I confess that I wish every Tuesday could begin with breakfast with my best friends and end with a pedicure with my sister-in-law, with pizza and wine with the hubby as the epilogue. Tuesday is not typically so much fun (especially considering that I actually worked, too). And so rarely does it end with my toes sporting a happy pink-red shade, this one in particular called California Raspberry. And yes, I picked the color first, but it was the name that sold me. 

Seriously. I love this guy SO MUCH.

A few days into the year, I decided my mantra for 2012 would be: Honor what’s essential. Do what energizes. 

It’s not a resolution. It’s an intention. And it’s already making this year feel like a time of magic. I’m not a huge fan of the word magic — it seems a little too sentimental even for me — but I feel like I discredit the energy that’s taking shape if I name it anything less.

My parents and my brother and I had a long conversation last night, about purpose and direction and spirituality and travel. My dad and my brother are good friends with restlessness, like I am, so when it showed up again last night, they met it at the door with a greeting popular among restless people: obsessive browsing of travel websites. 

By 10 pm I got the call that they wanted to go to Paris, take the train to Rome, and then fly home from there. And they wanted to do this at the end of the month. And the deals were hot, so I’d better act fast — was I in? A series of texts in the middle of the night, which I woke up to, informed me that they couldn’t wait for my decision and had booked their tickets. And they had reserved the hotel rooms for three people, hoping there was still a chance I’d join them. 

Some hours of work and two conversations with my husband (his response: Of course you should go!) and my business partner (her response: Of course you should go!) later, I’m going. And it feels like I just drew a circle on the map for good energy and new adventures and said, “Here’s where you can find me. Please visit often.”

Did I mention I’m ridiculously excited?