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_outlineTransitions can hit harder than expected. You get through the big push whether it’s a move, a deadline, or some intense life shift and then suddenly it all catches up with you. The to-do list might be done, but your body and brain haven’t caught up. That space between pushing hard and moving forward again? That’s where the real reset needs to happen.
In this Wise Walk, we’re talking about what it looks like to come down from that kind of high gear. It’s not always graceful. Sometimes you're overtired, undernourished, and just plain spent. But there’s a lot of value in recognizing that and giving yourself space to pause. This episode is about acknowledging the effort it took to get here, noticing what needs rebalancing, and slowly stepping back into a rhythm that feels sustainable. Because rest isn’t a luxury, it's part of the process.
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When was the last time you felt burnt out, totally drained, or came off a big life change, crisis, or intense mission that left you with nothing left to give?
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When you're on the backside of that finish line, how do you acknowledge what you just accomplished and give yourself space to recover, heal, and reset?
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What are the ways you acknowledge the effort you just put in when you’ve gone all in on something that mattered deeply to you?
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Do you take time to celebrate how far you’ve come, even if the journey wasn’t perfect or the final stretch got a little messy?
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Are you allowing yourself a transition period to reflect, recover, and reset before diving into the next big thing?
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As you look ahead, how do you feel about this next chapter or current transition?
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What are some ways you can create focus or intention so you feel better as you move forward?
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Are you allowing everyone to reset and regroup during this transition time?
As you take on big projects or navigate major life changes, I invite you to be patient with yourself. Give yourself plenty of grace, and extend that same grace to those supporting you. We’re all doing the best we can, especially in times of transition. I’ll talk to you next Thursday, so be sure to tune in!
In this episode:
[04:51] One of the patterns I've noticed with myself is when I'm on a mission to get something done, I get an adrenaline high.
[05:35] I try to acknowledge this, because I also know I have a hard time downshifting.
[06:02] There's a period of transition for me from go-go to absolute recovery mode.
[07:38] I'm glad I took time to acknowledge what I had accomplished and have a celebratory evening. I also knew that I was too tired to do anything else.
[08:46] Acknowledging how far you've come and what you've accomplished is huge.
[09:07] It's also important to acknowledge what you want to reset on.
[10:32] There's a transition period of acknowledging the effort put in and then getting back into a routine that sets myself up for success.
[11:53] I'm going to rebalance by prioritizing sleep, nourishment, hydration, and saying no.
[12:57] I'm also going to try to re-establish my routine with my family and my two German Shepherds.
[13:52] We are cocooning and getting back to basics.
[15:19] As you work through whatever you've accomplished, take the time to notice what the family is doing and going through. Allow time for everyone to reset and rebalance.
[16:12] The hard thing about this move is that I'm imagining more than one location and also unknown locations.
[17:49] Sometimes we have plans with the best of intentions and they don't always work out the way we intended. That's okay as long as we acknowledge and accept that.
[18:16] Another strategy I use is finding one thing that I can do today that will make me feel 1% better. Playing frisbee with the dogs will help me feel 1% better.
[20:23] I invite you to be patient and give yourself grace when you take on big projects.
Memorable Quotes:
- “When you're on a mission, you burn the midnight candle, and at some point, you have to stop and rest, or you're not going to be at your best.” - Mary Tess
- “There’s a period of transition between go mode and recovery. I can’t just flip a switch. I have to ease my way back.” - Mary Tess
- “Rest isn’t just about me resetting. It’s about the whole household finding its rhythm again.” - Mary Tess
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Journey to the Heart: Daily Meditations on the Path to Freeing Your Soul