Just as we tend to accumulate birthday cards, clothes, magazines, receipts, and souvenirs, we also cling to emotions like anger, anxiety, confusion, disappointment, envy, fear, guilt, judgment, opinions, pride, sadness, and shame.

I’ve never been one to hold on to material possessions.

What was harder for me to release were my opinions and the ability to open my mind to new ideas, perspectives, and possibilities for the future. My beliefs were the only reality and truth I knew, which created a divide between me and anyone who thought differently. This tight grip on my beliefs was rooted in fear.

Interestingly, as a teenager, I wasn’t afraid of change, strangers, or the unknown—I was a big risk-taker.

Letting go of fear and embracing limitless possibilities […]

Throughout my life, family, friends, and coworkers have told me that I’m ‘overly sensitive’ and advised me to ‘toughen up’ due to my intuitive empathy.

My mother understood this about me, but after her passing, I faced judgment rather than support for my sensitivities.

This led to chronic exhaustion and an overwhelming desire to withdraw from the world.

It took everything in me not to give up on myself. I always felt out of place.

Many nights, I would gaze up at the sky, wishing my mom could come and take me with her. I spent a lot of time alone, with no one to relate to, no one who tried to understand me, and it seemed like no one liked me.

My father often […]

I’ll never forget the day I met my mentor, Susanne. I was drifting aimlessly, unsure of my path. Then she entered my life and turned everything around.

Through countless cups of coffee and deep, winding conversations, Susanne became so much more than just a mentor.

She was a guiding light, offering life-changing insights that have shaped my personal and professional journey since 2001. Take a trip with me as I revisit Susanne’s wisdom, which continues to inspire me today

Fall Eight Times, Stand Up Nine

My daughter had just entered residential treatment, I was still dealing with an abusive former husband, and I was overwhelmed with fear and a sense of failure.

The outside world felt like unfamiliar, uncharted territory.

I had just begun advocating for […]

I pour a cup of coffee and open my laptop.

It’s time to write, and the blank page awaits. A memory surfaces. But where do I begin?

I call on my inner guides to help me navigate the initial steps of crafting a memory into a story. Transforming vivid recollections into narratives that resonate with universal truths requires immense emotional energy. The pull towards the past, the need to make sense of who I am, and how past events have shaped the person I am today can be compelling and frustrating. My memory is sharp, a gift that sometimes feels like a curse. I’ve been jotting down brief descriptions of moments resurfacing when I reflect on the past.

Some memories stir physical sensations—a […]