Recently, my day began with sunshine and promise. I had a new local airport shuttle service, and everything seemed to be falling into place. We zipped to O’Hare airport lickety-split, with check-in complete, luggage weighed, boarding pass in hand and CLEAR sign-up complete, I had time to sit at the gate with two friends I was traveling with. We chatted with excited anticipation, ready for our adventure to begin. But oh… how quickly things can change.

If I asked you right now, “How are you doing?” I mean really doing, what would your honest answer be? Would you smile and say, “I’m good,” even if you’re barely holding it together? Would you whisper, “I feel stuck,” and afraid to admit you’ve been standing still for far too long? Or maybe, just maybe, you’d boldly declare, “I’m ready and I’m already on the path to transformation.”

If you had told me years ago that I’d be sitting here today, beaming with pride and writing about my son rocking solo parent duty for several weekends during the summer, I probably would have smiled and said, “Of course he will.” But watching it unfold in real life? It still touches my heart in ways I can’t fully describe.

Have you ever caught yourself saying “yes” when every fiber of your being wanted to say “no”? Or found yourself doing something not because it aligned with your heart, but because someone else expected it of you? If so, you’re not alone and it might be time to check in with your boundaries.

Recently, I found myself in a moment that left me shaking my head, feeling equal parts annoyed and fired up. I was with three wonderful women: smart, funny, vibrant women all in our second half of life. We had made reservations at a lovely restaurant with an enchanting view of a hidden city park. It was the kind of place where you want to linger, catch up on life, and watch the world go by through big windows.

Have you ever had one of those weeks that seems to disappear right before your eyes? You wake up on Monday, with a long list of things to do, a calendar full of appointments, a few goals in mind, and then somehow, it’s Sunday evening and you’re left wondering, where did the time go?

For years, I was on autopilot, doing all the right things, the things good moms, good wives, and responsible women do. I raised my family with love, devotion, and the kind of energy that makes you forget to pause and ask, “What do I want?” Somewhere between soccer practice, meal planning, and cheerleading for everyone else’s dreams, I left a part of myself behind.

Let’s talk about overwhelm for a minute. You know the feeling, the never-ending mental checklist, the pressure building behind your eyes, the weight of everything you need to do that’s sitting heavy on your chest. Overwhelm doesn’t ask if you’re ready; it just arrives and takes over.

Recently, I was reminded of a powerful lesson that I keep learning over and over again, one that sneaks up on me when I least expect it and cracks my heart open a little wider each time.

June is my birth month and something about it always feels like a gentle invitation to pause, reflect, and realign with what truly matters. Longer days, warmer sun, and blooming gardens are the perfect backdrop for a deeper kind of becoming, the kind that happens within.