in my day - literally jumping for joy when I would walk in the door from work.

We trained for a half-marathon together, he made many TV appearances in many markets, and he moved across the country with me from Kentucky to Texas to D.C.

Crosby made the lonely TV broadcasting life of picking up and moving every couple years, plus working opposite hours/days of most people so much better. I could cover horrible breaking news all day at work (the kind of news where you question if there is any good in the world) - and then come home to Crosby with his tail wagging the second I opened the door. I would see him for a split second, before he dashed off to his toy box to grab a toy so we could start playing.

Eventually, his anxiety and love of barking meant he needed a different living situation. 

My heart broke when he had to go stay with my parents (who truly gave him the best life), but I am eternally grateful to them for taking him in and treating him like gold. 

Your texts and memories of him have made me tear up every time. Thank you for reaching out and letting me relive all of the good times.

Crosby, you will be missed. May Bing be singing White Christmas to you right now.