Author: Tova

Just another sign I was meant to be doing this!

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As previously predicted, this Marie Forleo B-School is really kicking my ass. Her lessons and programs are really helping me think about why I started The Muchness, what I want from it and MOST IMPORTANTLY, how I can best serve my MuchnessSeekers and help them reach their full Muchness potential! Ya know, these are hard questions to answer. I ‘created’ The Muchness on a whim. I assumed at the time that I was doing what ‘everyone’ does these days- starting a blog about myself. I invited others to join me in my Muchy online adventures because, well, they asked and I loved seeing their Muchness. And I am thrilled to have them (you) here.

I’ll be honest- mostly, I have no idea what I’m doing. I shoot from the gut and follow my heart. I post about what moves me, what inspires me and what I’m discovering about myself and the world as I travel this journey from grief through healing (and then pit-stop again for some grief,  and then take a swing around the corner to see what joy is waiting there…)

A long time ago it was suggested that I create an “editorial calendar.” That’s fancy blogger talk for “Plan your postings in advance and put them down in a structured, logical manner.” I only know how to write honestly and from my heart and that felt really contrived and ‘planny’ to me, and if there is something I have learned in the last 2.5 years, it’s that, when it comes to my deepest feelings, I really don’t have control over where they take me. I just have to buckle up and go for the ride.

But, I also VERY MUCH want this site to grow into a real, reliable, helpful resource for inspiration and encouragement and actionable tips and advice that can help each of you achieve your full capacity of Muchness, because I KNOW it’s in you… I read it in your posts, in your private messages to me, even in the pictures of sparkly goodness you post on facebook and tag me with! You guys are amazing and I REALLY want to help you shine!

So, when Marie started talking about creating an editorial calendar, I listened. I heard how it doesn’t have to be contrived or planny, and just because I put the million and one ideas I have for posts down in a logical manner, it doesn’t mean they are going to lose their heart, quite the contrary- without having to wrack my brain for which subject to write about, I’ll be able to simply sit down at my keyboard, slit open a vein, and write straight from my heart.

So, I was convinced. I would create an editorial calendar. And then, then….. then Marie – who pre-records her seminars which are listened to my hundreds- probably thousands of people- then she said something (which in my mind was) directed right. at. me.
She said “When you set up your editorial calendar… you’re gonna skip with Daisies and Sunshine is gonna be shootin’ out of your eyeballs and your ears when you have this done, it’s awesome.”

My Sunshine & Daisy- if it's something that can get me skipping with them and having them shooting out of my eyeballs and ears- I'm game.

I rewound that thing 5 times. I got chills. I actually almost started crying. Who the hell talks like that about Sunshine & Daisies?? Who? NO ONE that’s who!! I’m telling you folks, it’s a sign!!! So I went right away and made that little green box sign up form on the top right of this page for my newsletter because I am making a calendar and I am committing to sending one email a week with inspirational, actionable Muchness nuggets to help YOU get in touch with your MUCH! Because that is my goal. That’s why I’m here. My Muchness goes through the roof when I help someone else connect with their Muchness, Because when you share The Muchness, it pays you back in spades… and I’m ready to take on this challenge. And YOU TOO should share The Muchness! If you know someone who you think can benefit from it, tell them to sign up too!

Yeah Baby— We’re Back!

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GREAT NEWS!! Hey guys! It’s Tova here and I want to tell you, we’re growing. It’s totally exciting (and kinda scary) that I’m starting to really see how this passion project can transform and take flight and how so many more people can be touched by The Muchness!

So many of you have been with me since day 1– when I slapped on a sequin top and, on a whim, challenged myself to wear sequins for 30 days. Watching how that random idea has blossomed into a beautiful community of Muchness seekers amazes and humbles me on a daily basis.

In order to make sure our site has the power to keep growing and new members could keep joining and blogging their Muchness Moments, my web developer has had to do some pretty fancy footwork behind the scenes. What was supposed to take a few hours has turned into a week of headaches and learning experiences.

But I am happy to announce that we are finally back up!!

***If you have posted in the last week and your posts are not showing up, I have many of them on backup ..Just let me know they’re missing and I’ll send them to you!

Thanks so much for your patience and understanding!! You guys are amazing and I can’t wait to see your Muchness Moments keep popping up on the site!

Tova’s Bschool Muchness Challenge- Day 3….and 4

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B-school is 4 days in and already it’s kicking my butt.

Yesterday, as part of a Bschool assignment, I created a survey that I was supposed to send to 20 people who know me. If you know me and haven’t filled it out, GO HERE AND DO IT!! (Even if you don’t know me well, or know me well, but only online, You can fill it out too! I appreciate all feedback!!)

To tide you over, here’s a an amazing quote by Danielle LePorta, writer of The Fire Starter Sessions, written by me, Muchness Style!!

Tova’s B-School Muchness Challenge!! Day 1!!! – I’m on a roll!!!

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When you find what you are passionate about, the only sane thing to do is grab that thing by the horns and hold on as tight as you can and let it take you where it needs to go. 

I have found my passion. 

It is The Muchness. 

What started as a fluke, soon turned into a healing tool, a thing that changed me. defined me, opened my eyes and my world to so many amazing people on so many journeys. For a year or more I have questioned what this ‘project’ is that I am building. Is it a hobby? A part-time unpaid job? A way to stay in touch with My Muchness? Yes, Yes and Yes. 

The fact is, I can’t not do this. There is nothing I have ever done in my life that combined all my talents and skills and passions and love of glitter better than this ‘project’ I’ve stumbled into. Helping people re-find their joy and re-find their identities after it’s been ripped away from them, either by specific circumstances or just by life in general, fills me with a sense of purpose that gives clarity and meaning to my own grief and suffering. 

And the time has come to stop tip-toeing around this ‘project’ – wondering what it is and what it could be. The time has come to put on my big-girl panties, let go of my fear, and announce that THIS, this ‘project’ is no longer just a project. It is everything. I want to put my whole heart and soul into this. When I say I really do want to fill the world with Muchness, I mean it. And I plan to make it happen. One sparkly, shiny sequin at a time. 

So, I am now a card carrying member of Marie Forleo‘s RHH B-school. That’s business school for women who want to make a difference and change the world.

I qualify.

I also paid for the privilege. 😉

Today was Day 1. And this is my many many pages of homework spitting out of the printer.

The Muchness IS My Muchness and documenting, even in a small way, one moment of B-school inspiration every day is going to keep me engaged and working towards my dream. Every time someone emails me a picture of their muchy turqoise and silver nailpolish and says this helped them pull their way out of an otherwise crappy day, I know I am on the right path.

Please cheer me on. I have a feeling this class is seriously gonna kick my ass. (in a good way.)

***Edited to add- I reread this and just want to clarify- I still totally have my day job… But unless I start finding positivity and creativity there like I used to feel, I honestly don’t know how long I will be able to sustain it. Very scary. But I can’t live my life ruled by fear. Not anymore.

 

Tova’s Muchness Challenge – Day 30 – Unexpected Side Effects Of The Muchness

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I’ll be honest.
I started this post with a very lofty goal of writing something deep and meaningful about how introducing The Muchness into my family has helped ease a lot of that tension that can sometimes build up below the surface of a marriage and the responsibility of raising kids.
But it was getting wordy . Imagine that.
Frankly, it’s just something I have been paying attention to lately. (Something I plan to talk about on MakePeaceAtHome.com‘s radio show- Booyah!) How so many of our fun family moments might never exist if not for The Muchness??
Today we went to the park. In the car there the four of us were belting that “This is not a drive-by” song. Even Liat pipes in with the by-ay-ay-ay-ay – so cute. It was totally fun and kookoo and awesome. TOTAL side effect of The Muchness.
We played at the park and then Molly asked if she could get ices.
Against all the sanity and logic in the world, we bought them EACH these huge firecracker ice pops that were, without a doubt, the most mess-likely option in the cart.
We sat with our 400 napkins in the sun on the grass, and bathed in the sticky, rainbow, disgusting drippies that poured out of the bottom of these ices onto all three of us.

This didn’t stress me out. This didn’t annoy me. This mess of gooey disgustingness… it very well should have not made me happy. You can see by the way I’m holding my hands that I seriously didn’t want to touch anything, But Liats hand- The one on my knee, that was like, coated in liquid sugar.
But I was happy. I was relaxed. I was laughing and making up songs about the baths we were all gonna have to take when we got home.
It works. Tap into it.
Love & Muchness!!
Tova

Tova’s Muchness Challenge – Day 27 – Paying attention to the moments

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This headshot challenge has been awesome. I plan to do a lil talking time video to tell you why tomorrow. (See, this is what my new teacher at Rich, Happy & Hot B-school – Marie Forleo calls “Social Accountability”… when we put our plans out there and then know that people are expecting us to follow through, we don’t want to look like a fool, so we are more likely to follow through. I, being kinda camera shy (yes, it’s true) would probably find some reason to flake on my plans to do a video conclusion about this 30 day Headshot challenge, but now that I’ve splattered this verbal commitment all over my homepage, I better deliver. No, really, I better. Or make me feel like a fool. Please. I’m serious.)

As I was saying- loving the headshot challenge because it’s been making me take stock of mu Muchness Moments even without realizing it.

I was sitting in our home office upstairs working when I heard Elie, downstairs, fart. Big time. (He doesn’t read my blog so he’ll never know I wrote this….hahaha)

I IMed him from upstairs:

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And me, at my computer, enjoying the moment, grateful as hell I wasn’t in the room with him. 🙂

….No time to waste!! B-school starts on Monday!! Gotta get prepped!!!!….