“I feel that we're all lighthouses and my job is to shine my light as brightly as I can into the darkness.”

Jim Carrey

Hey Pilates People!

Thank you, thank you for another incredible week of movement, smiles and sweat! I'm truly touched by this community and your stories of parents and pets joining in on classes, partners and housemates hearing my voice and yelling, "Hi Cassandra," thinking I can hear them, and your personal progress through it all! You are all so amazingly wonderful and I am so lucky to know you!

At the top of this page in my notebook I have three words written -
Lighthouses. Hope. Believe.

For those who don't know I'm a beach girl, at home and heart, so it's a miracle that my interior design skills have progressed past nautical themed everything with the accent of painted driftwood quote signs.

And yes, if you have seen my apartment, both elements still exist but they are not everywhere and they are not the only things. I consider this broadening of home decor interests a great personal triumph of my adult life - no offense to my Point Pleasant/New Jersey crew.

It's just the truth...we like our seahorses, shells and inspirational quotes...you know?

Anyway...

It seems we're going back to my roots this week - the little girl who played by the sea and refused to loosen her fierce grip on the belief she had in Santa, magic and princesses locked in towers destined to break free.

I'm not kidding when I say I refused. My parents had to break the terrible news to me about what was actually happening every Christmas Eve when I entered Middle School for fear I'd be picked on when everyone found out that I still actually thought my presents were delivered by flying reindeer. If not for their protection and intervention, I would probably still be writing letters every year.

Yesterday, I found myself declaring that my job from now on is to hold hope for everyone. In retrospect, that was maybe a bit grandiose of me and I'm not fully sure if I'm up for that responsibility, but the sentiment is real and I do intend to move forward with it.

From here on out, I will stubbornly hold on to hope and belief in the same ways I did as a child.

That's right everyone, Santa is making a come back!
...kidding...sort of...maybe...

The Law of Conservation of Energy says energy cannot be created or destroyed. I believe in that.

And believing takes energy.

So just like everything else, beliefs can adjust and shift but not be destroyed.

Which means when that particular belief in the events of Christmas Eve ended for me, it didn't just disappear. Instead, it transferred and strengthened the belief I have in my parents' love for me.

"Okay Cassandra, but what's with the lighthouse?"

I'm so glad you asked.

Lighthouses are there to safely guide vessels to shore through any condition. They're a beacon of hope that the journey is close to an end and a literal light illuminating the way.

Or, at the very least, they're there to prevent you from crashing into the rocks. Which, is also very important.

So, what is it?
What's your lighthouse?
What's going to give you the hope you need to keep going and help you believe in the place you're heading towards?

Think about it.
Find it.
Don't lose site of it.
And remember, today's lighthouse might be different than tomorrow's. Don't be afraid to redirect and convert that belief energy if it's time.

Is it time?

Stay healthy. Stay safe. Stay illuminated.

All my love,
C

(5/17/20)