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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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_outlineAs I was reflecting on today's Wise Walk, I realized we are halfway through the year. 2025 has been flying by, so I thought a mid-year check-in would make a great episode.
Today,we'll do that check-in, and I'll share some of the things I'm most proud of, like sharing my Heart Value through speaking gigs, coaching others, and deepening my skills through Shamanic Reiki and a drum-making apprenticeship. I'll also touch on the joy of traveling and the emotional journey of losing my Aunt Mary. I'm so appreciative of my journey and lessons learned along the way.
Now let's slow down and check our reality and ask ourselves these questions.
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What memories, experiences, or thoughts stand out as you reflect on the past six months?
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What have you done that truly surprised you?
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What is something you said yes to that you're now really grateful for?
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What distractions came up that pulled you away from something you were hoping to experience?
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With hindsight, did any of those detours bless you in unexpected ways or help you grow?
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Where have you taken time to go inward, retreat, nurture yourself, or celebrate your journey?
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What went well in the first half of the year?
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What do you want to stop doing moving forward?
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What can you tweak or modify to better align with your future self?
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What are you ready to release because it no longer serves where you're headed?
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What version of yourself are you working toward, and what next step will move you closer to that vision?
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Are there areas in your life where your word of the year is clearly supporting you?
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How does it feel when you’re in flow and inviting things in, versus trying to force outcomes?
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Where might you be pushing too hard, and can you consider shifting your energy to something that feels more aligned?
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Where can you invest in yourself today that your future self will thank you for?
I would love to hear what you took away from today's episode. Please feel free to reach out and share. I'd love specifically to hear how your word for the year is supporting you, or if you had to change it, because something else came up that feels more aligned.
Mid-year check-ins are just your time to reflect, to review, to change, to cherish, to appreciate, and to adapt.
Because, this is your time!
In this episode:
[03:14] Wins I'm proud of are my meaningful speaking gig and connections I made with others and helping them find alignment through coaching.
[03:59] I'm also proud of the apprenticeships and certifications I'm taking to expand my skill set.
[04:58] I've also invested time into learning how to make drums. Check this out.
[06:14] I love to teach.
[07:02] I've also taken time to travel and go on some amazing retreats.
[07:25] My family also moved through heavy times, like when my Aunt Mary passed away.
[10:37] I see my future self teaching workshops.
[12:14] Are there uncomfortable or hard things in your life that are just a moment in time as you move towards bigger and better things?
[13:04] I really want to be moving forward in alignment and co-creating with the Universe. Sometimes it's also about timing.
[15:17] How divine timing was more in alignment for me the second time I tried to sell my house.
[16:13] Sometimes there are factors at play that are beyond our awareness.
[19:14] I can't believe what a crazy six months it has been. I'm looking forward to the next 6 months with you in this podcast.
Memorable Quotes:
- “I’m learning to notice the difference between forcing and co-creating, and that awareness changes everything.” - Mary Tess
- “Your present self and your future self are worth the investment. Even the uncomfortable steps are part of the bigger picture.” - Mary Tess
- “Divine timing is real. When something doesn’t feel aligned, maybe it’s just not the right time, and that’s not failure, that’s wisdom.” - Mary Tess
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