Hi, my name is Hope, and I have an umbrella problem. An umbrella surplus problem, to be exact. I own about 10 umbrellas, but then I fail to check the forecast and get caught in the rain. So I either grab one from hotel coat checks or lost & founds, or buy a brand new one. I'm sure I'm not the only one. However, for you it may be condiments, over the counter meds, baking soda or something else. In any case you have a surplus of something you DON'T need!

Surprisingly enough, the iconic sites of NYC still amaze me. I find that it's important to stop and [insert sense here]. Sure, we always think about stopping and smelling the roses, but for me it's usually visual.

There has been lots of talk around vision as we entered 2020. Hindsight is 2020, for example was mentioned A LOT. It got me thinking about the decisions I've made recently, and if I knew what I know now, would I have made other choices.

Welcome to 2020, and for me it's finally Welcome Home. Welcome to my new home, that is. Some of you may know that I've struggled for the last few years trying to find an apartment in Manhattan, and then once I found one, it was equally challenging to not only purchase, but renovate and then inhabit. I believe I've said it before, but this process is not for the faint of heart.

In one of my meditations this week, I spoke about quieting the body and the mind in order to pay attention to the world around us. Really, just being able to LISTEN UP. And I tend to share things that I need to hear myself. There is so much clutter in the world around me, that it's important to be able to let go of the distractions and just listen.

I am at the home renovation stage where I need to make lots of decisions. Well, get multiple estimates and then make decisions. There are lots of options out there and it can be overwhelming. I try to keep this in mind as engaged couples reach out to me.

Today is the first rainy day in a while. I really want to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea and watch movies all day. However, I need to keep moving as I have too much to do.

This entire year, I've been climbing uphill. Okay, take that back. I've been climbing uphill for the last 2 years. I have been working my tushy off so I'm set up for a bit of ease. Not coasting downhill or anything, but ease.

There are many symbols of fall and they are all quite relevant in my life, currently. Change, Mystery, Protection, Comfort and Letting Go. The last one - letting go - holds a regular place in my meditation practice, and the first one - change - is pretty much a constant in my life. However the middle 3 are very powerful, yet I don't consider them as often.

I have to be honest and say that I'm tired. I really don't have much to share, or perhaps I cannot find the words to express. Yeah, I'm just tired.

I always write my Weekly Lists before the blog post introduction. My final DESIRE was originally - To let go of the disappointment that others rarely give as much as I do, but to keep giving anyway! Yes, I did start singing the song from Frozen. Then I quickly stopped because my nephew HATES that song.

My life is all about being ready...ready and waiting. In the past it was Atlanta traffic and being on hold for acting gigs. Now in New York, it's all about subway delays and waiting for responses from wedding couples.

It's hard to believe that I have been writing and posting my gratitude list for SEVEN years now. My weekly lists have quite a history!

Last month was Plastic-free July. I have abstained from lots of things that I could not easily or cheaply find NOT wrapped in plastic. So if I wanted a it, I had to make it!

I have seen such adversity lately, that I really don't know how I've managed to get through the day. But in all honestly, they really are just #firstworldproblems. I have food to eat and while my landlord is doing their darnedest to evict me, I still have a roof over my head. But solving these problems have certainly made me stronger!

This week has been full of daily challenges. I'm not talking about my regular issues, and there HAVE been lots of that this week. I am talking about a number of tasks that I am attempting to do in a relatively large number of topics.