Welcome 2022

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your wild and precious life? - Mary Oliver

Jan 3, 2022

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We are now two days into 2022 and the new year has begun. It’s funny how this time of year is about change, but that focus seems to be on changing who you are. Lose weight. Break old habits. Create new routines. Do all the things you’ve put off. Live the life of your dreams now! No pressure, right?

I’m all for creating new habits and embracing the life of your dreams but why can’t that be based on being more yourself, not changing who you are?

This year, instead of finding ways to change who you are to achieve goals, let’s learn to embrace all that makes us who we are already, chase more things that give you joy, try new things that make your soul grow!

So this year I’m going to challenge myself to grow in new ways, try new things, break out of my comfort zone not because I have to, but because I want to. I want to live a life that is filled with experiences that help me think differently, become more intentional about how I spend my time, learn new things, and become authentically me.

The beginning of this year will find me:

Creating a vision board - I love vision boards and they really work! I update mine regularly and take time to really celebrate accomplishments when I add new goals.
Explore my word of the year: Flow - this year I want to focus more on letting go of what I cannot control and
Embracing my motto for the year: Growing with the flow
Dreaming up the big goals and plans I want to achieve in 2022
Trying a new panner: I’ll be using Oprah’s new planner this year and will share my thoughts as the year unfolds!

Don’t miss the resources below! I’ve included a few of my favorite discoveries in 2021.

Quote of the Week

To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream. Not only plan but also believe. - Anatole France

Resources

As a recap of 2021 here is a list of some of my highlights and favorite things from the year:

Mindfulness practices:
- Vision Board: I update mine usually about once every 3-4 months. I include goals and reminders and put it somewhere I can see every day. I also time my vision board updates to a new moon to align with the timing for planting seeds and starting new things.
- Journal: I’m a huge fan of journaling as one of the best mindfulness practices. It is about you and for you. I learned to journal in 2020 from The Artist’s Way course a friend taught. I have stuck with it ever since and it has become a cherished part of my morning.
- Get out in nature: let this be easy. Look at the sky. Go for a short walk. Add a plant to your home if you don’t have a yard. Get in touch with nature in small ways. It will ground you and keep you connected to the life-giving energy of the earth. I take short walks with my dogs throughout the day and it immediately boosts my mood no matter what’s going on.
- Move: move your body! Not because you need to pay for what you’ve eaten, but because you can. Find ways to move that are fun for you and bring you joy. Dance, shake, jump, run, walk, whatever you enjoy. I recently tried yoga with Yoga with Kassandra and it was a great way to get started in this powerful practice. I also regularly pop in headphones and have a solo dance party while cleaning or cooking and that is my favorite cardio!
- Theme for the year: find a motto and word that you want to use for 2022. I did this back in 2021 and it was so insightful to look back and what I had chosen and reflected on how it impacted my entire year.
What helped me learn:
- The Hustle: one of my favorite newsletters that I read every day. It keeps me informed about the world.
- Don’t Keep Your Day Job Podcast: This podcast resulted in me really embracing who I am and starting this journey I am on now. I always recommend this to everyone no matter their current situation or life goals.
- Planet Money Podcast: I discovered this podcast late in 2021 but I love the stories they share. I have learned so much and am now a huge fan.
- Atlas Obscura: Another favorite newsletter that includes fascinating stories and content in a daily newsletter. They are even expanding into travel which I love!
- A few favorite Books: Discovering Your Inner Dharma; The Corporate Mystic; The Instruction; Signs; The Obstacle is the Way; The Big Leap
Things I experienced:
- TEDWomen: I’ve always been a fan of TED Talks and the amazing people who are a part of this community. In 2021 I had the privilege of going to my first TEDWomen conference and it was amazing! The people and the stories shared were so inspiring and taught me a lot about myself and the world.
- Yoga with Kassandra: I always wanted to learn yoga but it felt so intimating and hard. I discovered Kassandra’s YouTube channel and started with her 30-day morning yoga and evening practice. Doing just 10 minutes of yoga in the morning and evening was exactly what I needed to get started with a practice I now love. It has made my body stronger and connected my mind and body more through movement than any other exercise I have done before.
- Celebrity Cruises: After being in lockdown my husband and I jumped at a window of opportunity to travel. We headed to Greece for the first time and saw so many beautiful things in Athens before boarding a ship to the Greek islands. It was a magical experience and I’m so glad we did it, safely, and returned home with amazing memories. I was thoroughly impressed by Celebrity Crises (my first time on their ship), and the great care the crew took to ensure we were safe and had an amazing time.
- Area15: I went to Las Vegas for my birthday in 2021 and visited Area15. This is an immersive experience blending the real world with technology. I loved it and it was so fun to step into the fantasy world they created.
Who inspires me:
- Sahara Rose: Sahara seems to do everything! She is fabulous and incredibly wise. She has several books and courses on living a purposeful life and ayurvedic.
- Cathy Heller: Cathy is incredibly inspiring. If you are looking for a new perspective, or to unlock what’s inside you, listen to her podcast. She also has a book and offers regular courses.
- Gay Hendricks: Gay is always dropping wisdom and knowledge in every book, podcast, interview, and course. I love his perspective on life and he has taught me a lot.
Events I’m watching
- DO Wales 2022: I’m fascinated by the DO series content. They have great books, newsletters, and courses. This year they are hosting an event in Wales in July 2022 and although I will not be attending, I will be curious to hear about the outcomes.
- Game Developer Conference (GDC): This is a conference focused on the video game industry. I enjoy seeing what comes out of this event that may shape the future of storytelling and experiences. I may also attend this year.
- E3: Another video game industry event. I always enjoy this one as someone who not only spent time in the industry, but enjoys playing games. I hope to be able to attend this one and hope that we can see this event take place in person again.
- Comic-con: As a fan of pop-culture I really enjoy this event. It celebrates everything from comics to movies to video games. It also features several independent artists and I love seeing what they have created. I hope to be there in person this year.
- TED Conference: The next TED conference will be in Vancouver in April 2022. I will be keeping an eye on this one and may just attend!
- Events, Retreats, and Conferences: I am keeping my eye out for more experinces next year as well as more travel. if you have recommendations, leave a comment!

Things I have enjoyed:

Atlas Coffee: If you know me at all you’ll know I love coffee. In the past two years I’ve enjoyed trying new coffees as well as different brewing methods. I discovered Atlas coffee and have loved their coffee! I highly recommend them.
Marvel: I’ve always been a fan, but I loved the content this year. From WandaVision, Loki, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Hawkeye, and now Spider-Man: No Way Home. Marvel knocked it out of the park in 2021!

Vlogs: I got into watching a lot more YouTube when I wasn’t travelling and found a few fun channels, including Kara & Nate (travel), New Rockstars (pop-culture), and many chill lo-fi music channels. I also have started leaving on ambient music during the day and I really like the vibe it adds to my house.

Full Replay

Clubhouse will return on January 15, 2022!

Events

FORTUNE Brainstorm Tech Conversation 2022 - January 13, 2022: a virtual brainstorm that gathers the top technology and media leaders, operators, entrepreneurs, innovators, and influencers for a dynamic exchange of ideas
The Forbes 30/50 Summit - March 2022: Join the World's Most Powerful Women for International Women's Day. Over the past decade, the Forbes 30 Under 30 has become the world’s most important honor for young entrepreneurs and leaders, while a new list, the 50 Over 50, which showcases how, for women, experience and wisdom and leadership mean that success no longer has an expiration date.
TED 2022 - April 2022: Applications are open now. A lot has changed since we last gathered in Vancouver for TED three years ago. We return not for more of the same, wonderful though that was, but to celebrate a new era. Despite the awfulness we’ve lived through, the future beckons with extraordinary possibilities we couldn’t have dreamt of. In medicine, in AI, in clean energy, in the ways we work, the ways we learn, and in the fundamental economic and social systems that underpin everything else. Come and be part of something extraordinary.
FORTUNE Brainstorm Health 2022 - May 2022: join the Brainstorm Health community-- a powerful gathering of leaders at the crossroads of business, health care, technology, and innovation
2022 Leading Entrepreneurs of the World Conference - May 2022: features entrepreneurs, founders and business leaders presenting on cutting-edge topics and the latest industry developments.

Networking & Job Openings

Current Job Openings:
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Next time on Learning to Lead:

The LIVE Learning to Lead Clubhouse will be on holiday break returning on January 15, 2022!

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