Level Up! With Shay

Blog written December 2019, Updated April 2025

Sometimes I’m not sure what to write. I get in the flow and start writing with the purpose of teaching something. Then I back track because… who am I to teach? I am here to share – hence #ShareTheShayd (now known as Level Up! With Shay). And on that note, I’d like to share a part of me. 

Every Wednesday at 7:30pm in West Hollywood, CA I go to a Book Club. We have read Unf*ck Yourself, The Magic, You Are A Badass, and many more. We are currently in the middle of The Alchemist – an important book I read right before moving to LA. But this past Wednesday we said NO READING and instead celebrated the holidays by sharing and listening to each other (also while drinking wine and eating food, of course). 

I LOVE this group. We are very diverse and come from different backgrounds – real estate, personal trainer, actors, musicians, medical sales – but most importantly, to me, we are a group of thinkers, doers and dreamers. So OUR party game was to sit around in a circle, like we usually do, and ask questions to reflect on the past year and think forward to the next year. Super fun!!! [2025 Update: If this is something that also interests you, join my Level Up! Membership!]

First question asked was “At this moment, what advice would you give your 12 year old self?”. Another, “What was your biggest lesson and what are you most proud of in 2019?”. A third was “What would have to happen next year to make it a phenomenal one?” Which is a big question, but this was a precursor to “What are your goals for 2020?”. We all went around and answered the first two questions, but the third was for ourselves to think about. I haven’t thought about that answer yet, so I’ll share my answers to the first two for now.

At this moment, what advice would you give your 12 year old self?

I would tell 12 year old Shay to LOVE LOVE LOVE. I believe that love can change everything. When you love someone, you understand. You may not understand why people do certain things or even like that they do those things, but you understand that we all come from the same place, that we all have struggles, we all have ways to cope with those struggles and that sometimes all somebody needs is LOVE. Have you ever said “hi” to someone walking down the sidewalk and and completely brighten their day? I’m pretty sure you have because I know every time I’m the receiver of a “hello” it brightens my day. 

I believe the world is one big reflection of what’s inside of you. If you have love inside, you will reflect love on the outside. If someone has hate on the inside, maybe they need to be shown what love looks like. One of my favorite speakers and authors quotes A Miracle “ I am not here to teach you the meaning of love, I am here to release all that blocks you from the presence of love within you”. I want 12 year old Shay to know that no matter what, she always has an infinite amount of love to give and it’s always inside of her. 

*Bonus: I didn’t give a second answer last night, but it would have been to tell 12 year old Shay “don’t shave your legs!”. I remember coming home from my first day of 7th grade thinking I needed to be something I was not in order to fit in. So I shaved my legs because all the other girls were and I decided I needed to start growing out my hair out.

The point is, I didn’t NEED to do any of that. We don’t NEED to follow the actions of the people around us to fit in. We NEED to be ourselves, be comfortable, and the right people will gravitate. Thank goodness I still had amazing high school friends!!!

The next question…

What was your biggest lesson and what are you most proud of in 2019?

My biggest lesson from 2019 is that I don’t have to have everything figured out. I constantly remind myself that there is no rush to have everything figured out – a career, a relationship, where I’m going to live the rest of my life, and so on. I feel I’m still exploring my interests, finding new activities and hobbies. I’m really excited to create in different ways, most importantly, in my own way. It is critical to stick to your gut (it talks to you, i promise; you just gotta listen) and don’t let other people’s opinions of what they think life should look like, affect the decisions in your own.

What am I most proud of in 2019? 

I am most proud of how much I’ve grown performing music in front of an audience. I sang karaoke with my mom about a week ago surrounded by both friends and strangers. You ask me to sing karaoke two years ago and I’d be like “lol nah”. Even though it sounded fun, I was too embarrassed and insecure. Lucky for everyone, I’m not anymore!!!

So maybe it’d be fun to ask yourself these questions or maybe gather a group! Think, reflect, look forward, and move forward! As always, I’m excited to grow, learn, and love! Will you join me? 

Talk soon, 

Shay

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