Live Joy

  Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I’m so lucky,” or telling your kids, “Do you know how lucky you are?” I used to say that all the time—until I realized that luck really had nothing to do with it. To me, luck implies randomness, just happening by chance or due to factors outside our control. But when I pause and really think about my life, it’s not luck that I have a career I enjoy, or that I can take vacations with my family, or that I live in a home that brings me peace. None of that just happened . I’ve worked hard, made sacrifices, made intentional decisions, and kept showing up, even when it wasn’t easy. So, I’ve made a small but powerful shift in my language. When someone says, “You’re lucky to have a job you love” or “It must be nice to get away,” I respond with: “Yes I am fortunate.” To me, being fortunate is the result of intention . It’s the outcome of choices, consistent effort, and sometimes, a whole lot of persistence. This doesn’t mean everything is...

  I saw this quote the other day and it stopped me in my tracks. Because it’s so true. “Healthy people make exercise a nonnegotiable part of their daily schedules. Exercise isn’t a hobby, it’s health care.” And when I read that, I immediately thought of all the people who say, “I don’t have time,” “I forgot,” or “I’ll start next week.” But here’s the truth: if it matters, you make time. For me, exercise has never been optional. I’ve been moving my body consistently since I was a kid. Soccer and track in my school years. Figure competitions in my 20s. Half marathons. 75 Hard. It’s evolved over time, but the commitment has always been the same. I even started strength training at 13, lifting weights at the gym with my brother. That habit became part of my identity. Working out is as routine as brushing my teeth. I don’t skip it. I don’t push it to “tomorrow.” It’s nonnegotiable, because it makes me a better human. I sleep better. I think clearer. I have more energy. And ...

I want to share something today that has been rattling around in my head, and maybe it will strike a chord with you too. I’ve always carried what you might call a scarcity mindset when it comes to money. Every paycheck, every bonus, every windfall — I’ve mentally divided it up, making sure I’m putting enough away for retirement, stashing money in my emergency fund, worrying about what might happen if the bottom fell out. That fear isn’t just abstract: in 2023, I lost my job and was unemployed for over a year. Thanks to a severance package, I wasn’t left empty-handed, but the fear was still real. On top of that, as a single mother raising two teenage boys, my instinct has always been to protect, to prepare, to save. It comes from the way I grew up, watching my mom work multiple jobs, pinching pennies, doing everything she could so my brother and I never went without. It’s no surprise that the messages of “save for retirement,” “plan for a rainy day,” “invest young,” and “Social Secu...

  This Mother’s Day Was Hard—And That’s Okay As I reflect on this Mother’s Day, I’ve realized it was the hardest one yet. Not because of one big moment, but because of a quiet, persistent feeling that I couldn’t shake. I know the script we’re supposed to follow: that being a mom is enough, that bringing our kids to soccer games and doing the day-to-day work of motherhood is all we should need to feel fulfilled. And in many ways, I am deeply grateful for those things. But this year has been a season of reflection for me, and I’m trying to pay attention to my feelings instead of brushing them aside. This Mother’s Day started at 6:30 AM with a cup of coffee and a quiet moment of gratitude. By 7:00, I was up making breakfast, getting the kids ready, and rushing to the soccer field by 8:15. After the game, there was the grocery store, walking the dog, picking up a few things, squeezing in a bit of downtime, and then a two-hour drive to another game. We grabbed a quick bite on the...

  There are so many things in life we tend to take for granted and one of the biggest, I think, is time with family. As someone who hasn’t lived near family for the past 25 years, I definitely don’t take it for granted. A lot of people can grab lunch with their parents, go shopping, or have dinner together on a regular basis. That’s never been part of my adult life. I grew up in Massachusetts, went to college in Kentucky, and never moved back. My brother went to school in Vermont, joined the Air Force, and now lives in Michigan with his family. My mom retired to North Carolina, and my dad is still in Massachusetts with our extended family. So, for me, seeing family has always meant planning, time off work, and travel. A few months ago, Mel Robbins — yes, the Mel Robbins (and if you don’t know her, you should absolutely look her up!) came out with a new book, The Let Them Theory. It’s an incredible read, one of those books that sticks with you and shifts how you think. When I ...

  I wanted to share a little story with you about something I accomplished recently. I ran a half marathon. If you remember, one of my big goals for 2025 was not just to run a half marathon, but to break the 2-hour mark. This wasn’t my first half marathon. I’d run three before. Two were right after I had my kids, 14 and 13 years ago. The last one was in 2019, which honestly was a disaster. Back then, I was struggling with blood sugar issues the whole training cycle. I would throw up after every long run. During the race, I made it to mile 8 before feeling faint and seeing double. I had to walk-run the rest. I was beyond discouraged crossing that finish line. This time, I wanted it to be different. I trained smarter, ate better, and made it about more than me. I decided to dedicate my race to raising awareness for childhood cancer. I wrote the names of four children on my arm: Ryan, Waylen, Cam, and Olivia. I told myself I was running for them. I started training in early Febr...