The Vital Lesson I Learned from Hurricane Ian

The past week or so has been a bit of a blur as we geared up for Hurricane Ian and are now left with the devastation that has come from it. I feel incredibly lucky that my city is still standing. Sarasota should have been destroyed by this storm based on all the reports that […]

Seasons Change and So Do We

I love it when the seasons change. It’s a good representation of life. Things are always changing. Enjoying those changes when they come is what makes life so special. Today is the first day of Fall. Now, living in Sarasota, Florida, that doesn’t say much. It’s still 90 degrees outside and 100% humidity. For me, […]

10 Powerful Life Lessons About Your Journey

There are so many life lessons I’ve learned in my fifty years of living. From motherhood and adoption to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and Machu Pichu to being an entrepreneur and a speaker—the knowledge and experience I’ve gained are priceless. While some of the lessons I’ve learned have been just for me, I feel that others […]

How to Talk to Your Kids About Racial Bias

In a world that seems more and more racially charged, talking to kids about racial bias is vital. Sadly, it’s something that we don’t talk about enough. And as parents and adults, we need to do better. In April, I had the opportunity to speak at TEDx UC Santa Barbara, where I spoke on this […]

5 Ways of Beating Imposter Syndrome

For many who are trying their best to make a difference in the world, beating imposter syndrome is a definite must. For many high achievers, hard workers, and perfectionists, imposter syndrome can derail their efforts and wreak havoc on achieving any positive results. Imposter syndrome was first defined in the 1970s when high achieving women […]

How to Tackle the Mountains in Your Life

We all have mountains to climb. Some mountains may be health-related while others may be relationships. There are work mountains and faith mountains and poverty mountains and so many other kinds of mountains that stand in our way. But through my own experience climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, I learned a thing […]

3 Powerful Affirmations That Will Change Your Day

I’m a big believer in powerful affirmations. I stand in front of my mirror each morning looking myself in the eyes and repeating my daily affirmations. I’m going to be honest, there once was a time when I thought affirmations were silly. And I didn’t really believe they worked. But after using affirmations every day […]

Why Everyone Should Consider a Gap Year

With graduation looming, the idea of a gap year has been tossed around in many conversations. I’ve noticed that there are a lot of differing opinions. But from my own personal experience, I believe a gap year is a great idea. A gap year would have helped me reflect on my life. Growing up, my […]

5 Small Actions that Make a Big Difference

Small actions are often overlooked in a world that is driven by grand gestures and big ideas. Many mistakenly believe that if you want to get noticed, you have to go big or go home. But from my perspective, life is less about grand gestures and more about significant moments. As a mother of six […]

4 Ways to Feel Comfortable in Your Own Skin

Feeling comfortable in your own skin isn’t about what you look like. It’s about loving who you are. With social media selfies of seemingly perfect people, it’s hard not to compare yourself to what looks like a picture of perfection. Not to mention the fact that with technology, digital photographers can actually create the perfect […]