Hey Friend!! I’m back! Bringing you another blog. It’s all about living with intention. Two weeks ago, I let you know that I am living life on purpose and making decisions to change the trajectory of my life. With the plan to live intentionally, I have to show up and do the work. If I tell you to do the work, I have to do the same.

For the last 5 years I have been saying I want to have fresh flowers at my house. Not a big fancy bouquet from a florist; but a simple bouquet from my local market. This is my second week acting on that desire. When I told my therapist last year that I desired to live with intention and be present, she challenged me to do just that. So, when she and I met a few weeks back, I told her how my resignation discussion went (I’ll give you the deets after my official last day of work). She then asked me what is one word that described my feelings at the time; my word was “joy.” Joy in knowing that I am free to live life on purpose and do the work God has placed in my heart.

We went on to discuss what brings me joy and I shared with her my love for flowers and how I keep telling myself that I want to have fresh flowers in my home. Her next words were, “what’s stopping you.” I just sat and shook my head. The answer was nothing. Nothing, but the lack of action. If I truly desire to have fresh flowers and if a $8 bouquet of flowers makes me happy, I will take the 1-mile walk or drive to the store and take 5 minutes to design my bouquet. This is being intentional friend.

The last 2 weeks I have chosen to make my flower bouquet. Here is a short video of my DIY flowers. My daughter and I made our flower arrangement the first week and she loved it. I desire for my daughter to live her life free and with intention. In order for my daughter to understand living life with intention and doing what gives her joy, I have to show her that. She will want to emulate me if I live life on purpose.

Friend I have a few questions for you: What gives you joy? How are you living life with intention? When you wake up in the morning what words comes to mind? Is there anything that you desire to do that you have been putting off? Let today be the day where you choose to start living life on purpose.

Small things matter; a bouquet of flowers, having a picnic in the park, going for a walk. Do what matters. Do what gives you joy. Live with intention.

Day 1 over 1 day.

Hey Fam!! It’s 2020 and I am sooooooo ready for all the goodness that this year has to offer. 2019 was ROUGH. Let me tell you again, 2019 was ROUGH. During a few father-daughter advice chats, my father has told me, “If you haven’t had a lil’ rain, wait a while.” You may be asking, what does that even mean? Well, let me tell me you; it means, if you haven’t had some bad days, just wait because you will experience a bad day; we all go through rough seasons, but we can overcome them.

Fam let me tell you, 2019 brought the rain, the storm, the hurricane, and then some! But I survived! We survived! We made it through! I know several of you responded to my last self-care blog sharing that life had been crazy and you let your self-care practice go. Well, I’m here to tell you, you are not alone.

In 2019, life tried to get the best of me. The outside world tried to bring me down, BUT I didn’t let it keep me down. I dealt with the crap and bad experiences. I dealt with the sadness, the self-doubt, the negative talk, and the idea that I’m not enough. I have dealt with all the bad juju and am ready to receive the abundance that God and the universe has for me. Are you ready to step into greatness? Are you ready to choose abundance? I’m talking about abundance of joy, peace, happiness, love, and wellness. As a bonus, I’m sure you are okay receiving abundance of finances too….I know I am; LOL!

Now, you may be thinking, here she comes with that “New Year, New Me” stuff; but no friend, that’s not what I’m about to say. Not at all. I let go of that “New Year, New Me” and “New Year’s Resolutions” stuff a few years ago. Just because it’s a new year doesn’t mean I or you need to change or resolve to do something or become someone else.

Rather than resolving to do or be, I have chosen to live intentionally. I choose to live with the intention of being mindful and of being present in my self-care. I choose to live with the intention of self-love, of kindness, and of charity. I know that living intentionally will lead to the abundance and freedom that I deserve and that you deserve. I invite you to live intentionally, be present, and show up for yourself.

My 2020 has started off on a positive note. I feel at peace. I have joy. I’m in a really positive place with my spouse, my job, and with my business. As a small business owner, it’s a huge accomplishment to be able to pay all the expenses from the business account rather than from my family’s personal account. Two years later, my studio is finally in the black (#bigdeal) and I’m pumped. I’m not saying ISY is rolling in dough…..let’s be real I won’t be resigning from my employer, but it’s nice to finally see the tiny financial growth, when I’ve worked extremely hard to share the healing properties of yoga and meditation.

Here’s another positive tidbit for 2020: Two days ago, a local magazine, We Are Henry, published an article that I am featured in. The title of the article is “Movement as a Medicine.” When I saw the article, I teared up. It felt amazing to see my passion for wellness, yoga, and meditation on paper.

Let me tell you guys something, two years ago when I opened my first free standing studio, I wanted to advertise in this magazine, but I couldn’t afford it. You see how patience, persistence, and intentions pays off? I received a call in the Fall of 2019 about a wellness and yoga interview for the magazine. When, they asked me, you know I said yes.

I met with the author, Aisha at Starbucks and we talked and laughed for at least an hour. The magazine’s photographer came to one of my heated classes to take pictures for the article (he was surprised the class was hot) and I thought the photos would be awful because I was sweating like crazy and the class was sweating, so I just knew it was going to be a HOT mess (LOL). BUT fam I was wrong. I WAS WRONG. The pictures turned out amazing and the article was beautifully written.

If you’re still reading, I wrote all of the above to let you know it is important to live with intention. It is important to be patient, persistent, and resilient. When the dark days come, know that it’s not the end. You are not alone. The sun will come out again. Remember your self-care, remember your intentions.

If you enjoy yoga, or are interested in yoga, and are ready to set your intentions and visions for 2020 and beyond join me at my Yin Yoga & Vision Board Party on January 17th.

Sending you all love, light, and positive intentions for your year.

~Stephanie Epps

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