Essence Blog

The day after Thanksgiving, Ethan flew to NYC to make one of his big dreams come true.  Performing in NYC. It was his first time flying alone and managing public transportation, which he did with ease.  

He was cast in a cabaret show of all 70s songs with 19 performers and 17 numbers. He was given one solo and 4 group numbers. The thing is, 17 of his fellow performers had been practicing together in person because they were local.  Ethan was flying in; he didn’t know anyone. He hadn’t rehearsed...

We all want to find more moments of fulfillment in our work and in our lives. That statement feels obvious, I know. And yet, finding that sweet spot, the place where what we do feeds us instead of drains us, can be surprisingly elusive.

Especially when you…

• Work for someone else and feel disconnected from the bigger picture
• Have a job you don’t love but can’t yet leave
• Or even when you work for yourself, you feel depleted or overwhelmed trying to make it all work.
  

So, what does fu...

At the very end of September, I was in Western, NY, for my cousin’s beautiful wedding. The weather was gorgeous, and even in the warm sunny skies, I could see that the fall was just starting to turn a few leaves into the deep, rich colors of autumnal art. 

Which reminds me of one of the annual themes of fall: release. 

When trees prepare for winter, they don’t force anything. They don’t yank off their leaves in a panic when a certain date draws near. Instead, they respond to the quiet...

The energy in the collective is heavy—anger, frustration, grief, righteousness, destruction. And it doesn’t just show up in “others” or the “other side.” It’s everywhere, within our own circles, and if we’re honest, within ourselves.

Last week, I found myself contributing to and being affected by the global inflammation.

I caught myself swearing at another driver, judging a stranger, unfriending someone,  laughing at a mean meme, even as I bristled when others did the same. 

And while a p...

Should I sign up for this new course?

Which choice is right for me? 

Do I say yes to this opportunity? 

What should I do about this problem? 

Do I want to do this? 

Which mattress should I buy? 

Have you ever felt miserable knowing you need to make a decision? Perhaps you're stuck in agony or guilt from avoiding it.  Maybe you're feeling the stress of the pressure to hurry up and make it.  Or maybe you still regret a choice you made before, and you’re afraid you’ll make the wrong one ag...

Pain. 

Whether we are talking about emotional pain or physical pain, it’s something we all feel, and it’s also something we try to get out of as soon as we can. 

At some point, you’ve probably tried to silence it, push through it, numb it, medicate it, or avoid it. Or maybe all of those things. 

I’m writing about pain this week because I’ve been having nerve pain in my arm that is coming from my neck. Ouch.

There have been a few moments where I wanted to yell- “give me all the dr...

Last week, Andrea Gibson, a beloved and powerful truth-teller and poet, passed away. They were born the same year I was and died just shy of their 50th birthday.  

Andrea left this world with all of their people gathered around in love. Their wife, Meg Falley, shared that Andrea’s last words were: “I loved my fucking life.”

So simple. So profound. To live and die with that much love and gratitude despite all the pain. It felt like a reminder. And a bit of hope.

I’ve been reading Andrea’s ...

Tomorrow is the 4th of July holiday here in the U.S. However, my holiday usually begins early, as my neighborhood hosts an annual big street party on July 3rd. We come together over food, friends, and music. It’s usually a great time. But when I was asked about my weekend plans earlier this week, I could sense my own lack of enthusiasm.

To be honest, I don’t feel very patriotic right now. As a deeply feeling person, the violence, dehumanization, and cruelty I’m witnessing cross the line of valu...

An Everyday Lesson in Releasing Old Beliefs

During a recent trip to Chicago, I had a surprising chance to reflect on how far I’ve come in releasing old beliefs. I tagged along on Matt’s business trip so we could explore the city and see some of my favorite Ippies: Jim, Christiana, and Emma Herbert.

On Thursday, we toured the Art Institute of Chicago (did you know it’s the second-largest art museum in the country after the Met?). My husband and I were the only ones who signed up, so we got a pr...

A Recital and the Power of Community Support 

This week, I want to share a story that beautifully reflects the power of community support — something that has been sitting in my heart 💛.

A week before the Infinite Possibilities conference, despite my long to-do list, I spent 4½ hours on the road to drive up to UF to see Ethan’s 3rd-year voice recital🎶. Totally worth it. He sang his first Italian aria. It was a challenge for this musical theater kid to sing opera. I was both blown away by his g...