Do It Now

Hi friends,

I want to talk with you about doing things NOW, and be warned: it's about to get serious RULL quick.

I spent most of this week in Massachusetts connecting with my oldest friends...like, friends of more than 20 years. Kindergarten friends. We caught up (read: gossiped), we laughed our heads off at old pictures, we drank shitty wine. It was pretty wonderful. 

Except for the fact that we were all together because the brother of our dear friend had died. From cancer. At age 25.

Virtually all of my friends growing up had a sibling that was three years younger, so not only were we all inseparable, our brothers and sisters were too. My brother and the boy were died were not exceptions to this rule. They had been friends since kindergarten. They, too, had 20 years of friendship.

I am still sort of reeling from the week's events, but one thing is crystal clear to me, and I am sharing it with you now, even though this is probably the most raw and real I've ever been in a message to you.

When I found out that my sweet friend's life was nearing its end, I wrote to a message to all my dearest friends of shock and anger and hurt. I had a big audition that night and I was just feeling like life was impossible to fathom. It did not make any sense to me. I did not think I could drag myself to that audition and SHINE. I felt very dim and small. The only way I could get out the door of my apartment was to flip it all around. I wrote another message to that same group of people, and I'd like to share some of it below:

"i am so lucky to be scared shitless to sing tonight. i am so lucky that my voice fucking works at all, let alone can sing and belt and enjoy the delicious feeling of singing. i am so lucky that my biggest worry today is that i will screw up a song. thank you so much for these tiny "problems." 

thank you for my throat and larynx and swallowing and eating and drinking and speaking and saying "i love you" and the joy of belting a high note and sustaining it for one tiny second longer than necessary. 

thank you for this body that CAN get out of bed even if all i want to do is hide in it. thank you for balance and walking and running. thank you for stretching and reaching.

thank you for everything that works, plain and simple.

thank you for putting tyler in my life today. i hate that he cannot swallow or talk or get out of bed and he is 25 years old. i am really not ok with that. but i thank you for the reminder that i have one precious life and so i will walk out the door of my apartment even if i am scared because it is nothing compared to how he and his family feel and i will walk into that room and open my mouth and sing because i can."

Whatever you want, whatever you dream, please do it now. 

Please do it because you can.

Please start today. If you want to be an artist, please draw one tiny picture today. If you want to be a Broadway star, please sing in your shower today. If you want to do a one woman show, please book a venue today. I will come. If you want to have a million dollars, please share your brilliant idea with someone today.

Do it because planes crash and 25-year-olds die from cancer and life is really just such a mystery much of the time and there is so much that is out of our control but you are so powerful simply because you're alive and well and you know what you want, even if it's buried deep down right now, and oh my God, I believe you in so much. 10000%.

I really, really want you to do it. 
Do it for no other reason than the simple fact that you can, and that alone is so enough it's crazy.

Love,
Olivia

PS: You've got two chances to get your Shrink on with me at The Movement this month! I'm teaching on August 2nd and 16th (Saturdays) at 11:30 AM, and I would loooooove to see you there! My last class there was a sweat fiesta-- we had to stop midway to grab towels to wipe up the puddles! PLUS, they have an amazing deal on Gilt right now! Save your $$ by checking it out here, and LET'S DO IT! 

PPS: I am super pumped to be part of the incredible telesummit 21 Ways To Get What You Want in Business, Life, and Love. My girl Dr. Liz Lasky interviews 21 experts that know exactly what to do to help you achieve your dreams. Seriously — that may sound trite, but these interviews are out of this world. And -- Rich and I are interviewed too! Sign up here (for FREE!) and find out the 21 ways to get you closer to what you want.

You have the right to bare arms.

This post was written for Erin Stutland and Shrink Session, and I am so happy to share it here!

Happy 4th of July! I love this day for many reasons (like watermelon, fireworks and my wedding anniversary), but there is certainly more to it than that. If you’re an international Shrinker, or if you just need a refresh, here’s a one-sentence history lesson:

 The Bill of Rights is the common name for the first ten amendments that guarantee many personal freedoms to our Constitution.
 
As we get ready for the festivities, I’ve been thinking about the tremendous power that lies in declaring that you are free of something. Whether it’s a public proclamation or a quiet promise you make to yourself, this is a perfect time to re-declare your own independence from anything and anyone that makes you feel trapped.

Think about it: you naturally put up less resistance to new ideas in the summer because your brain is programmed for FUN. Let’s take advantage of this up-for-anything attitude and really go for it:
 
What beliefs and old stories are no longer true and ready to be released? Are you ready to be completely free of anything and everything holding you back?

In the spirit of independence and freedom that’s buzzing through the air, and with my apologies to our Founding Fathers, I present a Shrink Session Bill of Rights:

 1. You have the right to speak with kindness and love.
 
Someone in some superhero movie (aren’t they all kinda the same at this point?) said “with great power comes great responsibility.” That’s especially true when it comes to our words. Since we’re free to say what we want, we had better take that seriously. This summer, choose your words, especially those you speak to yourself, with great care and love. In fact, I dare you to take it even further and straight up brag. You are a badass, and it’s your right to spell it out in fireworks in the sky.
 
2. You have the right to BARE arms.
 
I am so over the ads telling us to “DO 29358 CRUNCHES SO YOU FIT INTO THIS BIKINI THE SIZE OF A TRISCUIT! WHY ARE YOU EVEN EATING TRISCUITS? THEY HAVE, LIKE, GLUTEN IN THEM.” To all that noise I say “shut the front door.” (Ooh, shut it again-- that breeze felt great.) You do not have to hide. You already have a bikini body, because what is a bikini body but a body wearing a bikini? Wear what feels good, be it a muumuu or monokini.
 
3. No one can come into your home unless you grant permission.
 
You have the right to an incredibly exclusive guest list for your life. Any person, place or thing that doesn’t bring you joy can be kicked to the curb whenever you want. VIPs only.
 
4. You have the right to just do you.
 
Summer can bring a new set of challenges. Maybe you’re on family overload, maybe you’d like to stay home and watch OITNB instead of yet another BBQ, or maybe you’re overworked from covering for people who are on vacation. Whatever you’re feeling this summer, it is valid. Skip the party, plop your kids in front of the TV for 30 minutes so you can take a walk, do whatever you need to do to feel fresh and free.
 
5. Cruel and unusual punishment is prohibited.
 
So you chased down an ice cream truck and ate a Spongebob with gumball eyes. Are you going to waste even one minute torturing yourself? You better not, because that is against the law. If you made a choice that you don’t think served your highest good, you have the right to move on quickly and without drama. Leave the summertime sadness to moody popstars and skip right over the agony to a fun and inspired action instead.
 
6. You have more rights than those listed here.
 
Even the authors of the Constitution realized they might have missed something when they wrote this (if there had been a Founding Mother, you better believe she’d have covered all the bases, but such was life in 1776).

This Bill of Rights is only a start to the many incredible freedoms, powers, rights, and abilities that you both have and deserve.

Now it’s your turn: What else do you want to declare for yourself this summer?
You can start with “I have the right to…” or “I declare freedom from…” and please share over in the FB group (if you're not part of that group, feel free to comment here!)
 
I can’t wait to hear your declarations! If you don’t need it, release it. If you don’t feel it, free it. Have a fabulous summer!
Love,
Olivia
 

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