I’m a lil hungover as I write this. The after glow of my drinking is not extreme--like my internal organs went on strike, picketing against the unfair treatment they endured during the fiesta that took place within my stomach last night. It’s more like the slow pickling of my brain in a salty brine of self-doubt. How did I behave last night?

Thus, in the wee hours of this morning (as I was pleasantly surprised that my mind could formulate coherent thoughts), I decided to embark on an experience I have never tried before: Dry February.

Not because February is the shortest month of the year (though that is definitely an added bonus) but because it begins in three days’ time. Hell, I’ll just start today! (While the thought of a beverage makes the waves in my stomach roll, I am choosing to start now because I am a committed human. When a decision is made, I am all in.)

No sooner than I had voiced my intention to both the Universe and this blog, did I realize a teensy hiccup in my plan: My husband and I are scheduled for a weekend away in Palm Desert on February 2nd. Oops! I would normally celebrate a weekend adventure by indulging in a few beverages, however, this presents an opportunity to lean into self-discovery. Do I need a few drinks to have fun? Can I enjoy an evening without a little lubrication?

Actually, I’m curious about a number of potential upsides:

• Will I sleep better?
• Will I have more energy?
• Will I lose some weight?
• Will I feel pressure when others are drinking in my presence?
• Will my social anxiety become quieter?

The more I ponder, the more Dry February seems like a great idea! As the fog of last night’s beveraging wears off, my excitement and willingness to embrace this challenge is growing. I pause to congratulate myself on this choice and glance up from my keyboard to the calendar hanging on the wall.

This February is a leap year.
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Fuck. 

My family calls me, Bruja (broo-ha), which means “witch” in Spanish.

When my boys were young, the term referred to my magical Mommy superpowers—knowing what mischief they tried to hide, intuitively understanding their emotions and needs. Now, they use it lovingly (I think) to make fun of my interest in karma, manifestation, energy. The nickname was strongly reinforced when a psychic once told me I hail from a long line of sorcery. Plus, I have bony, veiny hands--which apparently give off a very witchy vibe.

A few months ago, my inner bruja decided to attend a wellness tradeshow. As I wandered the aisles of massage therapists, yoga attire, and protein powders, I was drawn towards a woman who sat cross-legged on a satin covered cushion, looking positively peaceful amongst the bustling atmosphere. As she invited me to sit with her, I was immediately attracted to the warm glow of her spirit.  She radiated a loving gentleness and to have access to an ancient wisdom which the rest of us mere mortals are not privy to.  Her name was Sahej. I wanted to know her secret.

A few weeks later, Sahej invited me to attend a sound bath and breathwork ceremony. The intention was to usher in a new year with clean, vibrant energy. Embracing my word of the year—adventure—I decided to go. Wanting to share this unique experience with someone, I texted numerous girlfriends who were suddenly inexplicably “busy” or responded with “I love that for you.” It seemed I was destined to go alone.

On a dark and rainy evening, I stepped into the rural hall where the ceremony was to be held—a heritage building with a century’s worth of memories within its wooden walls. The twenty-foot ceiling was alight with hundreds of twinkling stars projected upon it. Images of swirling universe gases in gorgeous hues of emerald, indigo, and fuchsia danced amongst the constellations. The colourful textiles laid upon the floor were surrounded by white pillar candles. Soothing music played in the background and fragrant rooibos tea brewed on the counter. Sahej sat, smiling, behind a shrine of golden marigolds and sound bowls.

Once we settled, Sahej invited her guests to cocoon ourselves in warm blankets and lay upon the ground. Get comfortable and open our hearts to whatever was destined to occur that evening.

While I won’t share the details of the ceremony because each of us experienced our own journey, I will say that the evening felt sacred and profound.

Why am I writing all of this, you might be wondering? You’re likely thinking, “That’s nice for you, Kel, but what does it mean for us?”

The intention of this blog is two-fold.

One, there may be moments in life when you are inexplicably attracted to a human you meet in passing. I’m not talking about sexual attraction (though that opportunity may hold adventure as well!). I am talking about an energetic connection. When you seem to be vibing at the same frequency as another human you have just met, lean into that moment. They likely have a story, a skill, or a lesson to share with you. Sahej reminded me of the power of my breath, of creating deliciously quiet moments, and of setting meaningful intentions.

Two, when the opportunity to experience something new falls into your lap, seize it. The sound bath ceremony was out of my comfort zone, especially knowing I had to walk into that room solo. I am so glad I was able to get over my nerves and attend this incredible night. I met very cool people, gained new insight into myself and my life, and now have an amazing story to tell you.

Admittedly I may be more woo-woo than you and a sound bath ceremony might not be your jam. That’s fine because it’s not the point of this tale. In writing this blog, I hope to encourage you to walk through the world looking for ways to grow, play, and try new things. Bruja or not, you deserve to live an adventurous life!

And, if the woo-woo does appeal to you, please check out the website alchemyofheart.ca to learn more about Sahej and her special brand of magic. 

Ease.

That was the word I chose to represent my intention for 2023.

Written on a Post It Note and stuck to my bathroom mirror, it was a daily reminder of how I wanted to move through the world and the energy I wanted to bring. You see, I may have developed a habit of something my husband affectionately refers to as, “fighting the Universe”, which is akin to bulldozing my way through life. If I set my sights on something, I would battle for it, even if I had to forcefully shove that square peg into the round hole.

Sound exhausting? It was—for me and those who live and work alongside this overachiever.

Thus, “ease” became my new mantra.

I no longer wanted to force, to manipulate, to exhaust, to hustle my way through life. While I am still wildly goal oriented, I also wanted to hold space for the Universe to offer opportunities in ways which were off my radar and beyond my imagination.

It worked! I can readily say that several goals I set did not pan out as expected. In fact, some of them went down in flames, yet in the ashes, the seeds of something new began to sprout. Instead of walking away from the fire, I stopped to investigate the new smoldering and wonder what had potential to grow from it. I set aside my pride, and leaned into curiosity, often pleasantly surprised at what I found.

Lesson learned.

After some contemplation, I’ve decided that the word for 2024 is “adventure”.

This year, I intend to say “yes” to travel, to play, to stretching outside of my comfort zone. In my effort to chase joy, I need to actively seek moments which invoke awe, laughter, and a different kind of accomplishment. The kind of accomplishment I now crave is one of trying new things just for the sake of the experience. I want to look like a fool, trip and scrape my knees, belly laugh with failure, and celebrate small victories simply because they were fun.

In the spirit of plunging into 2024 in search of adventure, I spent New Years Day doing something I never thought I would—jumping into the freezing cold ocean with a thousand other fun-seeking humans. The Polar Bear Swim.

For someone who rarely swims, even on the hottest summer day, I stood upon the shoreline cursing the inspiration which brought me to the beach on January 1st. Reminding myself that sometimes discomfort is exactly what the doctor ordered, I hushed the cranky voice within me and tried to become present in the moment. The energy was humming, as participants laughed nervously and music pumped in the background. And, when the time came, I ran straight towards the ocean and went for it. Did I dive in? Hell no! Baby steps, people! But I did it.

And, perhaps I created a new tradition. Maybe. 

I truly believe in the power of intention setting. New Years Resolutions are often broken because of their specificity. When you don’t lose the twenty pounds, eat less sugar, watch less TV, you are sucked into a spiral of shame. Intention setting is purposefully broad and leaves room for creativity in your approach. It is less about what you want to do, and more about how you want to be. We are, after all, human beings who walk through life making mistakes and failing all of the time. An intention is a reminder of your mindset, your attitude, your desire to evolve.
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So, what is your word for 2024? Share it below!