I have a lot of things bouncing around in my brain that I want to say, and no clear words that convey all of those things.

I think that happens when we believe something so strongly and want to share it with others. The passion we feel gets in the way of the ability of our brain to form words and coherent sentences.

So I’ll do my best.

I want to start by sharing a quote that might help form the foundation of this post. Maybe the foundation of this blog and business. It’s my favorite quote of all time and it’s by Marianne Williamson.

Now take a breath. Take it in. Read it again if you need to.

I believe fully and wholeheartedly and with every fiber of my being that we are all unique, loved, loving, brilliant, powerful, sacred creatures that are meant for amazing things. I believe we are born knowing that, and then we forget along the way. So the rest of our lives are spent trying to remember and recapture our greatness. There is something inside of us that occasionally gets glimpses of who we are meant to be, but then the feeling passes.

You know those times, don’t you? Those fleeting moments – maybe when driving or listening to your favorite song – when all the pieces of your life seem to fall into place and make perfect and beautiful sense? You don’t know why, you just know that they do. Then, as quickly as it came, the feeling passes and the curtain is dropped into place again.

Somehow we develop blocks along the way and we stop remembering who we are. We reach and grasp and long for this power and beauty and peace that we imagine is out there somewhere, when really it’s in us already. It just needs to be unlocked.

I believe if we each can unlock that within ourselves, the world would change.

Because once we are confident and secure in our own selves, we allow others to be the same.

The more you believe that you are special, unique, important, beautiful and blessed, the more you create confidence and security in those around you. They start to believe they might have that as well.

Jealousy, anger, frustration, anxiety and fear are results of us forgetting who we are.

I want to be a part of a movement that helps you remember.

I want to be reminded myself as I go through this process with you.

I want to see the world change because you – yes YOU – have the power to make it change.

By shining your light on your families, your kids, your friends, your spouses, your co-workers, your employees, your waitress, your kids’ teachers, your dry cleaner and your Uber driver, you will give them a glimpse into the divine. You will lift a burden from the world, and the ripple effect can be endless.

The key is – the HARDEST part is – you can’t fake it.

You have to truly live it and breathe it and believe it.

That is where Happy Hour Mama comes in.

I want to be here for YOU. I’m not going to worry about your friends or spouses or co-workers or anyone else in your life. I’m going to put my attention and focus on you. Because when you remember who you are, the world will know, and it won’t be the same.

I believe that our health has a huge impact on how we feel and what we believe about ourselves. So here at Happy Hour Mama I spend time on two different areas of health:

1) Body – fitness, workouts, recipes and nutrition

2) Spirit – empowerment, belief, motivation, communication, relationships, stress relief

For the past 15 years, my career as a physical therapist and pilates instructor has focused exclusively on physical health. While I love teaching and helping people improve their health, the thing I always enjoy the most are the relationships formed. The conversations we have. The lessons we learn from each other. The hugs at the end of the sessions.

Happy Hour Mama is my giant hug to you.

You may have noticed that we recently changed our name from Pilates Happy Hour to Happy Hour Mama. While you will continue to get plenty of Pilates and various workouts here – I promise! – I wanted the world to know we are about more than Pilates here. We are about more than just shaping your inner thighs or finding the best recipe for protein powder.

We are about changing the world, one amazing woman at a time.

I also wanted the name to reflect the current season of my life, which is that of a mom. I have a two year old daughter, and everything I do now is done through the eyes of a mom. It’s hard enough for most people to see their own power and beauty, and it’s especially hard when you are in throws of diapers and feedings and tantrums and this full-blown LOVE for and need to protect another human being. I hear you, mamas. I’m with you.

Whether you are a mom to your own babies, adopted babies, step babies or fur babies, you are a MOM. YOU can change the world.

There is one final piece to all of this that is vitally important. Are you ready?

This should be FUN!

Happy hours are fun, life is fun, even work is fun. Somehow, though, we feel we need a list of steps to follow and must put our nose to the grindstone and just work harder and be more serious to get things done.

No thank you!

While it can sometimes be difficult discovering how to be our best selves, we should learn to smile and laugh along the way. Let’s hang out together, maybe order a drink and have some chocolate, and share our struggles and laughter and tears. Let’s have some fun!

Thank you for being here. Thank you for being you. Thank you for opening your heart and mind and being willing to do the work to make your life amazing.

You are here because you know – somewhere deep down – that you are meant for great things. Your life is meant to be amazing. You are meant to shine.

Let’s get to it.