Nine Messy Experiences That Opened My Heart And Mind

For this blog, I’ve promised to help you uncover more joy in your life, but I’ve also promised to be real with you. To be real means looking at the messy pieces of our lives that are a natural part of being a human being, then choosing the path to joy through the mess. As I sit down at my computer this week, I can’t think of anything else but Charlottesville. I see white male …

Kristi Hittepole Profile: A Bold Battler Surrounded By And Raising Strong Women

Kristi Hittepole is a 40-year-old financial consultant and single mom of two busy girls, age 14 and 11. She’s a breast cancer survivor who has undergone over 20 surgeries since 2011. She’s my cousin-in-law and latest inspiration. She candidly shares how her divorce was the impetus to shift her life from being selfish to being focused on something more important. She describes a horrible journey through breast cancer with a realization of the strength of …

Michelle Stephens Profile 2: How The Mahaan Aasha Foundation Came To Be

I admire that Michelle Stephens, age 34, has made helping the children of India the focus of her life’s work through her creation of the Mahaan Aasha Foundation. India is a hard place to visit because of the extreme poverty. My heart was broken so deeply there I can’t imagine going back anytime soon. Yet she’s committed to going back every year to help more children and build human connection. During the interview for Michelle’s …

The Power Of Making Your Commitment Known, Or Oh Shit, I Really Have To Do This Now!

I was planning to wait to share my commitment to Joy Discovered with the world until I had at least five Real Women Real Strength profiles published. But as I was making dinner for my boys last Friday night, the idea for a Facebook post announcing my blog came to mind. I jotted some notes in my phone and re-visited them the next morning while enjoying my signature grande nonfat no-whip cinnamon dolce latte at …

Tropical Storm Joy: Why Changing Your “We Can’ts” To “Why Nots” Will Add More Joy To Your Nights

I’ve been working on this blog for less than a month and already it’s causing a shift towards more joy in my life. Tonight as the boys and I were wrapping up dinner, the ominous navy sky broke open to sheets of pouring rain. Tropical Storm Emily had graced us with her presence yet again. I don’t remember exactly how it came to be but we all, dogs included, ended up out on our lanais …