Live Joy

  Starting a new job often means getting to know your boss and colleagues on a more personal level. Recently, I attended a multi-day conference with my new team, and naturally, conversations about our personal lives came up. My boss asked about my family, extended family, and life in general. As I shared details, I found myself saying, “I promise my life isn’t really this interesting, even if it sounds that way.” To which he replied, “It’s just life!” Which was very refreshing to hear. That comment stuck with me. When I returned home, I told my ex-husband about the conversation. It made me reflect on how we often view our lives as “ordinary,” but when we pause to share our experiences—the jobs we’ve held, the dynamics of our families, raising kids—it’s clear that everyone’s life is uniquely interesting. The trouble is, most people don’t share their stories. Looking back on my 20+ years in the corporate world, I remember when sharing personal details at work, especially as a wom...

Learning to feel my feelings, it’s hard to admit, but this is something new for me. I’ve always been the “strong” one—the person who loves a good challenge, pushes away emotions, and embraces the hard stuff. I’ve always been able to push through anything. My friends often say, “You’re the strongest person I know.” I even have a tattoo that means “strong.” I got it when I was 26 on a girls’ trip with my three best friends. My first friend (FF) said, “You are the strongest person I know—physically, emotionally, and mentally.” That tattoo became my motivation through so many tough times: fertility struggles, miscarriage, losing friends, parenting challenges, divorce, losing a job. You name it, I’ve used that reminder to keep going. Being mentally strong has served me well. It’s helped me push through life’s hardest moments. But I’ve come to realize there’s a downside: I’ve avoided truly feeling my emotions. I’d rather push them down, keep my head down, and just power through. Processing ...

  As I sit here, thinking about what would have been my 7 year wedding anniversary in just a few weeks, I’m struck by the reality of being a 43-year-old single woman, divorced not once but twice. That’s the first time I’ve admitted it out loud. It’s a place I never imagined I’d be—never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d face one divorce, let alone two. With this comes a whirlwind of emotions: self-doubt, shame, and the aching belief that I’m not good enough, not wanted, or somehow easy to let go of —feelings I know are tied to deeper-rooted issues I’ll be working to unpack thought this year’s journey of introspection. In my second marriage, I held on to the hope that we’d weather every storm together. I envisioned us at 80 years old, looking back and saying, “Fuck, we went through so much, but we made it—we’re still here, together.” Yet, despite that hope, I spent much of our marriage guarding my heart, keeping pieces of myself hidden to avoid being hurt. I told myself I had t...

If you missed my last blog, here’s a quick update. This year, my newsletters are going to feel a little different. Instead of just sharing information, I’ll be sharing lessons I’m learning as I dive into a year focused on healing, reflection, and growth. It’s going to be personal—really personal—but my hope is that by being real and vulnerable, it will help others. Honestly, if it helps just one person, it’s worth it to me. 2024, to put it lightly, knocked me on my ass. But it also brought some incredible moments and memories. I think this quote sums it up perfectly: "Life is amazing. And then it’s awful. And then it’s amazing again. And in between the amazing and awful, it’s ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That’s just living a heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life. And it’s breathtakingly beautiful." – L.R. Knost Every year, I choose a word to guide me. ...

  As we head into 2025, I’ve been reflecting on what I want to focus on and how I want to show up for the Live-Joy Community. Initially, I thought about ending Live-Joy and dedicating this year solely to myself. 2024 was incredibly tough for me—and honestly, things are still tough. I envisioned 2025 as a year of deep, internal growth. A year to truly learn about myself, uncover what makes me who I am, and figure out how to create a better future. I want to challenge my limiting beliefs, live more in the present, and find a sense of peace. At one point, I felt like I had nothing left to give. I thought, “How can I offer advice or guidance to others when I’m barely holding it together myself?” But then, during a journaling session one morning, a thought stopped me in my tracks: “I can’t be the only one who feels this way.” What if by sharing my own journey—being vulnerable about the changes I want to make and the lessons I’m learning—I could help someone else in their journey. Th...