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...
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EP269: Marathon Lessons to Finish Strong
True Stride
I was really moved recently when a Strider reached out to share that they had just completed the New York City Marathon and were reflecting on what that experience meant for them. They realized after crossing the finish line that they wished they had celebrated more and invited others to cheer them on, because training for something so big ends up being a rite of passage. Their honesty stirred up memories from my own marathon experiences and reminded me just how powerful those transitions are when we separate from who we were and stretch ourselves into something new. It got me thinking about...
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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 sparked something in me, and it led to a few honest reflections about how I define freedom and success.
As I witnessed one strong and determined horse rear up just enough to press her chest through the electric fence until it snapped, I felt this surge of admiration and recognition. There are moments in life when we feel something calling us forward, even if others do not understand it or caution us to stay put. Sometimes the only way to understand what is possible is to trust our instincts and step into the unknown with confidence and curiosity. On today’s Wise Walk we will explore the barriers we have been honoring, the beliefs that might be holding us back, and the freedom available to us when we choose to move beyond them.
- Is there a self imposed barrier you honor that no longer feels aligned, and are you ready to let it go so you can run free?
- How can you build your confidence and communicate clearly so this barrier no longer holds you back, whether it is mental or physical?
- Are you ready to release any naysayers in your life and trust what is possible on the other side of the barrier?
- Is it worth it to you to cross this barrier, and what limiting beliefs are keeping you from taking that step?
- If fear of failure is present, can you let it soften so your momentum and desire can carry you forward?
- What mental or physical barriers feel most constraining right now, and how does your definition of success influence whether you stay within them or move beyond them?
- What becomes possible for you when you define success on your terms and allow yourself to feel free and expansive?
- Where in your life can you embody the majestic power of a horse and invite more freedom into your daily rhythm?
- What vision of success feels true to you, and how can you move through obstacles with strength, grace, and authenticity?
I hope you tune in next Thursday for another Wise Walk. As always, I would love to hear what you took away from today's episode. Feel free to reach out and message me.
Be sure to break those barriers that do not feel good to you anymore and let yourself run free with that majestic power that you already innately have.
In this episode:
- [02:34] I break down the fencing on the ranch and how going from pipe corral to an expanded electric fenced area was a plan to give the horses more area to roam.
- [04:12] My Aunt put up four volt electric fencing which the horses have used before.
- [05:01] When we opened the gates, the horses were bucking and running and having the best time in their expanded area.
- [06:06] The horse who was the boss was thinking about breaking free in spite of my Aunt's warnings. Suddenly, she pressed her chest against the fence and it snapped.
- [07:07] All of the horses and the Donkey were running wild on the property. They were still contained, because there was an additional fence line.
- [08:04] They had so much joy with the additional space and free access to the feed station.
- [09:03] If we have the drive and know the goal, nothing can stand in our way. The horse's example creates a great reminder for us to pursue our dreams and authentic desires.
- [11:16] For different periods of my life, self-limiting beliefs have gotten in my head. I've tried some of the advice I've been given when I became a self-employed author and podcaster, but some things don't align with me.
- [12:10] One of the things I've learned from this experience by reflecting is knowing what success means to me.
- [13:17] The self-imposed barriers that we might be living by could be due to our own internal beliefs or external pressures. We get to decide which ones we're going to keep.
- [14:29] There's always a leader who will break through first and show us what's possible. It's up to us to decide if we want to follow.
- [15:28] Remember that you are powerful and have a spirited personality just like a horse. Others are attracted to you when they see you running free and tackling your life.
- [17:19] My Aunt and I are still laughing about this incident, and we're giving kudos to the horses and the donkey for being themselves.
- [18:19] Can you support other people when you see them getting ready to break a barrier?
- [19:04] I feel myself gearing up to break some barriers that no longer serve me.
Memorable Quotes:
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- “There are moments when we outgrow the barriers we once agreed to, and our heart knows it long before our mind catches up.” - Mary Tess
- “If a boundary no longer supports who you are becoming, you get to redefine it or release it.” - Mary Tess
- “When we stop honoring old limitations, we make space for new energy, new confidence, and new possibilities.” - Mary Tess
Links and Resources: