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_outlineAfter weeks on the road (after selling my home) and a big move, my body finally caught up with me. I could feel it in my neck, my shoulders, even headaches by mid-afternoon. All those miles gripping the steering wheel and lifting more than I should have left me out of whack. When I finally slowed down enough to notice, I realized that I needed to get support and realign. A chiropractor, a massage, and even some posture technology gave me the clues that I needed to start shifting things back into place.
In this episode, I share what that process looked like for me, and how even small changes have already eased the pain and cleared my energy. It reminded me how connected our physical state is with our emotional and mental wellbeing. Sometimes a little attention makes a huge difference. On this Wise Walk, we’ll check in on the areas where we might feel just a bit off, think about the support that could help us realign, and look at what steps will help us feel lighter and more in sync moving forward.
- Where in your life do you feel just a little bit off?
- Is it physical, like your neck, head, shoulders, or back, or do you feel off energetically?
- Do you feel a little bit off with your relationships or work?
- What area of your life feels out of sync, where you notice pain, resistance or strain?
- What small steps can you take to address that imbalance and support yourself?
- How can you show up for yourself in a way that feels nourishing?
- Where might you need to enlist the help of others to find relief and structure?
- As you drop into your heart, what needs the most attention in your life right now?
- What is one thing you can do today to feel more supported and aligned?
- Can you name what feels off so you can tame it and start to shift it?
- Who can you talk to that you trust so you don’t carry it alone?
- What tools, resources, or individuals could help you realign in a way that fits you best?
- What motivates you most? For example, visual cues, conversations, or other kinds of support?
- Can you give yourself permission to seek what you need without guilt?
- What would feeling more balanced and in sync with your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing look like for you?
Maybe there is someone that just needs a little bit of your good juju. And maybe that's what you can take away from today's Wise Walk. Whatever it is, I would love to hear what you took away from today's episode.
As always, please reach out and share this episode if you know there's someone that needs to hear this message. Also be sure to tune in to next Thursday for another Wise Walk.
In this episode:
- [02:58] I knew I needed to work with a chiropractor in order to address my pain and also a masseuse to get some knots out.
- [03:43] I discovered that the doctor I went to had technology that helps address what's going on with me from a digital imagery standpoint. It was really helpful to get those visual cues.
- [05:36] It was so helpful to see my body alignment visually. I can see where things were a little bit off.
- [06:33] We've driven over 5,800 miles in the past month. There were a lot of miles and a lot of sitting. It makes sense that I need to unwind and realign the imbalances.
- [08:16] The way my head was out of alignment and shifted forward, meant that my normal 11lb head was more like carrying a 46lbs head.
- [09:07] Everything is connected. That's so true for everything in our life. If we are off emotionally it affects our family life. If we're off at work, there's bad energy and stress.
- [10:04] Ignoring when we feel off will lead to more imbalance.
- [11:51] I'm excited and motivated to improve the alignment and imbalance with this new awareness I've gained.
- [14:06] If you feel like you're totally aligned, do you know of someone who you sense may be off. Do you have the bandwidth to help them?
- [15:03] I have a friend going through a home renovation, and the contractor isn't doing right by her. I keep reaching out and trying to support her, even if it's just listening.
- [16:14] If everything's aligned for you, maybe there's someone who needs your help that you can be inspired to reach out to after this Wise Walk.
Memorable Quotes:
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- “Everything in our lives is connected. If we’re off emotionally, it shows up physically, and if we’re off physically, it ripples into everything else.” - Mary Tess
- “Sometimes our body gives us signals long before we’re ready to pay attention” - Mary Tess
- “There’s a huge relief when you finally get clarity on the problem. That’s when you can make real progress” - Mary Tess
Links and Resources: