The Next Twenty-Three

Six years ago this week I lost my mother. It was a hard and tragic day. But this year, I was able to not focus on the events of that day and instead, remember the amazing woman that she was. She was incredibly beautiful - but didn't know it. She was stronger than any woman I have ever known - but didn't know it. And she LOVED well. Her six grandchildren were the loves of her life. They lit her up...

Have you ever been in a place in your life where you are changing and growing and building something so amazing that you realize you are falling in LOVE with it? That is exactly what I realized today. I am truly and deeply falling in LOVE with this new life I am creating. These are my thoughts around that... Love you guys! P.S. - Today is also the birthday of one of the very best people I know. Sh...

Happy 2022! This week I was reminded of a couple of things that I think are really important and could be very helpful for all of us there year. One I hadn't thought about in a VERY long time and one that I have actually been doing over the past 6 years but have not shared with all of you. Also, I am happy to report that my word of the year is still holding strong - 7 days in! Love you guys.  

I think we can ALL agree that no one will be sad to see 2021 be behind us. And since we also said that about 2020, I am stepping into 2022 with cautious optimism. I am sharing my word for the year for 2022 and I think it's one that is not only good for my heart and soul, but also the heart and soul of our world.  What is your word for 2022? Love you guys.  

A letter to my daughter on her 17th birthday also became a letter to all of you. Love You Guys.  

What is the one thing  you want to be remembered for? Hint: It is also your life's WHY. Thinking about this question will lead you to remembering all of the wonderful qualities that make you so beautifully, uniquely YOU. It's a very good thing to do. Love you guys.  

What do Glennon, Abby, Amanda and Brene all have in common? They are the 4 women that are responsible for my total and complete transformation of how I look at my fear. And it all happened on a sunny, 70 degree day in December.  Really, you guys. How is it possible that basically every single day I hear something or learn something that hits me in all the feels in the exact way I need it to hit at...

Welcome to the 6th episode in the Ted Lasso  series of The Next Twenty-Three. Don't worry - there will be NO spoilers here (except the actual quote). I fully respect those of you who are choosing to hold off until each season if fully posted so you can binge it. Serious props to your self-control! I won't be providing pre or post quote context from the show - only from my own life. As we head into...

Welcome to the 5th episode in the Ted Lasso  series of The Next Twenty-Three. Don't worry - there will be NO spoilers here (except the actual quote). I fully respect those of you who are choosing to hold off until each season if fully posted so you can binge it. Serious props to your self-control! I won't be providing pre or post quote context from the show - only from my own life. This week I hav...

Welcome to the 4th episode in the Ted Lasso  series of The Next Twenty-Three. Don't worry - there will be NO spoilers here (except the actual quote). I fully respect those of you who are choosing to hold off until each season if fully posted so you can binge it. Serious props to your self-control! I won't be providing pre or post quote context from the show - only from my own life. This week I had...

Welcome to the 3rd episode in the Ted Lasso  series of The Next Twenty-Three. Don't worry - there will be NO spoilers here (except the actual quote). I fully respect those of you who are choosing to hold off until each season if fully posted so you can binge it. Serious props to your self-control! I won't be providing pre or post quote context from the show - only from my own life. This week I hav...

Welcome to the 2nd episode in the Ted Lasso series of The Next Twenty-Three. Don't worry - there will be NO spoilers here (except the actual quote). I fully respect those of you who are choosing to hold off until each season if fully posted so you can binge it. Serious props to your self-control! I won't be providing pre or post quote context from the show - only from my own life. In this episode,...

It is quite amazing to me how much I am learning on this divorce journey. Or any journey, really, that requires big change. It is also amazing to me the places that I have found inspiration and clarity and encouragement from. Ted Lasso being one of the biggest. For that reason, I have decided to dedicate the next few (or many) episodes to Ted Lasso and some of his incredibly life altering quotes!...

"Life is such a beautiful mess." This is a quote from Elizabeth McCord in Madame Secretary - one of my favorite Netflix binges. I have been thinking about this quote for a couple of weeks and how it so perfectly resonates with me in this season of my life.  I have been noticing lately that the more I pay attention to things going on around me, the more I learn and grow and can really see the beaut...

You know when you are standing up, strong and confident, minding your own business and Life comes along and dead legs you? Well, that is what I call FGPs.  Unfortunately we have all experienced them.  Today I got hit with one in a very big way.    **Warning - there is language in this episode that while is very appropriate to my feelings at the moment, may not be ok for little ears.   Love you guy...

You guys...today is the day! My sister is coming to spend the weekend with me and I CANNOT WAIT! This is a short and quick episode because my excitement won't let me sit for too long! Take a listen and find out how I REALLY feel about this beautiful human being. Love you guys. P.S. - I have never known anyone whose name is a more perfect match for their heart and soul than my sister - Hope.  

It's Birthday week and I am officially 48. Listen as I share my feelings about this and describe how I am approaching this next year of my life. Hint - it starts with hope and ends in adventure.  Thanks for being part of my story. Love you guys. P.S. - bonus points for counting how many times I say "truly"! :)

The Next Twenty-Three are filled with new things to learn and do and experience. These are the three areas that I am prioritizing in my life right now: happiness, learning and grace. It's a process. It's a journey. It's an adventure. And flowers make everything better!   Love you guys.

College Drop Off. It's one hell of a hard goodbye. Here are some of my thoughts about it - just two weeks post goodbye. Not really any great advice because really, there isn't anything I can say that will make it easy. Just some thoughts I have around how I am surviving it. If you are about to take this road, I feel you and am here for you. If you are at the end of the road, how did you handle it...

I think it's okay to put your pain on pause for a bit in order to get through a hard season. But only for a pause - not a permanent break. Do what you need to do to get through a season in your life that you are struggling with as long as you have a plan to sit with the pain and work through the hard. Love you guys. P.S. - kitchen renovations and power tools are a great distraction!  

Sometimes I do things that really make me feel like I am crushing this single adult life in a really BIG way. Today was one of those days. I did something for the first time that may not have been the very best decision or the exact right way to do it, but holy crap did it make me feel empowered and strong and happy. Cheers to empowering firsts!   Love you guys.

What happens when you get married at 23 to the 3rd guy you ever kissed and then 2 kids and 23 years later suddenly find yourself divorced and nearly empty nesting? ​ I have no idea. But we are about to find out. Join me as I navigate this new journey - all the good, scary, funny and unknown. There is no plan or strategy or roadmap. I will be sharing the real and crazy and everyday adventures as I...

Never did I ever ... imagine that a cockroach would be the thing teaching me lessons on Day One of my new, single adult life. Seriously, I would never have chosen that as the vehicle to deliver a great life lesson. But, then again, there are a lot of things that I never could have imagined in this crazy, wild life we are living. This is the start of the Next 23 years of my new life. Time to reinve...