Do You Believe In Magic?

I don't believe. I know.

*For the one year anniversary of this most magical day, the paywall has been removed! Dive into the magic with me and remember how easy it is to make ❤️‍🔥*

---

I recently wrote about bottling time and I think I figured out how to do it. Take lots of pictures! Okay that’s maybe not true, but it helps when documenting the perfect magical time you're having.

(Image below by yours truly! Taken at 4 am on 2/23/24 in Ocean Beach, San Diego 🖤 full moon magic glow)

I declared to no one but myself that this would be the year I would do the things that light me up. So far so good in having kept this promise to myself. I am making magic happen this year and it astonishes me every time I do.

Here's what I know and what I don't know about magic moments or days - they are rare and precious and powerful and they cannot be recreated. I don't know why that rule exists about magic, probably so that us monkeys will learn how to savor the magic.

I do know how to make magic happen though, it’s really a mixture of luck and putting yourself in the right place at the right time. It’s also a little bit of trusting your instincts and researching and also understanding that even if you do ALL of those things the magic will only appear if you're willing to let go and FEEL it. The feeling of magic is not anything my rational mind can grasp and even though I’ve tried a hundred different ways to explain it- I can't.

I just know it when I’m in it.

(Standing in a magic moment at Ocean Beach)

When I booked the trip to see

Elizabeth Gilbert

in San Diego I had no idea where we’d stay. I spent days combing through travel websites and reading reviews and hemming and hawing about it. Finally my husband says why don't we stay somewhere in Ocean Beach, he’d been there before and knew the area (he’s an assistant to magic). I immediately started googling and found the perfect spot- Ocean Beach Hotel, directly across the street from the ocean. Room chosen with view and balcony.

(View from said room’s balcony)

About two weeks before we're due to leave I decided to check for VIP meet & greet for Liz, when I’d originally gotten my ticket there hadn't been the option, but magic nudged me that day and told me to just look. So, I did! And there on the screen was the opportunity of a lifetime. I carpe diemed the shit out of that moment. (Thanks for the nudge magic)

I promptly messaged Liz and then realized I probably sounded like a stalker- “I’m coming to see you 👀” nope, not creepy at all.. I digress 🫠.

The day arrives and everything is smooth sailing except for my knotted up stomach. I have a weird nervous excitement stomach, all my joy and anxiety lives in my gut. To expel some of the nerves we went for a walk around the neighborhood nearby. I promptly fell in love with sidewalk wisdom and homes with art pieces as mailboxes. We just “happened” to walk down a random street with a house on it that was covered in signs and a van in front of it with Grateful Dead stickers and a license plate with a nod to the Dead as it’s letters. I was in heaven and clearly alternate universe me was living her best life here.

(Time captured in a bottle)

After the walk that made me want to pack everything I own and move here, I took a nap. It didn't work out so well because Ocean Beach is a rockin place with amazing street vendors and every restaurant has open outdoor seating. Aka loud. We rolled out of the room and went to the beach. I collected shells and my husband had to chase down his shoe that the ocean tried to steal because he had the audacity to try to film her waves. We laughed and fell more in love with the moment and each other. Ocean magic.

(Husband filming waves before his shoe was abducted and the chase ensued)

And now the moment I’d been waiting for- it was time to go to Balboa Theater for the Writers Symposium by the Sea featuring Liz! We left extra early because gps said it would take FOREVER to get there and I didn't want to miss anything. I was of course stupid early and had to wait alone in the courtyard outside the theater. I wasn't alone for long though, two ladies showed up right after I did and because I am awkward I kind of inserted myself into a conversation they were having about where to hang out while we waited for security to let us in. They took pity on me and talked with me while we waited, but as soon as those doors opened they took off. I was alone.

At first I felt a pang because I looked at all the duos and trios and foursomes, everyone had someone to talk to or laugh with. I hugged the wall and watched all the scenes unfold. After a while a woman came out and told us all it was time to head up & meet Liz. A list of dos and don'ts and expectations were laid out. I followed three other women in front of me and we climbed the stairs. We lined up one by one at the bottom of a few stairs and were separated into singles to the front, groups behind. I kept my number 4 position.

As soon as us first four climbed the short flight of stairs, Liz came out from the shadows and LIT UP the hallway. She immediately said “Are you my lovelets?!” Referring to her Letters from Love community. And we all said yes and she hugged the woman in front of me who’d said her screen name and Liz says “Have you seen Mesa?!” And I stepped forward and said “hi, i’m here.” And she promptly tackled me in the best hug i’ve ever had! I kept saying I love you so much, thank you for this, and she pulled back and we just started laughing, as she proclaimed please excuse us we're having a reunion! Finally after all this time we’d gotten to meet in person and it was like seeing my best friend after a long time away. She kept saying how she couldn't wait to tell Margaret that I was there. We took a picture for her to send to Margaret and then we took a professional photo (part of the package).

Before I had to give up my turn she gave me a chance to choose a gift and we poked each other to make sure it wasn't all a dream. She had been just as excited to see me as I was to see her. She said something that i’ll keep in my heart forever and we embraced one more time, I told her to have a great show & I’d see her on the Stack. And then I floated down to the seating area.

Her storytelling that night left my mind reeling in all the best ways. My biggest takeaways were “It’s all gonna be alright” and we really do need a relaxation revolution- there’s so much power in that. I learned new things about her and smiled the entire time. She really is BIG MAGIC.

And I don’t just believe it- I know it.

(Laughing with each other for the picture for Margaret)

(Pro shot)

If you made it this far- thanks for sticking with me to the end & indulging my gushing! I know it was long. I hope you have some magic moments too! I’d love to hear about them 🖤Please share with me in the comments!