I am in Miami sitting out on a balcony with the most spectacular view.  Across the lake the shore is aligned with the most majestic looking palm trees.  It honestly looks like a scene from Ancient Egypt and the Nile River.  It is 80 degrees and there is a gentle breeze just making it the most picture perfect day!  I have just returned from sitting by the pool and am preparing for an afternoon of relaxation and writing while I wait for my boyfriend (better known to those of you who listen to my radio show Walt and LA Live, as “Mr. X”) to return from his golf game.

In order to really make my point I need to start this story from the begining.  My boyfriend had invited me to go to Miami several weeks before.  I had a million excuses why I couldn’t go. I am too busy.  I can’t be away that long. I can’t spend the money on the flight and on and on and on. I didn’t feel that I deserved to take the break I so desperately needed. The day he left I was so mad at myself for once again not putting myself first  and going on the trip. Later that night he called me and was telling me how beautiful it was, how perfect the weather was and how I needed to (as he put it) “get my ass on a plane and get down here”!  I did have a moment of hesitation.  But life is about experiences.  I said no once.  I didn’t feel deserving once. Here the opportunity presenting itself yet again!  This time I thought to myself, “It can’t always be about work, responsibilities and always waiting for a better time”.  So I booked a flight and the rest, as they say, is history.

As I sit here now I am making it a point to absorb into my memory every second of this experience.  I want to take it all in; the sights, the sounds, the smells! I keep telling myself that I DESERVE to be here.  I have been working so hard and lately I have been surrounded by one trauma after another. I keep telling myself I deserve this break. And then it hits me.   So many of us seem to need to justify or apologize for the good things in our lives.  We can’t seem to just accept them or enjoy them.  Some of us are always waiting for the other shoe to drop and some are just trying to convince others (or maybe themselves) that they are deserving of good things.

At some point in your life you have to stop saying “maybe tomorrow” and you need to start living for today!  Now pulling this off was no easy task and as with most things in my life it took a team of people to make it happen so THANK YOU (you all know who you are).  Rearranging of schedules, rides to airport, covering radio show, pets, house, kids…on and on.  As I sit here now the 24 hour worldwind of craziness to get here is just a distant memory.  Bottom line…it took a hell of a lot of effort to get here but the reward is beyond amazing!  Isn’t life sometimes the same way. The changes we need to make can take a LOT of effort on our part BUT the rewards are beyond amazing!

I have been spending A LOT of time this past year sharing, writing and yes lecturing you about setting boundaries, putting yourself first and creating the life you want. I understand that while many people understand the concept, many people have a hard time working through the process itself.  Let’s face it.  Change can be very uncomfortable and other people don’t like it when you start putting yourself first.  BUT you have to keep your eye on the end result. I have said this time and time again.  No one is responsible for your life but you. If someone is treating you badly it is because YOU are allowing them to!  Not only are you responsible for your own life, and here is the part people really have a hard time with, BUT it is yours to do whatever the hell you want with!

I mentioned earlier all the craziness it took to get to Miami.  Isn’t life the same way.  It sometimes takes a lot of hard work to get to where you really WANT to be!  So as I sit here over looking this beautiful scene I am reminded that I did not come into this life to suffer.  I came down here to have experiences and those include experiencing joy.  I am reminded that I am worthy.  And now I am writing to remind you that you are worthy.  I am writing to inspire you to stop waiting for someone else to give you permission to take your turn and  instead TAKE your turn.  I am writing to tell you to delete “someday” from your vocabulary and make it “today I will”.   I am writing to tell you the end result will be inner peace and blissful happiness!