That’s why I’m here. To experiment with the ways that I might be able to build community, live creatively, unfold spiritually and do it on my own terms. And because I’m nervous, scared and slightly horrified to put myself out there (again), I want to try anyway.

This website, the book, the virtual talk group, all of it, is an intentional process. An experiment in “how would it be if I…” and “what might it look like if…”

Before this moment, here’s a snapshot of the road travelled thus far:

• Born and raised in a very Catholic lower-middle-class household in a small town in Pennsylvania with one older sister.

• “Grew up” in the city of Philadelphia starting at 18 y/o.

• Originally dreamed of a work-life in a creative industry like fashion, marketing and design. The world was so different then.

• Moved to San Francisco for a year in the late 90s, not too long after I got fired from my first job post-grad job (apparel manufacturing). It was the right city at the wrong time. I tested out all the dance floors.

• Pivoted to print media advertising sales and marketing. Got trapped there.

• My Saturn Returns (28th year, fourth cycle of 7) kicked my ass but through it, I fell in love with photography and writing and found my most expansive creative self.

• The business world of earning money for a corporation felt like shit, I couldn’t land a job with any sort of decent income that wasn’t torture, and the people I was surrounded by were too often too miserable. So I said FUCK IT and went to massage therapy school. I wondered what it would be like to have a job where people wanted to hug as a way to show appreciation and then hand me money.

• I felt correct for the first time in life by throwing away the stability of a full-time paycheck and bad office lighting. I was afraid and alive. I traded in free office supplies for candlelight, soft music and a new way of looking at the world.

• Therapeutic massage landed me on the right planet. But ever since then, I’ve been looking for my town and community.

• I landed on Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine but jumped ship into the submarine of Psychotherapy. I just wanted to be like Oprah. It’s all Oprah’s fault.

• I’ve worked for others and worked for myself. On both sides of the coin there were core components missing; harmony has been elusive.

• San Francisco became my longest relationship.

• I landed in mental health tech with big visions only to realize a corporation is still a corporation.

• Now in the second half of life, I’m jumping head first again to discover what I’ve been missing along the way while welcoming the unexpected.

• If you’re reading this, perhaps we’ll be adventuring together.

  ♡