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_outlineI’ve been laughing at how quickly all my best-laid plans just kind of went sideways. I thought I had this trip with my dogs mapped out perfectly with the timing, the route, and the stops. But then, I encountered one little hiccup after another. A tire sensor acting up, late departures, and rolling into towns I didn’t even plan to see. I somehow even ended up in a fancy hotel with two German shepherds in tow. None of it was what I pictured, but it actually turned out better.
As frustrating as change can feel in the moment, I’ve found it brings unexpected gifts like extra time with loved ones, new confidence in my dogs (and myself), and the simple joy of realizing we can handle more than we think. That’s what today’s Wise Walk is all about. It’s embracing the open road, giving gratitude for the surprises, and seeing how getting out of our comfort zone deepens our rhythm with ourselves and those we care about.
- Where in your life are you navigating the metaphorical open road?
- Is it requiring you to embrace change, embrace possibilities, and get resourceful because the unexpected is happening and you have to navigate that unexpectedness?
- As you ponder and reflect, are you gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and of others?
- What lessons are you learning as you navigate your open road, your journey, or how you want to move from point A to point B?
- Where in your life are you open to your own rhythm and open to the open road?
- When you get curveballs in life or a delay of game, can you give gratitude for how you embrace the change?
- Can you give gratitude for the possibilities that surface from that change?
- Can you see what’s possible out of it and recognize that this was a blessing in disguise, not what you set out to do, not your original plan, but something even better?
- As you step outside your comfort zone and embrace the change and possibilities in front of you, are you giving gratitude for those unexpected blessings?
- Are you giving gratitude for how you rise to the level of your own expectations?
- Are you giving celebration and kudos to those around you who rise to the level of the expectations that you set?
- Where in your life are you giving gratitude and appreciation for how you are navigating and staying in rhythm and flow as you deepen your own experience?
I’d love to hear where in your life you’re giving gratitude and appreciation for how you’re navigating and staying in rhythm and flow. I have so much to give gratitude for including you, this podcast, and our weekly Wise Walks.
Thank you for joining me, and I would love to hear what you took away from today's episode. Until next Thursday, keep your Stride On!
In this episode:
[02:14] My big lesson on this journey was the idea about embracing change and possibilities. I had intentions of leaving on a certain date, but I kept getting thrown curveballs.
[03:08] I'm goal-oriented and having my plans changed was frustrating. In reality there was no reason that I couldn't pivot, and I got to spend extra quality time with my family.
[04:35] The unexpected extra time that I got in St Augustine was really beautiful for me, my family, and my dogs.
[05:45] I ended up stopping in Mobile, Alabama and staying at a very nice downtown hotel. I had some anxiety about the whole thing, but the dogs behaved perfectly.
[07:39] I learned to embrace change when I'm in an environment that I didn't anticipate. The outcome was beautiful, and we were in a rhythm together.
[08:36] This set us up with the idea of possibilities and being able to handle whatever was before us.
[09:59] I also ended up connecting with a friend in Wichita Falls, Texas. It was an unexpected, awesome blessing to meet up with my friend on a road trip.
[12:32] I had targeted destinations, but now I've learned it's better to go with the flow.
[13:35] Embracing change and trying new things gets us out of our comfort zone. This expanded my understanding of myself and of my dogs and their capabilities. I have to give them more credit.
[15:48] How often in our life can we embrace this mentality where we step out of our comfort zone and embrace change and then give gratitude for it?
Memorable Quotes:
- “The best moments aren’t the ones I planned. They’re the ones that showed up when I finally stopped trying to control every detail.” - Mary Tess
- “I am gaining so much, and the dogs are gaining so much. We are gaining as a family unit by learning the rhythm of the road and learning what we're capable of while inviting transformation and going with the flow.” - Mary Tess
- “The rhythm of the road is a lot like the rhythm of life. It can be messy and unpredictable, but full of hidden gifts.” - Mary Tess
Links and Resources: