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A Thousand Different Things, all of which You Need to Know! Seriously.

posted 8th January 2010    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: All Posts, Events, Love/Relationships, Molly, Stratejoy the Biz

As I sit down to write this post, there are a million thoughts running through my head…

Should I share news that about Season 2 Bloggers have been selected?  Tell you that I got engaged 3 minutes into 2010?  Shout my excitement about the awesome Release & Renew event Andrea Rae and I hosted Wednesday night?  Inform you that the winter schedule is up for Lifestyle Design?

See my problem?

So much going on, so little time.  It’s a mad house over here in a very good, engaging, slightly stressful, but soooo awesome way.

I’m going to tackle it all and promise you a more eloquent post on some subtle point of joyfulness next week.  Hope that’s a-okay with all you sugar pops.

With that, let’s rock.

A Round of Applause for the Season 2 Bloggers!

Competition was fierce this season and I’m incredible thrilled to say any one of the 16 applicants would have made an amazing Stratejoy Blogger.  But the lucky ladies who’ll be sharing their Quarterlife Crisis Adventures with us in Season 2 are:

I realize that doesn’t tell you a whole lot, but more fun and excitement to come in February when they go live!   Stalk, connect and congratulate them on Twitter!  In the meantime, savor each and every post from Season 1- we’ve got three weeks left to soak up Robyn, Kendra, Andrea and Marisa’s wisdom, humor and inspiration.

A Rock, A Proposal, and Absolutely No Wedding Plans Yet So Don’t Even Ask

It’s been a journey on the relationship front as many of you know.  Well, the journey continues!

The Big Man asked me to marry him just a few minutes into the New Year. I burst into tears, hugged him (which is hard to do considering he was kneeling and I was sitting in a chai with tiny dress on), forgot to say yes-instead saying, “Put it on!” (referring to the absolutely gorgoues ring of course), hugged him again, remembered to say, “Yes! Yes! Of course!” and drank champagne as the crowd at Volterra clapped.

That wasn’t supposed to be the proposal…

There’s an even longer story about how I came home a day early from Montana.  And coming home a day early messed up all sorts of well laid, romantic plans involving planes, serenades and surprises.

Oops.

Regardless, it’s still on. And I’m thrilled/excited/insert-exuberant-word-here to be marrying the Big Man, the best partner I can imagine and the love of my life.  My heart is truly happy. I won’t gob this up with lovey dovey goo, but our relationship over the last 4+ years has been one of love, adventure, growth, and laughter.

And I can’t wait for many, many more years to come.

It still feels surreal that I’m getting married. But it also feels very calm and right.  Almost like I’m easing into the life I am meant to live, with the man I’m meant to share it with.

Good stuff, all around.  And dude.  My ring!  I’m in love with it as well!

I might need to give it a name- which is a special process I save for only those inanimate objects that I really, REALLY love (ie Quincy, my trusty Subaru and Stella the purple couch from college).

p.s. Don’t ask me when we’re getting married.  I have no idea!  How am I supposed to know the answer to that question 8 days into being engaged?  Argh!!!

p.p.s. No, I am not wearing the ring on my right hand.  I took those silly pictures with my Mac and it must be like a mirror…  I keep trying to figure this out in my head (Why? How?), but finally gave up.  You give up too.  Definitely not a good use of your time!

Release and Renew: Clearing the Path for an Incredible 2010

What can I say?  52 women kicking the crap from 2009 to the curb and welcoming in an awesome 2010 by creating a guiding theme for themselves was INSANE.  In a totally good way.

The energy in the room was palpable.

We spend two hours in yoga clothes intensely writing in our journals, visualizing, tuning into our body’s energy, yelling like Tarzan, having a conversation with our future selves (some of whom had pink hair/wore kickin’ boots/told us to just relax/made us cry she was so peaceful), and starting the process of creating a powerful theme for the year ahead.

I’ll share a bit of the process, as well as my own theme next week. Want a starting point?  Here’s the post I wrote last year about my 2009 theme…

Andrea Rae of Alinga Bodywork was the perfect partner to present with!  She’s totally amazing with all the energy work that I’m interested in, but know nothing about.  I’ve been going to her for BodyTalk sessions (plus a little massage!) and just want to say:  Check it out.

Sound like intense evening?  It was.  But also inspiring. Check out some of the feedback!

Do you feel like you never know about these events?  Get thee on the email list (upper right corner) or join the Tribe on Facebook!  Don’t live in Seattle?  Don’t worry- I plan on hosting some free “telecalls” this year on all sorts of cool happiness and authenticity related topics!

Lifestyle Design Schedule is Up for January, February and March

Well, honestly, that’s about all I have to say on that! Details and Registration Here...

I encourage you to join us.  Again, if you’re not in Seattle there’s a homestudy version of the course available.  (And on that note- I’ve had some interest in doing a Lifestyle Design Course over the phone… If that sounds like something you might dig, will you please let me know so I can send you more details? Use the contact form if you don’t know my email!)

And why would you do any of this?  Because you know what? This is it.  This is Life.

Are you Living Yours?

Make this the year that you step up and take control of your own happiness.  That you start living each and every moment on your terms.  The year that you blossom, break through, relax into yourself, rock and roll, and a million other new ways of experiencing life.

The year that you allow the best version of yourself to shine.

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101 Things To Do Before I Go

posted 24th July 2009    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: All Posts, Events, Inspiration, Molly

ParadeI’ve had a Life List since high school.  It gets added to, deleted from & tweaked every year- but it wasn’t until I read the book Creating Your Best Life: The Ultimate Life List Guide that I understood why I worshiped my list so much.

“Edwin Locke, the codeveloper of goal-setting theory, studied the traits of what he called “prime movers”… people who had “moved the world” with their passion, vision, energy and perseverance.  Over many years, Locke refined his list of “prime mover” traits down to the essential seven, two of which are vision and action.  Becuase of their abundant vision and action, the men and women Locke profiled were all renowned goal setters…”

Yes!  Vision.  Action.  I’m a woman with a purpose!  Even if that purpose includes having a color coordinated closet with a mini chandelier in it!

There a million other fascinating connections between success, happiness & life lists (goal setting) discussed in the book.  If you’ve been reading for any length of time, you know I’m slightly obsessed with the science behind happiness and this book is one of my new favorites. Let me just share a one last excerpt from authors Caroline Adams Miller and Dr. Michael B. Frisch:

“We see happiness in a new and exciting way: as a character strength that, if persistently cultivated, will give you greater zest, persistence, and energy for accomplishing your goals.  Our program doesn’t take a get-happier-at-all-costs and check-goals-off-your-life-list-now approach that glosses over what research tells us about optimal well-being, however.  We believe that positive and negative affect are both necessary in one’s life, and that both are important barometers that play a role in optimal well-being.  Following our life list approach will result in a richer and deeper level of happiness- an elan vital that will give you not only enthusiasm for life, but also a deep sense of excitement that will allow you to have more success with your goals than you ever thought possible.”

When I set out to write this post, inspired by Andrea’s post from Wednesday, I wanted to share some items from my List as well as some inspirational lists from other women.  As luck would have it — I found a post called What’s on Your List? from one of my tribe members, Carrie at Girl and Coconut, linking to some fabulous life lists out there! Thanks Carrie for reading my mind in advance.

So that leaves us with my List…

After re-reading it about a month ago, I was slightly chagrined with some of my choices.  Did I really want to own a designer gown?  Did I really need to win a volunteer award? (Isn’t volunteering a reward in and of itself?) Did I honestly want to meet James Franco? What exactly was I trying to prove?  And to whom?

I’ve spent the last month or so really thinking hard about how one would go about creating a meaningful list– one that would inspire you to live an extraordinary life– instead of one that just listed adrenaline rushes, cools things to own, and awards that prove something to someone else. With the help of “the book” and a lot of trial and error-  I’m getting closer!  My List is starting to reflect a life that I’m ridiculously excited about, one that I’m proud of.

I’m not going to share my entire List here (though I will after I capture the list in gorgeous vision board or memory book at the event on August 29th) but here are some highlights!

15 of my 101 Things To Do Before I Go

Win a gold medal (Junior Olympics Pole Vaulting 1996 or some such)

Have a piece of writing published

Travel around the world (made a full loop from Central America to Europe to South Africa to Southeast Asia and then home)

Complete a masters in positive psychology

Ride naked in the Fremont Parade (Seattle tradition- I was a ravishing, fully painted Jungle Princess in 2008)

Attend Burning Man

Start investing (Timing was wrong, but that’s life…)

Plant and nurture a herb garden

Go dog sledding in Alaska

Sit on a board for the Arts

Host a Oktoberfest Party complete with picnic tables, steins & sauerkraut

Speak conversational Spanish

Spent 3 months alone in Nature

Meet James Franco (He was allowed to stay on the List after much deep thought)

Learn to play pop songs on the piano

Event Alert!

If you are in Seattle and you don’t have a Life List that you love or it isn’t in an inspiring format- I’m throwing an event to help you make it happen!  It will be a relaxed partyish atmosphere as we brainstorm, sip mimosas, cut, glue, color, laugh & share some life goals.

I’m trying to make it as easy as possible for you to leave with an Life List that thrills you to the bone. One that you can’t wait to hang up & tackle.  One that gives you joy, a sense of accomplishment & motivation to create brilliance in your life.

Rock and roll.  Oh, and boys are invited too!

More info & Registration:  101 Things To Do Before You Go: Creating a Powerful, Meaningful, Inspiring Life List

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