Easter 2025 – A Reflection on Renewal and Purpose

A year ago, I found myself in unfamiliar territory: a sudden abundance of free time.

It was a strange kind of freedom—liberating in theory, but in reality, I wasn’t prepared. After years of nonstop momentum, the stillness felt disorienting.

But slowly, clarity emerged.

In the quiet, I reoriented. I began serving nonprofits, mentoring students, and exploring personal projects—including building my intelligent life assistant. I also stepped into an advisory role in technology and innovation.

Now, a year later, my days are full again—shaped by crisper purpose, limitless creativity, and a richer sense of meaning.

This past year challenged me to grow professionally in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Though I stepped away from full-time corporate life, I often found myself operating at a higher capacity—learning faster, stretching further, and staying current in a tech landscape advancing at breakneck speed. Executive coaching became a trusted rhythm during this time, offering both clarity and a sounding board as I navigated reinvention. Whether advising on technology and innovation, mentoring future leaders, leading an AI competition endeavor, or architecting solutions like my intelligent assistant, the learning curve has been steep—but exhilarating. Reinvention, I’ve come to realize, demands not less of us, but more—more awareness, more intention, and more courage than ever before.

One of the most meaningful shifts this past year has been reconnecting with family. For decades, my calendar overflowed with work—often at the cost of relationships—a regret that lingered deeply. This year, I began to rewrite that story. As a grown family, we shared long conversations and Sunday dinners, but also so much more: trips to visit Bill in Seattle—including supporting him through LASIK surgery; partnering with Eric on his office-hunting journey and celebrating TopazLabs’ 20-year anniversary together; a cherished family vacation to Australia—snorkeling at my bucket-listed Great Barrier Reef and ringing in the New Year at the iconic Sydney Opera House; and two meaningful international trip visiting my mother—reminding me of the strength and quiet grace that shaped me. A pivotal moment was supporting my husband through his Afib journey—deepening our bond and reminding me of life’s fragile beauty. These experiences reminded me that time—intentionally spent with those we love—is the greatest gift of all. My husband and our two sons have been my grounding force, and this chapter has deepened not only our bond, but also my gratitude.

I also embraced multiple travels with different circles of friends: the Awesome-8 admiring Budapest–Vienna–Prague in October 2024; cruising with the Eggheads in the Caribbean in January 2025; and skiing with girlfriends in Vail, Colorado in March. Travel—something I’ve always loved but never truly prioritized—became a renewed source of joy. I wandered, explored, and rested. Yet even amid the beauty, I sensed something was missing. It wasn’t just movement I craved, but meaning. Not just places—but purpose.

In addition to those moments, I welcomed two new rituals that infuse my weeks with joy and neuronplastic stimulations: a Sunday writing club that awakens my creative voice and deepens a sisterhood decades in the making; and weekly pickleball matches, guided by Kevin's coaching and uplifted by the warmth of friendships taking root—paddle by paddle. These simple, steady rhythms have become quiet anchors—soft reminders that joy lives not just in achievement, but in presence, play, and shared momentum.

This past year also marked a renewed focus on personal health and wealth. I’ve taken tangible steps to rebuild physical well-being and restore balance, while beginning to manage our family’s financial future with greater intention and structure. These efforts—steady, low key but profoundly impactful—are shaping a strong foundation for the years ahead.

Easter has always symbolized renewal. This year, it reflects a deeper journey—from pause to passion, from external validation to inner alignment, from chasing ever-growing, overfilled calendars to the freedom of spending time on what truly matters.

If you’re navigating change, remember: stillness is not an ending, but a cradle of becoming—where your next beginning quitely takes root.

Wishing you clarity, courage, and new beginnings. 🌱

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