My husband and I raised two boys in small midwestern town. My family (including our goldendoodle Freddy) have unfettered access to the outdoors particularly on the water where we enjoy every kind of physical activity in every season, even ice hockey on the lake in the winter.

I feel so blessed to be able to be so closely attuned to nature in this setting. It helps me remain clear on the importance of balance in all things.

Maybe it’s my upbringing but I have always come to life on stage. Connecting with others through my gifts and watching people light up and open their hearts is my inspiration.

I find that I scan the crowd for opportunities to speak directly to people — to connect with them and bring them along on my journey.

It is sometimes disconcerting when I notice someone in the crowd who I have not been able to reach — someone who is not present in that moment or simply not receptive to the message. That is always a learning moment for me. That is a chance to look at my own need to connect and to recognize that everyone is not a match to me or my message — and that’s ok. That moment often gets a Ho’oponopono response from me: “I love you; thank you; I’m sorry; please forgive me.” I take responsibility for this moment.

Sometimes that changes everything. But always, it changes me.

There’s something about the critters of the world that provides me with yet another pathway to the divine. Their presence in the current moment, their willingness to accept me just the way I am, and their unconditional love give me the opportunity to return to myself when I have gone adrift. And when I am grounded in myself, they are thrilled to celebrate our connection in a myriad of ways.

I grew up in a family of four which is now down to one — me. Each transition brought with it profound grief, profound humility, and profound wisdom.

My dear sister Lauren passed most recently. I think of her often. I think of the way our voices joined in sweet harmony, the way we were there for each other, and the way she lived her life uncompromisingly on her own terms.

In times past, we would all travel to be together for holidays, birthdays or just because. We were such a physical family that touching and hugging were a big part of expressing our love for each other. At each passing, there were fewer hugs, until now I rely on my husband and adult children for those.

But now, instead of traveling, we are always together. When I am in alignment, their presence is available to me in indescribable ways — in songs on the radio, in a particular synchronicity, and in my dreams.

I am a different person now. A better person. I treasure my current connection with my loved ones as well as the beautiful memories. And the deep peace now available to them comforts me in difficult times.

I have a deep respect and reverence for those people who are the threshold of life. Holding the space for them to find peace as they make their transition. I was a Hospice volunteer for over 15 years.

As a child, whether or not I spent time with someone was based on the way it felt to connect with them and nothing else. For years I never knew any other way.

The first time I realized that everyone didn’t view the world in that way caused me extreme confusion. I was shocked to hear racial slurs, noticing children treated with disrespect, seeing women disempowered.

The things I love to do now — teach people about how to improve both their professional and personal lives – have been made possible because I am a learner. I learn from books, from great teachers, but most of all I learn through living and following my inner guidance. And as I learn and apply the knowledge to my life, I discover what brings peace and what brings chaos. Sort / delete / re-shuffle.

When people around me are pretty much the same as I am, I learn a lot from my connection with them, but that pales in comparison to what I learn from people who don’t think like me, who don’t look like me — from people who have different life experiences.

How do I achieve unity through diversity? It’s by making sure people feel safe. Safe to tell the stories that make up their life experiences and talk about what’s on their hearts and minds. Safe to be vulnerable which is essential to truly connecting with others. Over time, clients discover within themselves their innate sense of safety making it possible to open their hearts to others in the same way.

Nothing moves me like working synergistically with a client to define their vision and help them become the leader they were born to be — an inclusive, empowering, successful leader.

As I wake up, I dig into the pillows and covers and say a mantra I learned from Ho’oponopono, “I love you; thank you.” I say it over and over until my consciousness throws back the  covers and says, “Let’s do this thing!”

When I first learned about Ho’oponopono (from the book Zero Limits by Joe Vitale and Dr. Hew Len), I said those two phrases over and over — when I was at a stoplight, when I saw a struggling homeless person, when I turned over in the night. And I still say it whenever I’m looking for clarity. Sometimes I add the last two phrases, “I’m sorry; please forgive me” when I am experiencing negative emotion (guilt, shame, blame, etc). But they aren’t always necessary.

The power of invoking that loving energy upon awakening transforms my day. It is the mantra of total allowing and ownership of my life. A mantra of personal responsibility that helps me see (when I forget) that I am “responsible” for everything I feel, witness, and experience.

This routine lays out the canvas for my day on which I can “paint” my learning for the day.

I have been doing what I love for a very long time, but it has evolved — as have I.

Every step of the way, I’ve learned exactly what I needed for the next step. As a corporate employee of some organizations and a founding member of others, my work with business leaders to bring their dreams to fruition by helping them define their vision was very satisfying and speaking at leadership conferences was thrilling.

All the time I have been growing spiritually and sharing my understanding of the world at spiritual and personal growth retreats and events.  As my life evolved into deeper and more profound peace, joy and connection, I continued to experience more and more success in my professional life. That was not a coincidence.

I have since moved away from the corporate model and am working more intimately with leaders who realize that if they want to grow their business, they must grow themselves and find authentic ways to connect with their teams and their world.

This was a leap of faith for me. As I brought my two worlds together — the world of business and the world of personal growth — I knew without any doubt that this is the business model of tomorrow. The present moment is all we ever have, and I have chosen to work with business leaders who want to take this present moment and use it to foster their own evolution — to evolve.