Breathe Easier By Being You

I'm very proud and delighted to share this next Free Spirit Spotlight with you!  Lindsay Weiss is a beautiful woman, from the inside out.  She is creative, kind, super generous and one of the funniest people I know.  She also happens to be my little sister.  Lindsay is expecting her first baby in the next few weeks and I couldn't be more excited for her. The way she lives her life, while staying connected to what she values in her heart, is a true inspiration.  Enjoy her interview as she shares some thoughts on living an authentic, present, fun-filled life!

Laughter is the spark of the soul.  -unknown

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am 28, happily married to the love of my life, and we are about to meet our first child this September!  I love working with young people and helping them help themselves.  I would love to meet Tina Fey someday because I just know we would be instant friends.  I think comedy and a sense of humor is so important to have and to share it with others.  I am always up for learning or trying something new.

How do you enjoy life and what makes you happy?  
My family makes me most happy.  My husband is a kind, strong man and he makes me laugh every day.  My family is supportive and talented and very fun to be around.  My dogs provide that unconditional love and they are always up for playing, which makes me smile.  I enjoy my life by spending time with my loved ones and helping others.  I have invested myself in my work by helping young people and their families the past several years.

How did you come to a place where you now embrace yourself and live an authentic life?
I have found that it is best for me to live my life simply and live my truth (whatever that may be).  To live authentically, to me, means doing what feels right.  It means caring about things that speak to your soul and has nothing to do with what your friends or neighbors might care about.  I know how quickly the days go by and if you are living authentically or at least trying to, you can breathe easier every day.

What's your favorite art medium for self-expression?
I love writing, expressing myself through short poems, stories and accompanying them with drawings.  I have loved photography since high school and continue to have a good eye for taking great pictures.  I enjoy spending time in my art room by mixing different mediums together (oil pastels, paint, collage and words).

What is a free spirit to you?
A free spirit is a beautiful thing.  I think a free spirit is someone who isn't afraid to be themselves and that takes courage.  A free spirit does what feels right to them even if it looks completely abnormal to the next person.

Where do you get your inspiration?
I find a lot of inspiration from nature and when I spend time outside.  I love road trips, getting to stop anywhere we drive and take pictures or just revel in the open land as I often crave more space.  I often want to write after I make another good connection with a young person when I get to learn about their background and the things they have overcome.  I am fascinated by the human connection and how sometimes it fails and other times it is magnificent.

How do you manage to find time and make space for your creative projects?  Any struggles with balance?  Any tips to share with us?
Reflection, reflection, reflection.  I think we all need time EVERY DAY to just stop and breathe.  Sometimes I get that time in the car quietly feeling the breeze, or singing, dancing, meditating, resting, walking or gardening. Time to think about your day and how it went and how you felt about it.  I know this time creates balance for me because it helps me connect deeper to my own voice and I feel less stress and a better connection to what truly matters.

What would you say to those who want to live an authentic life but don't know where to begin?
I think living authentically starts with shifting your perspective.  What is really important to you?  What, at the end of the day, do you want to spend your time on?  You first have to listen to yourself, take time to be quiet and reflect, and then figure out what it is you want to do (or don't want to do) and then put it into action.  It takes daily practice to live authentically because it is so easy to get wrapped up in other people's stuff and chaos. When you start listening to yourself more often, you will realize it is worth any effort to try and live well.

How is being pregnant changing you and do you think it's allowing you to really listen to your heart even more?
My special time these days is when I get to see and feel my baby move - she is an active little one!  Feeling this little being move and grow inside of me is the most amazing thing I have ever been a part of and I feel at ease as we patiently wait to meet her.  I want to start setting an example to my daughter that it is important to take care of yourself, to find what makes you happy, to be kind to others and to try and live well every day.  I know that it is important to listen to my heart and I want to pass this lesson on to my daughter.

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Thank you, beautiful Lindsay, for sharing.  There is such simple wisdom in your words.  I love you and that sweet baby growing in your belly.

Your Personal Reflection:  Take a deep breath, smile and listen to YOUR heart today.