2025. I'm calling it the year of change. 2026. I'm calling it riding with the top down. The past fifteen months have been a season of constant change. I lost my job—and with it, my sense of purpose. He lost his job two days later. I applied and interviewed endlessly. I moved to Florida to start a new job. He painted our house to be sold in Wisconsin. We bought our 3rd forever home in Florida. Moved after 60+ years from the Midwest to the South. And yes—I even bought a conver

Thanksgiving. A time of reflection about the things to be grateful for. Here is my list: My Gratitude - For a God who loves me in spite of myself. My Family - husband, children & grandchildren. My Job - University of Florida Office of Gift Planning. My Passion - Teaching on leadership development & organizational capacity building. My Goal - To thrive and not just survive. My Forever - Being a more authentic, servant leader in a chaotic world. What's your list? Let me help yo

"Dreamer" by Ali. C Inspired. Recently, I’ve been enthralled by the opportunities in my daily life. Since I last blogged, I’ve encountered places, people, and moments that have inspired me deeply. One of those moments was seeing a painting by Ali C. titled Dreamer . It captured my attention at an event because it reminded me of my beautiful daughter, Dana. Her essence radiates beauty not only on the outside, but also from within—through her laughter, smile, sense of humor, an

Like the majestic trees on the campus of the University of South Florida (USF), I have found purpose again. These trees form a canopy...

TEMPERAMENT. I am an ENFJ according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) self-scorable test. The description of an ENFJ is warm,...

Unknown Happy St. Patrick’s Day! As an Irish descendant, I love celebrating my heritage every March 17th by wearing green, eating corned...

Concrete Dandelion Impressions are defined as an idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone, especially one formed without...

I go to Florida at least twice a year to get out of Wisconsin Winter. This past year, it was four times either by myself or taking along...

DREAMS. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The invariable mark of a dream is to see it come true.”   Well, this little girl from Kansas had...

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them" - John F....

WISHES: Be Careful What You Wish For In August, I wrote about the feeling of needing a change in my life—whether through a new home, a...

I'm ready for change. I'm ready for Summer to be over and Fall to begin. I'm ready for sweaters instead of shorts, adventures instead of...

What is the motive? I often hear that line as I watch crime shows with my husband, a big fan. It seems to be the premise of the movie—the...

Mother’s Day invokes strong feelings in each of us. It is one of celebration or sorrow. It is loving someone close by or from afar. It is...

CONTEMPLATIVE. Definition: Expressing or involving prolonged thought. Today, remembering Dr Martin Luther King, Jr., my thoughts go to...

What are your favorite memories of Christmas? Mine is my Dad being so proud of himself for being able to afford to buy my four brothers...

Ever gone solo? To a party? See a play? In a restaurant? On a trip? I recently went on a work trip driving around Wisconsin and Upper...

Ever take a break just because you didn't feel what you were doing was effective? Did it take too much time? You were burned out? All of...

BIRTHDAYS. What do you tell yourself each year? Do you reflect on the past year? Your life's course? Your accomplishments? Your...

BETTER TOGETHER 2023 was a national conference I attended for The Salvation Army this past week. Over 1,800 people came together to learn...