About Amy

1. What does a typical day look like for you?
It actually looks really typical, which still amazes me after what I’ve been through. I wake up early (too early, like 5am!), drink coffee (I know, I should drink lemon water but I love coffee), write in my journal (one for random notes and one for creation & manifesting), drink more coffee, hang out with my wife, and then finally make it to my desk around 9:30 am. I wake up easily and early but it takes me hours to really be ready to go. The rest of the day I work, write, and *almost* always make sure I have time for self-care. But not too much. I don’t make it my whole life. It’s a trap. For me, that’s walks, green tea, energy work, channeling, or just connecting to nature and spirit in some way. At night, I eat, hang out, sometimes go to a fun NYC event or show with my wife, and then usually fall asleep watching Golden Girls for the thousandth time.

2. How often do you do energy work? Do you have a set routine that you use or time that you put aside? If you have an issue that comes up, do you tap on it in the moment if you can, or do you set it aside for energy work time?
A few times a week now! I used to do it a bit more but now I use it as-needed. However, I do have a notebook where I keep track of blocks or things I need to clear so I’m always essentially “working on” something. I’m a Virgo. I’ve learned to be content but I’m still always wanting to better myself. Release more blocks. Stay in the truest version of me.

3. How do you manage to juggle so many balls in the air at the same time? You have, I think, three books in the works? Plus you run the collective, you have your famous Friday email, you have a lovely wife and lots of friends and family that you see. How do you manage your energy with all of that and know how much to give to which thing and when? (If that makes sense).
I think that I can do it because I really love everything I do. I have a lot of energy. I’m a workaholic, too. I love work. I’m not one of these people who is like “When I retire I’ll …” No. I often say to my wife, “When I retired, I’m going to become a real estate agent” (because I love real estate so much). Then she says “You know that’s not retiring, right?” Also, full disclosure: Sometimes I crash. Once in awhile, it catches up to me for a day or two and I need to reset. It’s just a pattern I have. I don’t make a big thing about it; just kind of go with my rhythms that way.

4. What’s the one thing you wish that everyone understood, the great secret of the universe that you seem to have a grasp on?
Omg what a question!! I think the big secret of the Universe is that YOU are a part of it. And there’s more than just you. You are guided and protected. We aren’t just randomly here wandering around trying to make it through. The Universe is responding to us. We have no control in some ways and then also so much more than we ever imagined. I feel like understanding the bigger picture for me has been life-changing. It’s easy to feel (and act) like the victims of our lives or circumstances but it’s such a trap, even when it seems so real and deserving. My grandpa and uncle were survivors of the Holocaust and both went on to live incredible and fulfilling lives. They did it by finding a way forward, even when life wasn’t fair. It’s what I learned from them. I think that’s what the Universe wants from us all and I think there’s help to meet us when we take steps to make that so.

5. What are three  non-negotiable parts of your day? 
I don’t have any. I hate rushing or being rushed so I try not to do that. But I’m flexible. I can be mostly fine with or without anything for a day or two if I need. I LOVE to lounge in bed though. So I’m happier if I get to do that for sure.

6. How do you remember all of the things that you need to do, and how do you keep that all in order?
I can keep a ton in my head. For everything else, I use paper lists. One kind of master list on my computer and then daily or every couple of days, I just move a few things to the paper list. I can’t look at a ton of stuff “to do” at once, so I try to keep it simple. Those fancy organizational systems and programs are always too much for me. I try to keep everything simple.

7.  What are some vices that you have?
Salt (is that a vice?). My phone. That freakin’ phone. I wish I wasn’t on it as much and I do try to be conscious about my phone time. Other than that, I don’t think I have any?!

8. What’s something people would be really surprised to know about you?
I asked my oldest and best friend, Melissa, and here’s what she said:
That I’m impatient, that I drove my dad’s car through the garage door when I was a teenager (accident)*, that I’m very indecisive until I’m not, and I never order straight off the menu (it has to be altered even slightly). Also, I draw. A few years ago, I discovered I could and I love it. I literally had no idea I had any artistic talent in this way. 

*More on the garage door incident: I got the gas and break pedal confused and smashed through our garage door (with my dad in the passenger seat) missing his motorcycle by only a few feet. Phew. Thank god the bike survived and my dad wasn’t mad. #bestdadever!

9. Biggest weakness/strength?
Strength – helping people feel better, safer, more hopeful.
Weakness – being completely overly attached to helping people.
I’d drop my life for a stranger on the street just as quick as a loved one. It’s not always great.

10. What’s the best compliment you have ever received?
That my energy is contagious and people feel better just by being around me. Is there anything better than that?! I say not.

11. When do you feel the most inspired?
At 5am. Sigh. I get up too early! But also, when I’m listening to music. When I’m walking through New York City. When I’m at a lake. When I’m feeling most myself, limiting my news and social media intake, when I’m writing (as long as I’m not crying over it), and when I wander. I love wandering.

12. What are three things you can’t live without?
My wife, my family, my lip balm (I have at least one in every area of my house and purse), my notebook(s), my phone.

13. How would you define yourself in three words?
Happy. Fulfilled. Inspired.

14. What is your favorite movie and tv show and why?
Okay so I am not a big TV or movie person. I fall asleep no matter how hard I try not to. But favorite TV show – Golden Girls. Even though I fall asleep to that too. Favorite movie – When Harry Met Sally. It never gets old.

15. Do you believe we’re in a simulation and this is all a game for our souls to grow?
No.

16. What’s your pet peeve?
People who don’t respond to emails or texts.

17. What’s something you notice about someone when you first meet them?
If they seem kind.

18. What’s heavily played on your playlist right now and who are some of your favorite musicians?
I am a hippie. I love James Taylor, Paul Simon, so many of the oldies. Songs on my playlist right now: Amy Winehouse (Valerie), T Swift (Betty Davis Eyes), Florence & The Machine (Shake It Out / Dog Days Are Over), Kaleb Cohen (East Coast Summers).

19. If there were three things you could change about the world right now, what would they be?
Mean people, lack of resources for those who need it, animal cruelty.

20. What do you believe our purpose is as human beings? Why are we here?
To experience life fully. Life is both too short and too long. We only get one wild precious one (quoting Mary Oliver, of course). We should live it well. We should live it as our true selves.

21. What’s your guilty pleasure?
Staying in bed all day even when it’s sunny and I feel like I should be outside. I haven’t done it forever. I need to though.

22. What book did you most recently finish?
The Wedding People (fiction). Before that, After (non-fiction) which I devoured about near-death experiences.

23. What are you currently reading?
I’m in between books. I need a few days. Haha. But I always have like 5 waiting.

24. What’s one of the most impactful things ”spiritual” experiences you’ve ever had?
Healing after years of chronic illness. I consider my healing more spiritual than physical because it had to come first even though I came around to it last.

What pieces do you feel were in place to allow you to experience it? Surrender and bravery. I had to follow a path I never intended to take. But here I am. We’re always being guided, always being led. We just have to be willing to be open. And it’s hard. 

25. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to try but you’ve been too scared to do?
Nothing. Hmm. Is that weird? I am an action taker. I’d never not do something I really wanted to because I was scared. Not for long enough to write about it anyway. We don’t have time for that.

26. What’s something you can’t do?
Play sports. I’m terrible. You’d never want me on your team. And I hate sports. I don’t like exercise. I am more of a couch person.

27. Where was the best vacation you’ve ever taken?
So many but always Italy. There’s nowhere else in the world I feel more content.

28. Who are some of your favorite spiritual authors or teachers?
Ram Dass, Pema Chodron, Louise Hay. I’m old school.

29. What’s something you don’t want to be doing in 10 years?
I really don’t want to be living in a world still fighting for basic human rights.

30. What’s the best thing that happened this year so far?
My wife and I are buying an apartment in New York City. Such a dream.

31. What do you usually eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?  
I am not a fan of breakfast and usually fast. Lunch, whatever I can scrounge up (my wife often leaves me actual meals). Dinner, we either go out or I make something but I eat anything. And I can’t eat the same thing over and over again.

32. What’s your favorite thing in the world?
Thing? Not sure. Feeling? Being on a lake.

33. Who do you turn to when you’re sad?
I don’t cry super often and I actually like to cry alone); but when I do, I totally go for it like movie style. And I cry to my wife first, then usually text my mom and my sister.

34. What did you want to do with your life at the age of 12?
THIS. I wanted to be a writer. I did it. Which is crazy but also proof that even when life sends you on insane detours (like a life-threatening illness), you can still end up okay. And even way better than that.

35. Do you feel the need to do any sort of ritual or prayer or to ask for protection for your energy? If not, how do you protect your energy? No. I know and feel I’m protected. Do you feel as though you are divinely watched over and “they” will take care of you? 100%. I think my dad is always guiding me, plus so many others.

36. What are three of your favorite books and why?
Fiction – NOTHING TO SEE HERE by Kevin Wilson. I have no idea why I love it so much (trust me, I’ve tried to figure it out). It’s just perfect. WE WERE LIARS (the writing). And for non-fiction, Anne Lamott’s BIRD BY BIRD, because it’s all the words we all need to hear. MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING because it was one of the first, best books I ever read that broke my heart and made me want to read more of other people’s stories. I’m also pretty obsessed with all things Nora Ephron and Joan Didion — two very different woman but I idolize them both as writers. That’s more than three. Can you tell I love reading?