There will be people who judge what you do with your life, whether that's something as small as saying no to a dinner party invite or as big as leaving your job to take risk on something completely different.

So what if you just let that go and gave yourself permission to be judged by them?

What if you listened to your own knowing and made decisions based on what you know in your core is right for you, instead of decisions based on the fear of what other people might think?

I want to tell you a story about how letting go of perfect added so much joy on a recent trip to Mexico - for me and for others. Here's the start of the story: I used to be TERRIFIED to sing alone in front of other people. I was afraid my voice would crack and I would get off key and sound terrible. Basically, I was afraid of not being perfect.

I recently learned the definition of lament: GIVING VOICE to pain and sadness. In a VOCAL, PHYSICAL way. Not with the intent to try and fix the pain or make it go away - just to give it voice. As soon as I heard that definition, I thought about giving voice to our joy and pleasure and wonder as well - and the vulnerability that comes along with that.

On Sunday I put the finishing touches on my patio -- hanging twinkly lights. While I was hanging them, a neighbor stopped by and asked if I was having a party. My response? "No - just me!" The only reason for these lights was joy. MY joy.

Cyndi Lauper embodied a totally different kind of power than what we would traditionally define as powerful. She was powerful in her joy. In her light. In her FREEDOM.