EP279: How Love and Impact Live On
True Stride
Over the past eight months, I’ve lost two dear loved ones who had a profound impact on my life. They lived fully, with vibrant energy, wisdom, kindness, and deep care for others. While I’m heartbroken that I no longer get to experience their physical presence here on earth, I also feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the love I was able to receive from them, love that was unconditional and deeply shaping. One of them passed just yesterday, so forgive me if my emotions rise as I share, but in the midst of the sadness, I find comfort in knowing that even though I can no longer see...
info_outline
EP278: Release, Readiness, and What Comes Next
True Stride
I feel like there’s been a lot of conversation lately about the Chinese zodiac and the year we’re moving out of, which is the Year of the Wood Snake. That year comes to an end on February 16, and then on February 17, according to the Chinese zodiac, we move into the Year of the Fire Horse. Even if you don’t follow the Chinese New Year, I’ve really appreciated how this way of marking time gives us an opportunity to slow down, reflect, and check our own reality. In this episode, I share why the energy of the Wood Snake has felt so accurate for this past year, with its focus on shedding,...
info_outline
EP277: Shape Your Vision with Creativity and Intention
True Stride
I’ve been thinking a lot about intention setting lately and how many different ways there are to get clear on what we want to attract. Some people love choosing a word for the year, others don’t resonate with that at all, and that reflection led me to revisit the tools I’ve used over time to stay grounded and inspired. What matters most isn’t the method itself, but whether we’re carving out space to reflect, get creative, and really listen to what’s calling us forward. Today, we’ll dive into how vision boarding has supported me in the past and how a simple, pen-and-paper practice...
info_outline
EP276: Looking Back Through Pleasure and Expansion
True Stride
At the start of a new year, I always notice a shift. It’s subtle, but it’s there. A little lightness. A sense that I can pause, take stock, and step into something new. Even though it’s just one calendar year turning into the next, it still feels like permission to begin again. To set new intentions. To let the past be the past. I don’t overthink it. I just pay attention to that sense of possibility. As I look back on the year behind me, it wasn’t especially easy. There were moments that felt heavy, uncertain, and stretching in ways I didn’t expect. Yet, when I slow down and really...
info_outline
EP275: A Word to Ground, Guide, and Inspire You
True Stride
I can’t quite believe that yet another year of us going on Wise Walks together has come and gone. In our last episode, I invited you to reflect on your previous Word of the Year, and I’ve been doing that too. Looking back, I can see how my word, Co-create, supported me in ways I couldn’t have fully anticipated at the time. Sometimes we choose a word with a clear sense of direction or intuition about what will help us feel more aligned and in our True Stride. When I think about why this practice matters to me, I always come back to the idea of choosing a word for the year not as something...
info_outline
EP274: Reflecting on the Year Through One Word
True Stride
As this year comes to a close, I wanted to slow things down and really look at how my word for 2025 actually showed up in my life. I’ve shared before that I no longer set New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I choose a word that helps ground me in how I want to show up and what I want to experience. This year, that word was co-create. As someone who has always relied on planning, structure, and execution, this word challenged me to loosen my grip and trust timing instead of forcing outcomes. It became a way to check myself when things felt rushed, heavy, or resistant, and to ask whether I was...
info_outline
EP273: Leaning Into Your Inner Athlete
True Stride
It’s funny how aging has a way of quietly changing the conversation we have with our bodies. I notice it when I’m moving or when a familiar pose needs more support, or when strength and flexibility show up differently than they used to. For a long time, I thought that meant I was losing something. What I’m realizing now is that it simply means that I’m being asked to listen more closely. There’s still a part of me that loves a challenge, that enjoys feeling capable and engaged, even if the expression of that looks different than it once did. Lately, I’ve been paying attention to...
info_outline
EP272: Freedom Waiting Beyond Your Limits
True Stride
Lately I have been spending time out on my Aunt’s ranch in Joshua Tree, California, and the rhythm of the animals has offered me a new perspective on how we respond to the boundaries in our lives. Watching the horses move through their space, communicate their needs, and express their energy reminded me how easy it is to accept certain limits without ever pausing to ask whether they still feel aligned. Their behavior became an unexpected mirror, showing me where I have honored barriers that were never truly mine or that no longer support who I am becoming. Their exuberance and clarity...
info_outline
EP271: Honoring Your Rites of Passage
True Stride
A conversation on a recent hike surprised me in the best way. My friend and I wandered into a chat about how we grew up and what shaped us, and it pulled up old memories I had not thought about in a long time. I shared a bit about my upbringing and the sense of community that came with it, but what really landed for me was how many different ways people mark the big moments in their lives. It does not matter if it comes from a formal tradition or something more personal. We all have these turning points that nudge us forward and help us understand who we are right now. Lately I have been...
info_outline
EP270: What Gratitude Makes Possible
True Stride
Happy Thanksgiving, fellow Striders. If you’re celebrating here in the U.S., I hope you’re surrounded by loved ones, friends, or even your fur babies, and that you’re feeling a sense of appreciation for the blessings in your life, the ones you’re experiencing now and the ones that have shaped you along the way. This time of year is a good reminder to pause, take a breath, and really acknowledge the good that is already present. As I’ve been reflecting on gratitude, I keep coming back to how much shifts when we look at what’s working instead of what’s missing. When we notice the...
info_outlineSometimes it hits us out of nowhere. That heaviness in the chest. The ache behind the smile. We usually reserve the word “grief” for death, but what about all the other losses we quietly carry?
In this episode, I share personal reflections on how grief can show up in transitions that have nothing to do with someone passing. From divorces, moves, and job changes to letting go of dreams that didn’t come true, grief is often hiding in plain sight. I open up about what it felt like to mourn the life I thought I’d have and how that process shaped the person I am today.
On this Wise Walk, we slow down to check our reality and honor the losses that don’t always get acknowledged. Whether you're holding space for yourself or someone you love, I hope this conversation reminds you that your feelings are valid, your identity is evolving, and you're not alone.
-
Where in your life are you holding space for a dream or hope that hasn’t turned out the way you envisioned?
-
Are you allowing yourself to mourn what didn’t come into your life so you can feel your emotions and move forward?
-
Are you holding space for grief as you navigate life’s transitions and emotional shifts?
-
Are you or someone you love grieving something right now, even if life looks steady on the surface?
-
Are you watching someone struggle and you feel grief of not being able to step in or fix it?
-
Are you in a relationship shift where the identity of who you were as a couple no longer exists?
-
Are you trying to redefine what life looks like—either together or apart—while honoring what you both gave?
-
Are you grieving a loss caused by tragedy, natural disaster, or the collective anxiety of today’s world?
-
Are you allowing yourself to grieve and release emotions in the way they naturally arise for you?
-
Do you need to cry, talk, dance, listen to music, or connect with someone to let it out?
-
Are you recognizing that even joyous moments, like watching a child grow up, can carry grief?
-
Where are you feeling uncertain about your identity or where you're headed next?
-
Can you acknowledge that your past identities are still part of you, even as you evolve?
-
Can you hold space for your own growth and also for the transformation of those you love?
-
Are you keeping your connections alive through memories and stories that still bring meaning?
I can feel a new chapter unfolding, even if I don’t know exactly what it looks like yet. What brings me peace is knowing that I’m grounded in every version of who I’ve been.
I hope you take time to honor your own evolution and hold space for all the parts of you that helped you get here. Until next time, keep reading the signs, directing your path, and getting your stride on.
In this episode:
[03:29] There are so many emotionally heavy things going on in this world. You would be perfectly okay to hold space for mourning or grief.
[04:07] Big transitions create a death of identity, of who we once were or hope to be.
[05:40] How my divorce was a big transition and change of my hopes and dreams. I had to reinvent myself.
[10:37] A dear friend of mine just lost her father. I asked about her memories of him and she shared two very powerful stories.
[12:36] Oftentimes when we're mourning, we shy away from talking about memories that can bring up pain or sadness.
[13:18] Tapping into those memories keeps the connection alive.
[15:12] I'm grateful to recall elements of my past identity so that I don't forget them.
[17:27] I feel a major life change coming towards me. I'm also holding space and having gratitude for the mini life changes that have made me who I am.
Memorable Quotes:
- “So often in life, we only view death as the impetus for true grief, but there are so many other moments we deserve to grieve.” - Mary Tess
- “Every experience changes us. If we hold space for it and honor it, we grow with each evolution of ourselves.” - Mary Tess
- “You're not losing those identities. You're just continuing to evolve.” - Mary Tess
Links and Resources:
Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram