To say that 2019 was an important year in my life is an understatement. 2019 was the year of the greatest growth I have ever experienced. I actually just came across a Facebook post I made last year claiming that 2018 was the most transformative year I had experienced. While it was true at the time, that is only because 2019 hadn’t happened yet. I know that the person I am today is not the person I was December 31, 2018. As I think about what is to come in 2020 and reflect on my experiences this past year, I am frankly, a bit overwhelmed with all of the blessings that have come my way and all of the things that I have learned in the last twelve months. Knowing full well that I won’t do it complete justice, I want to share with you the highlights of my journey in hopes that it might inspire you to live your life powerfully in 2020.

2019 started with an invitation and an important choice. A friend of mine told me about the Landmark Forum and encouraged me to register because she said she saw so much potential in me and she knew I was up to big things in life. Naturally, I was reluctant, and frankly, confused. Despite my initial reservation, I chose to register for the program and that single choice changed my life in a remarkable way. During the Forum, a 4-day intensive self-exploration experience, I learned that I was living in a story that was limiting my experience of my life. I discovered, in the most remarkable way, how I developed my way of being in the world−that I thought was real−and how that way of being was limiting me. I discovered that, because of previous conditioning, I was living in a story that I had to be self-sufficient because I was going to be alone the rest of my life. While this story served me well in some respects (mostly professionally), it played out in very painful ways in my intimate relationships.

Through the Forum, I was able to reconnect with people I had fallen out of touch with and had the most authentic conversation with my mother that I had with her in years. For the first time in my life, I also experienced unconditional love for people who were near strangers just days before. In the Forum, I learned the tools to leave my past in the past and step into a future without the limitations that I had unknowingly imposed on my life. I continued to explore what I learned that powerful weekend over the next few months in my Seminar, where I met even more incredible people taking responsibility for their lives and creating new futures.

In March, I had the opportunity to travel to Belfast, Northern Ireland to study educational inequality as part of my PhD program. Northern Ireland is considered a “post-conflict” society because of a history of turbulent relations between the Protestant and Catholic populations in the region. Northern Ireland is a very unique place and it completely changed my view of the world. A little side note, I ate so well in Ireland and loved my time in the pubs! Definitely going back.

While in Northern Ireland, I studied LGBTQ+ identity. Suffice to say that in this region, where seemingly everyone is dealing with an identity crisis, identifying as a member of this community is very challenging. I later presented my research project in a Diversity and Inclusion Showcase at the university the following month. My trip to Northern Ireland fundamentally changed the way I viewed the world. I made a commitment after that trip to ensure that my academic work directly addresses social justice issues on the planet.

In May, I participated in Landmark’s Advanced Course which shifted my understanding of group dynamics and altered the way that I relate to others. In that program, I discovered that not only was I living in a story of being alone, but I also did not consider myself worthy of intimacy or affection from others. It became apparent to me that neither of these were serving me very well and that it was time for me to re-write those stories. That weekend, I participated in a profound exercise that change the way I experienced presence with other people. I am forever grateful because now now my ability to be fully present with others has drastically changed.  Perhaps most importantly, I created a possibility for my life that I am now living into: Who I am is the possibility of everyone knowing unconditional love and acceptance.

Following the Advanced Course, I declared the biggest breakdown of my life. I reconnected with a former intimate partner that I had been out of touch with since 2018. Our experience together ended up being a very painful and emotional one for me. At the end of our time together, it was as if I was heart was broken completely open again and I was left feeling hurt confused, and powerless. I owe a great deal to my coach who helped me realize that I was both out of integrity with myself and what I am creating in my life and that this person was acting as a mirror for me. I am grateful for him for teaching me the most important lesson of my life on May 26th: I am worthy of intimacy, love, and affection and I will not settle for anything less than an incredible intimate relationship with my soul partner. I realized how untrue all of my limiting stories were and, in a moment, I made a choice to let them go because who I am is the possibility of everyone knowing unconditional love and acceptance.

In June, I learned about contraction in preparation for change. That month, I decided to move out of my apartment and say “Yes” to the opportunity to move into my friend’s house. Admittedly, I had reservations about getting rid of most of my stuff (so that I could move into a room in a house), this decision was one of the best I made all year. I live with an amazing human being that I love very much and that I know stands for who I am. She will not let me be anything but my potential, and to her, I am grateful.

Also, in June, I began my third Landmark course: The Self-Expression and Leadership Program. In this program, I engaged in exercises to get me out of my self-imposed limitations. This program would last until October and throughout it, I created my business, Path & Purpose, as a way to honor my unique skills and abilities and create my impact in the world.  This program also helped me understand that successful leadership is a natural extension of one’s self-expression in the world, which has been impacting my academic work on leadership ever since.

As soon as I was settled in my new place (well, barely), I traveled to Seattle on a work trip and, much to my surprise, people were throwing me a parade upon my arrival! Just kidding. The Pride Parade was happening that day…and yes, I wore my colors proudly! After my time in Seattle, I took my boss’ car (very grateful for her offer) up to British Columbia, Canada−a place I have wanted to visit for years. The trip was the best of my life. I fully lived in my possibility of unconditional love and acceptance, met some of the most amazing people, had the best (yet) date of my life, and enjoyed one of the most beautiful places on earth. I know I am going to live in BC, Canada in the future. There is something so magical about the place energetically that when I was there, I knew that it would one day be a place I call home. Speaking of soul partner, I also had the most incredible reading when I was in Victoria about my life, my calling, and my life partner. He is on his way soon! And I can tell you, I will know him the moment we meet. More to come on that one.

In the late summer, I continued building my business by doing more astrology readings for people. The SELP program also helped me understand what it meant to be a stand for another person which was translating well to my work. I also undertook Michael Brown’s Presence Process which introduced me to the practice of meditation in my daily life.

The theme for the last quarter of 2019: TRAVEL! In the fall, I had the opportunity to travel to Ottawa, ON to attend the International Leadership Association Conference where I learned about communities of scholars, practitioners, and politicians engaging in extraordinary work in the discipline of leadership. Our world is on the brink of major change, and this experience left me quite optimistic about the future of leadership in the world. Leadership can, should, and will be more socially conscious and will honor indigenous peoples’ as long as we continue to foster the creative energies of these powerful voices in the discipline.

In November, I really embraced the possibility of creating fun, joy, and ease in my life in every area of life: work, school, friends, and family. My parents visited me in San Diego, which was a great opportunity to share with them the life that I have created over the last year and a half in the place that I call home. That month, I also traveled to New York City to celebrate my sister’s birthday and back to Massachusetts to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family.

December was the month I learned to pay attention to the signs that the Universe sends me and say “Yes” to opportunity. When you trust your intuition and just go with it, life can be beautiful and it can open up in totally unexpected ways. This month consisted of three trips−Jamaica, Hawaii, and Massachusetts−and somehow, I managed to squeeze in my finals and my work! Jamaica was a great opportunity to spend time with my sister and brother-in-law, Hawaii was an incredible opportunity to meet members of my soul tribe, and Massachusetts to spend time with friends and family for the holidays. Side note, Hawaii happened because I kept getting signs about Hawaii, connected with people online that I knew I was supposed to meet, asked to meet them, and basically, just said “Yes.” It was the first time I had ever trusted the Universe−and myself−in that way. Rest assured, I will be doing it more because it was incredible.

This year was very full. I’ve met so many extroardinary people, I have an incredible team at work, I have amazing friends, and I am fortunate to be able to travel as much as I do. I’ve learned so many lessons about who I am as a being. I’ve stepped out of my limiting stories. I am taking responsibility for creating every experience in my life. I am learning more each day about my spiritual dimension and about my purpose on this planet. I can hardly recognize the man I am today and if someone told me that my life would look the way it does a year ago, I am not sure if I would have believed them. But I am sure glad it does.

The biggest lessons I have learned:

• I fundamentally understand myself as an energetic being. Meditation has been key for this.

• I learned that you contribute greatly to people by sharing yourself authentically with others (hence, this article).

• When you are operating from a place of authenticity, you have a lot less stress and you can accomplish a lot. I completed eight doctoral courses, started a business, and engaged in many self-development projects and I can honestly say, I am not stressed at all.

• It is so important (and completely transformative) being present with the people in your life. The people in your life are your life. Make time for them.

• Gratitude is the key to manifesting an abundant life.

I am grateful for the experiences that have brought me to where I am today. I am grateful for having a job that affords me to work from wherever I am. I am grateful for the resources to travel and experience people from all over the world. I am grateful for the abundance to come. I am grateful for the people who have been part of my journey and for those that will be in my life in the future. As I am sitting here, tears are rolling down my face because I am just filled with so much joy, love, and appreciation for my life experience. 2019 was the best year of my life, and something tells me that 2020 will be even more incredible.

Thank you for reading and allowing me to share my world with you. Wishing you all the best in the new year.

With love,
Cam