Magic, Hope and Joy…and Syd

What a week. What a month. What a year!!!!  Just wow!! 

Thank Goodness for Syd. He has been by my side through all of it, calming me by the hour some days. I just look at that smiling face and right away he brings back the magic, hope and joy that I simply can’t live without (in case you haven’t noticed). I realize now, that when I was creating Syd, he was the one who guided me to the qualities inside of myself that matter most. The ones that often get buried by adulthood and responsibility… and 30 years in corporate! And, trust me… magic, joy and hope were buried pretty deep! It’s clear to me that Syd was here to guide my transformation. I didn’t realize he would mean so much to the world. That was a bonus gift! Now everyone gets to enjoy him and the magic is contagious.

If someone had told corporate Ellen that she was about to go through a “transformation”, she’d probably think that Oprah was going to pop out from behind a curtain with all of her top stylists. Transformation?! ???? Little did she know what was ahead. She thought she had it all figured out and that life was all about doing, doing, doing. There was no time to play. This was what life had become and this was “normal”.

But when I did finally quit corporate, I found that the real magic was in what I call, “the void”, when the past is over and the future is not yet clear. In that pause… that is where the magic happens. Sometimes a day spent in our pajamas is the most productive. I have found that there is no way to tap into my magic, to dip into that well of possibilities… if I am on overload. No matter how busy life becomes, we need to find time for joy. Syd reminds me of that each day.

I didn’t allow myself time to stop and rest. To maybe say “no” to things. I pushed through. Yup, I just did what needed to be done to raise my kids and keep my career. I realize now, that back then, spending a day in pajamas was layered with guilt, as if, dare I say, I was “being lazy.”  Now, I feel like taking that time to recharge is what fuels my creativity and brings out my best ideas, allowing me to create my best life. A life filled with joy, hope and magic. 

Now, I am so grateful for downtime, the transformation, and all the lessons. But, most of all… I am so grateful for Syd and his guidance. Syd has been my pal through this journey. Everyone deserves a pal like Syd.

Syd wants me to tell you that he is giving all of you permission to stay in your pajamas all day if you’d like to. Go ahead. Syd would even love to join you. Why not?