L’Shana Tova U’mitukah!!! It’s the Jewish new year and watch out 5783 because I don’t what I’m doing.
You know I love any opportunity to reflect and review in order to live with conscious intention. I really do. And my head is spinning. I’ve been taking time (two weeks of vacation to be exact) to really look at everything I’ve created, how I invest my time and energy each day, and what I’m doing over here. Because I’ve been in such a fury of creation, I really don’t know what’s swirling around me.
I refuse to get swept into the current of busyness and let life live me again. I got my fill of that in my theatrical career and first marriage. Our recent vacation and losing Walter have gifted me space to really consider what I’m doing, what I want, and where I’m going.
So I’m going to share something I learned at a birthday party which has now become my favorite question to ask people on their birthday and also ask myself whenever I want. It works for birthdays, new years, new beginnings, anniversaries, anytime! Anywhere!
What is something you learned in the past year?
What is something you are looking forward to in the coming year?
So, here we go!
In the past year I learned that my energy has limits. As much as I want to do everything, I can’t. Even more than that, as much as I want to do everything, I don’t actually want to do everything. There are so many things I feel I should do. That I’m not a good “business owner,” “leader,” “human of value” if I’m not doing the things I’m supposed to do.
I’ve gotten so much direct and indirect messaging around marketing and selling and a lot of it has a ton of value! And a lot of it isn’t for me. It doesn't align with me, what I want to do, who I am, who I want to be, and it doesn’t have to.
Because I get to choose what works for me. Yes, I have to honor how certain things work in business and life. AND I get to make them work for me. Not the other way around.
This past year I learned, again, that sometimes ending something is the most powerful, loving, and expansive thing you can do. I felt that with my divorce and I continue to feel that with losing Walter. I miss him every day. I feel the size and weight of his absence, and I’m proud of how I honored him, myself, and the truth at the end of his life with me.
In the coming year I am looking forward to so much.
I recently got back onstage at the Magnet Theater to perform musical improv. I was scared I didn’t remember how to do it, but I did. I knew because I’m improvising every day. Everett and I play silly rhyming games constantly and we are both making this shit up as we go. Aren’t we all?
Backstage I reminded myself that the most important thing I could do on stage was be present, listen, play to the top of my intelligence, and follow the fun. I’m looking forward to following the fun.
Which in improv, and life, doesn’t mean every fun, exciting, unusual, or unexpected thing that comes up, but finding the most interesting thing and exploring it from every angle. It’s not about getting distracted, but about getting clearer and clearer with every move, scene, joke, song, and game.
Your turn! What is something you learned in the past year? What is something you are looking forward to in the coming year? Reply to this email and let me know, I love hearing from you :)
Xo, Alissa
ALTER YOUR LIFE the podcast: This week’s guest Hiwa Alaghebandian of The Blush Pod are guest’s on eachother’s shows today!!! On Alter Your Life we discuss her journey From Disordered To Empowered Eating & How To Give A Great BJ. Listen here! And on The Blush Pod we talk about….everything. I mean…everything. And while you’re there remember to follow, subscribe, rate, and review! TIA <3
GUEST APPEARANCE: Part Two of my guest interview on The Golden Hour Birth Podcast! This time it’s more about healing postpartum from a fourth degree tear, PTSD, and birth trauma. But in a fun way! Listen here!
WRITING: My book proposal! AH! I don’t have anything to link to here, but I’m saying this for accountability!
WATCHING: You can now WATCH Alter Your Life the podcast episodes on YOUTUBE! Ah! Check them out here! Like/share/follow/subscribe!