Nearly every woman I've met, including myself, has felt like Julene at one point:  worn out, unenthused, lifeless.  What's impressive is the simple, but powerful action she took because she wanted to feel differently.

"I'm taking the little bit of down time I have to re-evaluate where I want to go before I get caught in the same ruts and routines of the last couple of years," she told me.  After years of working tirelessly, raising children, and volunteering, Julene was a middle-age Wonder Woman wondering what the heck happened to her life.  It wasn't psychologically easy to hit the pause button on the treadmill of her life.  In fact, at first it felt odd and a bit scary.  But, she kept remembering that her old routine wasn't working and that she wanted to figure out another way.  After a few weeks, she gave me an update.

"I love every day, and thank myself for making me a priority.  It's very positive, refreshing, and revealing.  Wow!  I just might finally learn to play the guitar after all!" And the nail color she decided to wear during this time:  True to Be You.

It doesn't sound like Julene's world fell apart because she made herself a priority for a while, either.  She said she loves every day.  She's excited again.  She's feeling creative.  She''s feeling what it's like to get back in touch with herself, which is exactly what she needed. And I bet she's not the only one in her world who is benefiting.

I love Julene's story because she did one of the bravest, most powerful things we can all do when our lives feel like a swirl - stop and re-evaluate.  STOP?  I know.  Julene is such a radical, isn't she?  In today's fast-paced, modern world most of us believe we don't have time to stop and reflect.  There are jobs to go to, clients meetings to attend, tasks to complete, children who need our attention, phone calls to return, groceries to buy, bills to mail, pets to walk, and plants to water.  That's today. More is coming tomorrow.  It says so on my Blackberry.

But how can you know what you want and figure out a new plan if you never get off your own treadmill?  You can't.  Somehow, some way, you've got to carve out some space to just be.  When you do, it's amazing how much you can get back in touch with what you'd like to experience and explore.  Maybe its guitar lessons, or a salsa class, or a day trip to part of the city or countryside that you've always been curious about.  Regardless of how these experiences turn out, simply doing them is re-energizing.  Feeling energized about life is what Julene wanted.  Can I hear an "Amen!"?

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