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 thinking about what it really means to feel at home. On a recent call with my mom, she asked if I missed Florida, and it hit me that I don’t miss the house I lived in for seven years. I miss the people. That reminder, along with an old saying from my grandma Cullen, got me thinking about how home isn’t about walls or an address. It’s about the heart-level connections that make us feel supported, understood, and truly at ease.
In this episode, I share stories from the road. I reflect on time with friends in Scottsdale, a soulful experience in Sedona with a sound healer, and the importance of finding people who feel like home. As we take our Wise Walk together, I invite you to slow down, check in with your own heart, and consider who and what makes you feel most connected.
- Where is your heart pulling you or calling you to go?
- What is it about this idea of home that makes you feel emotionally connected?
- Can you drop into your heart and pay attention to the emotional connections that feel most like home?
- What qualities or humans in your life feel most like home to you?
- Who in your life feels naturally like home?
- Where can you have deep, soulful connections and conversations that light you up?
- How can you put yourself in situations where you attract and experience more of that feeling?
- Is there a relationship you’ve newly come into contact with that makes you feel at peace and relaxed?
- Do you feel called to deepen that new relationship and see what possibilities it holds for your growth?
I grow so much from your heartfelt shares, from seeing where you are in this space and time, and from watching the openness you create lead you forward. I’m always cheering you on.
Please reach out and let me know what resonated for you in today’s episode. And as always, be sure to prioritize fun as you read the signs, direct your path, and get your Stride On.
In this episode:
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- [03:49] I love the high vibe in Sedona, and it's known for its energy vortexes.
- [04:42] When I was there, I decided to work with a sound healing practitioner. We also got into a great conversation afterwards. I'm healing and allowing myself to be open to opportunities that present themselves.
- [06:04] I want to be of service and use my gifts and talents and Heart Value in a way that feels aligned.
- [07:29] Not everywhere will feel like home, but the awareness we give ourselves is a beautiful thing.
- [08:22] Having an emotional connection on a community level feels like home.
- [09:17] It's the people that keep us connected and grounded on our journey.
- [10:13] The healer's name is Karen, and we're going to stay connected.
- [11:48] We went on a beautiful hike, and she gave me a different perspective on the area.
- [13:27] I love that we can have these experiences and share them from the heart, no matter where we are.
- [14:21] I'm glad I was brave and sold the home and was able to detach and go on this journey.
- [15:16] I love this podcast, and I feel so connected to the inner work that we are doing together.
Memorable Quotes:
- “Home is where the heart is, and where the heart is, the feet will follow.” - Mary Tess’s Grandma Cullen
- “Our true home is defined by emotional connection, not by physical structure.” - Mary Tess
- “Not everywhere we visit will feel like home, and that’s okay. The awareness we gain from those experiences is a beautiful gift.” - Mary Tess
- “It’s the people who keep us grounded, who remind us who we are, and who help us discover more about ourselves.” - Mary Tess
Links and Resources: