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_outlineLately, I’ve been asking myself, when I feel something that lights me up, do I actually stop and name it? This week, I’m sharing what happened when I did exactly that. Selling my St. Augustine home opened the door to a season of uncertainty that, surprisingly, feels incredibly freeing. I’m traveling lighter, spending more time with the people and experiences I love, and carrying this sense of safety that comes from showing up as my authentic self and surrounding myself with the right energy.
On this Wise Walk, we’ll talk about why naming your feelings matters, how to trace them back to what’s creating them, and how to protect them for as long as they serve you. It’s about being present with the emotions you want to keep and having a plan to bring them back whenever life tries to pull you off course.
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When you feel your feels, whether they are positive and exciting or heavy and icky, do you take time to name them so you can own and understand them?
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Can you get curious about that feeling to see where it has shown up in your past, where it is showing up in your present, or how you want to create or avoid it in the future?
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What is a positive feeling in your heart right now that you want to honor, name, and own?
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Can you pay attention to all of the things you did or the experiences you had to create this feeling in this moment?
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How can you make sure you protect that feeling for as long as you can?
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What are the things that contribute to that feeling?
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Who are the people that support you in thriving with that feeling?
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How long do you want to hold on to that feeling?
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Is it something you want to weave into your life for the rest of your life?
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What are the ways you can do that?
Thank you for letting me feel free and safe with you, Striders. Your support and feedback mean so much. I’ll see you on next Thursday’s Wise Walk. Until then, prioritize fun, read the signs, direct your path, and get your stride on.
In this episode:
[02:41] I sold my St Augustine home and I'm moving. I'm also not really sure where I'm going next.
[03:03] I feel like I closed doors to open new opportunities. I feel extremely free.
[04:02] Now I can reconnect with all the things that are meaningful to me like my dogs, relationships, exploration, and adventure.
[05:03] I'm going to appreciate this moment of feeling free and all of the things I did to create this moment.
[06:05] I had to go through overwhelm, stress, and doubt to get to this moment of freedom.
[07:56] Since this feeling of freedom and not owning a home may not be long-term, I am going to enjoy it while it feels aligned for me.
[09:07] The other positive feeling I have is a feeling of safety.
[10:04] I feel safe when I'm interacting with consistent, reliable humans.
[11:20] It's a beautiful exchange when we can be our authentic selves. We can also communicate the boundaries, the support, the energies that we need in order to feel that freedom or safety.
[12:01] I'm allowing myself to make mistakes and do the best I can.
[13:02] As we drop in our heart and name the feelings, we can create more of it.
[14:34] Let me know what you took away from today's episode and the positive feelings that you are holding in your heart. And how are you contributing to them.
Memorable Quotes:
- “When we name our feelings, we give ourselves the power to own them and recreate them.” - Mary Tess
- “The people who make me feel safe are the ones who show up consistently and without judgment.” - Mary Tess
- “When we protect the feelings that matter most, they can guide us through anything.” - Mary Tess
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EP254: Let the Feelings Flow & Let Go