Life brings regrets and I have made my fair share of choices that should probably fall into the regret category, but don't.

Truth is, I'm fine with the fact that my first boyfriend could have played a starring role in Goodfellas, or that it took me until the age of 27 to remotely understand the meaning of life.

There is only one thing that could potentially cause me to feel regret - and I try to remember it often. My only potential regret is not being present to those I love.

Last week I accompanied my daughter to a show she was in at her school. She gave me a list of things not to do: "Mom, don't stare at me and smile the whole time." "Mom, when you say 'hi' to my friends, just sort of stand back and wave.." The list went on. As soon as we arrived, she told me, "Go sit down mom, I'm going to go with my friends."

This is 180 degrees from the "baby girl" I'm used to - an adjustment to be sure. It just so happened that I had a weekend getaway planned with friends that started the very next morning. So I kissed my newly independent girl goodbye and had three days to reflect.

I was moved to tears as I thought of her trying to dance for me as I commanded that she go brush her teeth... and other examples of this present-focused child being rushed to do the next thing.

Thankfully I remembered that my only potential regret is not seeing her essence and appreciating her every day. Same with my mom, my dad, and the rest of the people I love.

Turns out I had a great weekend, but was happiest to get home, give my daughter a bath and enjoy her playful spirit.

If you are committed to growth, you know about cocooning. True growth involves transformation, which sometimes requires us to go within in order to regenerate.

Several weeks ago I went into cocooning mode. I had very little interest in going out or even answering my phone. From the outside it looked like depression, but I knew better. Rather than fighting the urge to spend countless hours on my couch watching movies, I went with it. (By the way if you haven't seen Dreamgirls, it's a must see!)

Last Saturday morning I emerged from the cocoon renewed, I joked with my sisters that I got my mojo back:) After days of not doing any work beyond necessities, I put together a new workshop and wrote an article all in one morning.

Whether you call it ebb and flow or yin and yang, honoring your natural rhythms is key to ongoing growth. The idea of growth happening in a straight line is not accurate, it's more of an upward spiral - or as I like to visualize it - an inward spiral with a star at the center.

I've always been in awe of free spirits - they are so comfortable with themselves and don't hold back!

Lately I've been feeling more free, and I'm starting to realize that there is a difference between the fun and spontaneous people that I used to label free spirits and true inner freedom.

I believe that the true meaning of "free spirit" is when life flows freely and abundantly through one's body. Extroverts are born that way - free spirits are cultivated.

Each time we transform a self-defeating pattern (thoughts or behaviors that distort or drain life energy and block its natural flow) we become more free inside.

With this definition we can all be free spirits!

Some Hawaiian inspiration taken by my tour guide and pirate friend Stephen Haray.

Yesterday I discovered a great new artist named Corinne Bailey Rae - some of you may have already heard her - she's wonderful. I downloaded her song, "Put Your Records On" and listened to it about 20 times yesterday.

The song's message is don't try so hard - "You're gonna find yourself somewhere.. somehow." I have been receiving the same message from my higher self. "Enjoy the ride," I often hear as I tune in to my meditative mind.

I can be wound pretty tight sometimes. Sleepless nights and racing minds run in my family. The weight of the world has been known to rest solely on my shoulders.

Things are about to change in my universe - now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go put some records on.