My oh my! It's a big fat juicy world!

Here's what it looks like outside on this rainy Friday afternoon in Marin County, California

But here's what it looks like on my insides.

Because it's a big old wonderful fat juicy world, people!!!

In the few short weeks of since this still-virtually-brand-new-year began, things in Bean Up The Nose Art's world have upended, unhooked, and rearranged themselves.

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First . . . we began working with a different sales rep. With whom we are truly, truly, utterly delighted and happy. And who gets her own blog spot here in February. Stay tuned!!!

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Second . . . a brand new live/work studio space.

In this unassuming-but-0h-so-magical building.

Where good luck comes to play.

Which I first walked into last June, to take a class from Lisa Sonora Beam. (Click here for post on that magic.)

Which I revisted in November -- to teach a class on my own. (Click here for post on "Giving Thanks" class.)
Which I came to again in December, to sell Bean Up The Nose Art goodies at a Holiday Pop-Up Shop. (Click here for post on that fun.)

And in which Bean Up The Nose Art has just set up shop as a studio.

That's right, folks. In another serendipitous piece of the Universe's puzzling through with us, we moved in here last weekend. Fabulous Lisa Sonora Beam is nomad-ing the world (literally the world) through 2012 as she teaches and makes art. She rented the magical studio in San Anselmo to us.

Gracie the Dog approves of it, too . . . right down to the low-maintenance, made-for-artists blue floor.

And what further confirmation does one need that this is right place to be than what the neighbors have stenciled on their curb?

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Okay, so along with the fabulous magic flow of new spaces and opportunities and excitement comes some ebb, too. Earlier this week during a warm-up, I felt a momentous, rubber-band-like snap across the bottom of my heel. Uh-oh.

Diagnosis: torn plantar fascial stuff. A couple of months to heal, with no high impact activity -- which CrossFitters will know means no running, no box jumps, no so many other things . . . and, mostly, no competing in The Open that begins at the end of February. Which, if I performed well enough, would qualify me for The Games in July. For which I had been training, whole-heartedly, dedicatedly, committedly, almost-part-time-job-edly . . . and butt-kickingly . . . FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. Because this year, I am in the very bottom of the 50-54 year old age group. And I am good at CrossFit. And I love it. And it seemed like this would be the year to go for it. And make it happen.

But do you know what?

I couldn't make it happen.

You can't MAKE things happen. You can do your best, but you can't control what's going to occur. (Duh. How many times do I need to learn this one?)

And do you know what else?

I could only be glum about this turn of events for about 24 hours.

Because after that, I was buoyed up (in spite of myself!) by the kindness, love and support of truly awesome people. Like Anna Scott (click here for fabulousness), Rani Druda (click here for her good work), the wonderful members at Tamalpais CrossFit (click here), by great and wonderful Whidbey peeps (click here for love letter to Whidbey), and all of the great Marin Twitter folks.

These people -- these terrific, butt-kicking, enthusiastic, kind, generous, loving people -- helped me open up to see that yes, while it sucks, it is also an opportunity. For so many things. For so many ways to hear and learn and see and let go and open up and see what happens next. What openings are there? What does it feel like to be dealing with this, right now . . . and how do things shift? What is the "right timing" for things? And who really knows how things work? Just show up, pay attention, do your best . . . and see.

I decided to believe them.

There are openings.

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Last night, the Matchbox Valentine's Quickie class sold out.

And this morning, Bean Up The Nose Art got a second sales rep, to cover new territory :) SHE called US. Bwahahaha!

Here's to your own big fat wonderful juicy world opening up ripe and sweet, right before your eyes. Here's to the openings in all of our lives. New people. New possibilities. New energies. New ways of seeing.

Thank you so much for playing here. YOU RULE.