As a young Montana girl, I was confident, free-spirited, “bossy” as some of my friends and family might proclaim. I have always considered myself a healthy balance of hippy and yuppy. I adore creativity, the wonder of the unknown, and reflecting on the connectedness of all things. However, I also embrace Christian foundations, the benefits of hard work and perseverance, and a commitment to life-long learning.
Some of these tendencies have conflicted over the years, to be honest. For twenty years, I let these paradoxes keep me buried under layers and layers of others’ expectations. I was all the things I was supposed to be, mother, sister, daughter, friend, spouse, professional, leader, artist, writer, designer, and all the labels that came with fulfilling expected behaviors.
A beautiful and scary catalyst altered my trajectory a little more than a decade ago which led me to finish an undergraduate degree in writing, fulfilling a childhood dream. Just a few short years later, in my early 50s, I have completed a level of education I dared not dream of, under the mentorship of insightful and challenging educators and leaders in the Organizational Leadership graduate program at Gonzaga University.
This experience raised me to new awareness, challenged me to truly reflect on my intrinsic beliefs, nursed me through vulnerabilities unforeseen, and healed me through analysis of my internal motivations as they pertain to past personal and professional experiences. I truly feel optimistic and purposeful about my career moving forward and passionate about the impact my clarified philosophies and beliefs might have on those around me in the coming years.
Gratitude seems a small word when I reflect on the journey that has created my present reality. I can only hope the momentum will continue. I look forward to helping others learn meaning and impact from their journey and the ability to see beyond perceived restrictions hindering their fulfillment. Change is scary for many, but I have always thrived in the possibilities of it. I am passionate about aiding others through transformational exploration, helping them embrace the potential that change can bring.
“Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am.”
~ Parker J. Palmer, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation