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_outlineI've been thinking about frustration lately. Specifically about a class I took where the experience didn't match what was advertised. I tried to address it in different ways, but my concerns never seemed to land. At some point, I realized part of my frustration came from wanting more control than I actually had, and from expectations that were probably too rigid. That shift in perspective helped.
On this Wise Walk, I want to explore what happens when our expectations clash with reality, and how we can extract value from those moments anyway. Instead of staying in disappointment, we can examine what the situation reveals, let go of what we can't influence, and work with what's actually available to us. The more we do this, the more capable we become at adapting and refocusing on what genuinely matters.
- Have you felt frustrated by anything recently, and when you gave yourself space to process that emotion what did you learn about yourself in the process?
- Is there a quality or pattern tied to that frustration, and can you redirect that energy in a way that shifts the experience or even the outcome?
- When you look back at present or past frustrations, what awareness is that feeling trying to bring forward about what truly matters to you?
- After doing everything you could to communicate or realign with someone else, how can you adjust your expectations around what you can and cannot control?
- What is it that you ultimately want to experience in this situation, and where can you release the heavy or negative feelings that are weighing you down?
- Where can you pause and say to yourself, this is what I’m learning about who I am, and this is how I’m going to respond so I can stay in my stride?
- When frustration sparks that immediate knee-jerk reaction, what is the deeper feeling underneath it? How do you usually respond, and how can you pivot your energy so you feel more aligned and at peace?
- What lessons have surfaced for you when things didn’t go the way you expected, and how did those moments shape your confidence to move forward?
- How do you balance holding high expectations with extending grace when outcomes fall short of what you envisioned?
- Where in your life right now can you practice letting go of control and trusting that you can still grow even if the circumstances aren’t ideal?
- How can you turn an unexpected setback, like a delay or disruption, into an opportunity to practice patience and creativity in the way you respond?
- What helps you remember that every experience, even frustrating ones, can still offer something valuable if you’re open to seeing it?
I’d love to hear what you took away from today’s episode. Feel free to reach out and share your Wise Walk reflections, awareness, and lessons you’re gaining. If you found value here, please share this episode or leave a review so we can continue to grow together and expand this community that I’m so proud to be a part of. I look forward to going on another Wise Walk with you next Thursday, so be sure to tune in.
In this episode:
- [03:01] At different times in my career I've led and managed training programs. I geek out on learning so that I can teach what I learn.
- [04:07] As this current class is drawing to a close, I realized that we are way behind and we are not going to accomplish all the learning objectives. I tried to communicate this to the best of my ability, but I'm not sure I was heard in an actionable way.
- [06:12] I realized that I'm just going to have to accept this. I also realized that I might have some control issues when it comes to key learning objectives not being met.
- [07:17] On a human level, I enjoy the teacher and really appreciate the people.
- [08:17] Frustration for me can sometimes indicate a level of control. I have to ask if there's an opportunity for me to learn something different.
- [09:12] Even if you communicate, it may not influence the person you're speaking with.
- [12:09] I'm also preparing to go back to St. Augustine for a week. I just got a notification that my flight has been changed to include a four and a half hour layover.
- [14:04] I had an awareness that I can only control what I can control. Fortunately, I was able to book a different flight.
- [15:20] Knowing what our triggers are and how to pivot through them can bring us at peace again and build confidence.
- [16:09] Maybe I'm learning to find my center and feel grounded regardless of the circumstance. I'm speaking up for myself and making the best of the situation.
Memorable Quotes:
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- “I can only control what I can control, and I have to let the rest go if I still want to salvage the best I can out of this experience.” - Mary Tess
- “The more we face adversity, the more we build the muscle to realign and get back into stride.” - Mary Tess
- “I always regret being silent more than I regret communicating.” - Mary Tess
Links and Resources: