The moment that redirected my path wasn't a promotion; it was a decline. When I turned down a CDC PHAP fellowship to pursue an unconventional road in population health and pharmacy, I learned that purpose doesn't always follow the prestigious path.

I have always been creatively curious. That being said, I cannot stick to just one thing...ever! My career has spanned from graphic design to fine art to robotics, and most recently publishing and storytelling. I hope to write a book one day.

It took years for me to let go of guilt, blame, and hyper vigilance, common to survivors of deadly traumatic situations. Only by digging into every memory and learning about how grief and trauma can inhibit love and abilities did I experience healing and renewal for a total growth mindset. I shared that in my first memoir, Grace Interlaced, hoping to help others who needed to heal from grief, guilt, and blame.

The minute I realized evolution requires change, everything shifted. I understood that growth wasn't something that happened to me. It was something I had to choose. So I stepped into discomfort, confronted the patterns that kept me small, and acted before I felt ready. In doing so, I shed the identities that no longer fit and made room for the person I was becoming. I grew because I finally decided to participate in my own transformation.

I realized that my heart and mind needed expansion to accept the fullness of my greatness. I was not allowing my light to shine in fear that it would upset others. Once I said 'yes' to me, everything opened up.

I realized I was tired of being pushed to do things I didn't think were ethically right and deciding this was the time to prove myself by starting my own business. With my husband's support, and my determination, I am 8 months into owning and operating my own tax and accounting business. While it isn't big yet, I feel very accomplished that I have been able to get it going!

For years, I believed growth meant adding more to my life. What I discovered is that real growth often begins with letting go of the identities we inherit, the expectations we accept, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are supposed to be. When I gave myself permission to release the version of me that no longer aligned with who I was becoming, I found something far more valuable than success. I found my voice, my confidence, and the freedom to lead from a place that was authentically my own.

One of the biggest leaps of faith I ever took was leaving a career after 34 years as a special education teacher and stepping into real estate. At first, it felt like I was starting over. What I discovered was that I wasn't leaving my purpose behind, but I was simply finding a new way to serve others. The patience, advocacy, compassion, and problem-solving skills I developed in the classroom, now help me guide buyers and sellers through one of the biggest decisions of their lives. Sometimes growth isn't about becoming someone new. It's about having the courage to use your gifts in a different way. I'm so grateful I took that step.

I stopped being afraid of what others thought. So I took a chance on myself and stepped confidently into new and terrifying spaces ... like starting a podcast.

I got married 6 months out of high school and had my first child at 19. When our son started first grade I went to college and majored in art. When I graduated I ran the peer counseling program at my local women's center but always took photos of my kids and grandkids. One day I was taking photos of my granddaughter Margot scootering down her driveway. Her neighbor came out and asked if I was a photographer. I said, "No, I'm her grandmother". Margot, at 7 1/2, turned to me and said "No Nana, you need to think of yourself as a photographer!" I was 57 years old and my self-image had always been as a wife, mother, grandmother and volunteer. Margot's words rang in my head and I heard her. A year or so later our younger son was applying for his MFA and needed a portfolio. He handed me his Nikon camera and asked me to photograph his work. Hearing Margot's voice and wanting to help my son I said yes. Fast forward: He got into grad school and I became a photographer with my first paycheck coming from the Juilliard School for photographing their Beyond the Machine concert!