My next wave in life

Curious about what’s next?

So am I. My Next Wave is a place for exploring what comes next, what helps us feel more alive, and what we discover when we keep growing, moving, connecting, paying attention, and being willing to begin again.

What helps us feel more alive?

I keep coming back to my three core values: growth, movement, and purpose, supported by connection and humor. Together, they help guide My Next Wave and help me pay attention to what brings energy, meaning, and aliveness to my life.

These are mine. Yours will look different.

That’s part of what I’m curious about: what matters most to each of us, what gives our lives energy and meaning, and how getting clear about those things helps us live more intentionally.

I believe a fulfilling life takes curiosity, exploration, and work. It means paying attention, trying things, learning about ourselves, and making choices that reflect what we value. The work is worth it because it helps us create a life that feels meaningful, intentional, and fully our own.

Growth core value icon

Growth:
continuing to learn, try, and begin again

Movement core value icon

Movement:
staying connected to my body and energy

Purpose core value icon

Purpose:
listening for what’s next
& the courage to follow it

Humor supporting core value icon
Connection supporting core value icon

Connection:
with people, nature, and what’s real

Humor:
not taking myself, or any of it, too seriously

What about yours?

Identifying my core values gave me a clearer understanding of what matters most to me and how I want to live.

If you’re curious about your own, this is the core values exercise I used to help identify mine.

Explore Brené Brown’s Living Into Our Values exercise →

Paying attention along the way

What helps us feel more alive isn’t always something big.

Sometimes it’s trying something we’ve never done before. Sometimes it’s movement, challenge, connection, quiet, awe, or simply noticing something we might otherwise have missed.

These are some of the moments I’m noticing in My Next Wave.

Back to donating!🩸😊 I missed donating blood this summer because I’d traveled to an area with malaria risk and had to wait until I was eligible again. So I was very happy to be back at the American Red Cross! From check-in to donation completed, under 27 minutes! The actual blood donation took 6 minutes and 5 seconds. But what I love most happens after I leave. The Red Cross sends text updates when my donated blood arrives at a hospital, and I just learned that I can also follow my blood’s journey through the Red Cross Blood Donor App. I love getting those notifications and seeing where it has gone. I don’t know who will receive it, but knowing it could help someone I’ll never meet is mind-blowing to me! I’m grateful for the opportunity to hopefully make a small difference in this world.❤️ And if you’re eligible to donate, I hope you’ll consider it.😊 #MyNextWave #BloodDonation #AmericanRedCross #GiveBlood #ConnectionMatters
Every time I fly, I find myself staring out the window in awe. All of these incredible cloud formations from one flight across the US! The shapes, the layers, the shadows, and the constantly changing sky. And the fact that I’m actually up here, flying among them! No matter how many times I fly, I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. My head is in the clouds, and I love being here!☁️😊 #MyNextWave #HeadInTheClouds #CloudWatching #EverydayWonder #WindowSeatViews
Naming What Matters.😊 My second Substack is about something I’ve wanted to explore for a long time: my core values. With some guidance, reflection, and quite a bit of narrowing down, I landed on three: Growth, Movement, and Purpose. Along wi
Naming What Matters.😊 My second Substack is about something I’ve wanted to explore for a long time: my core values. With some guidance, reflection, and quite a bit of narrowing down, I landed on three: Growth, Movement, and Purpose. Along with two supporting values that mean a great deal to me: Connection and Humor. What I’ve come to recognize is that identifying my values isn’t about having everything figured out or always living up to them. It’s about paying attention to what matters to me and being more intentional about how I want to live. I’ve shared what these values mean in my own life, including some of the challenges, uncertainty, and joy that come with trying to live by them. And perhaps it might encourage you to think about what matters most to you. My new Substack, Naming What Matters, is available through the link in my bio. #MyNextWave #PersonalGrowth #CoreValues #IntentionalLiving #KeepLearning
Something new for My Next Wave. 🏄 I’ve started writing on Substack ! Instagram has become a place for me to share what I notice and experience. I’ve been wanting a space to explore those experiences more deeply, what they mean to me, a
Something new for My Next Wave. 🏄 I’ve started writing on Substack ! Instagram has become a place for me to share what I notice and experience. I’ve been wanting a space to explore those experiences more deeply, what they mean to me, and what I’m learning along the way. My first essay, Welcome to My Next Wave, is an introduction to why I’m beginning this journey and a question I keep returning to: What helps us feel more alive? I’ll be exploring growth, movement, purpose, connection, humor, and plenty of things I’m still figuring out. I’d love for you to come along, and perhaps consider some of these questions for yourself. You can read my first essay through the link in my bio. Subscribing is free, and I’d love to have you along for the ride! #MyNextWave #PersonalGrowth #LivingIntentionally #StayCurious #FindingPurpose
The closer I look, the more there is to notice. From a distance, a tree. A hay bale. A field. Move a little closer and suddenly there is shape, texture, light, color, detail. Maybe that’s part of what I’ve been learning through all this paying attention. There is always more to see. 🍂 #MyNextWave #Noticing #PayingAttention #NatureDetails #VermontAutumn
Voice lessons, with a view.🎶🍁 I took my Zoom vocal coaching lesson with Paula @pbandj.music outdoors, beside a pond surrounded by the colors of fall. Was I a bit distracted? Absolutely!😂 There was gorgeous fall foliage, asters still blooming an
Voice lessons, with a view.🎶🍁 I took my Zoom vocal coaching lesson with Paula @pbandj.music outdoors, beside a pond surrounded by the colors of fall. Was I a bit distracted? Absolutely!😂 There was gorgeous fall foliage, asters still blooming and holding onto a bit of summer, a bee busy exploring the flowers, and even a dandelion gone to seed. And of course, Paula and I had to stop and make a wish on the dandelion puffball!😊 There was singing, learning, laughter, and plenty of moments when nature captured my attention. What a wonderful way to spend time doing something I enjoy, with someone I enjoy, surrounded by so much beauty. #MyNextWave #KeepLearning #VocalCoaching #NatureNoticing #VermontAutumn
Some days, paying attention is easy. Vermont in October is making that especially true. 🍁 No lesson. No big thought. A view worth stopping for. Hashtags: #MyNextWave #PayingAttention #VermontFall #AutumnInVermont #Noticing
Some days, paying attention is easy. Vermont in October is making that especially true. 🍁 No lesson. No big thought. A view worth stopping for. Hashtags: #MyNextWave #PayingAttention #VermontFall #AutumnInVermont #Noticing
PR Week! Time to see if I could beat my personal records from May. The results? 🏋️ Box squat: 155 lbs. Down 15 lbs. 🏋️ Bench press: 95 lbs. Matched my PR! 🏋️ Deadlift: 190 lbs. Down 25 lbs. No new personal records. And honestly, I’m not surprised. This was a different summer. My mom experienced a number of health issues that required much of my time, attention, and energy. There were plenty of days when I didn’t have the energy or strength I wanted to bring to my workouts. But I kept showing up. Every week. And when I look back at what this summer held, I’m happy with what I accomplished. I still want to get stronger. I still want to beat those records. But I’m learning that progress isn’t always measured by lifting more weight. Sometimes it’s measured by continuing to show up when life is asking a lot of you elsewhere. Grateful for Jenna and @jhazdofitness, my trainers, who continues to challenge me, encourage me, and help me discover what I’m capable of. On to the next PR week!💪😊 #StrengthTraining #ShowingUp #KeepGettingStronger #MyNextWave #WomenWhoLift
When strength training starts at 7 AM, there’s not much room for figuring things out in the morning! So tonight I’m getting everything ready for a full day of doing things I love, things that feed me. Strength training with @jhazdofitne
When strength training starts at 7 AM, there’s not much room for figuring things out in the morning! So tonight I’m getting everything ready for a full day of doing things I love, things that feed me. Strength training with @jhazdofitness, voice coaching with @pbandj.music, and a one-on-one Pilates session with @pilates_by_nicole. Water bottles, electrolytes, protein, workout clothes, and everything else I need to get out the door. I’ve learned that a bit of preparation makes it easier to show up for the things that matter to me. And that 7 AM start will be here before I know it!💪🎶 #MyNextWave #StrengthTraining #PilatesPractice #KeepLearning #IntentionalLiving
There’s my practice swing. And then there’s what happens when I actually try to hit the ball. 😂 Somehow, the two don’t always look alike. Fortunately, Patrick has been coaching me in golf. Quite the undertaking! 😂 He’s patient, incredibly knowledgeable, encouraging, and continues to believe in my golf game even when I’m not so sure about it myself. I’m learning. I’m humbled often. And I keep trying. And every once in a while, something wonderful happens. Like getting the ball over the water and onto the green! Normally, the sight of that water gets into my head, and my swing falls apart. But not this time! My reaction says it all. ⛳️🙌 I’m not where I want to be with my golf game, but I’m enjoying the process. Most of the time! 😊 Grateful for Patrick and the opportunity to learn from someone who makes both the challenge and the experience so enjoyable. #LearningInMotion #GolfLessons #KeepLearning #MyNextWave #GratefulForGreatCoaches
Back to donating!🩸😊 I missed donating blood this summer because I’d traveled to an area with malaria risk and had to wait until I was eligible again. So I was very happy to be back at the American Red Cross! From check-in to donation compl
Every time I fly, I find myself staring out the window in awe. All of these incredible cloud formations from one flight across the US! The shapes, the layers, the shadows, and the constantly changing sky. And the fact that I’m actually up here
Naming What Matters.😊 My second Substack is about something I’ve wanted to explore for a long time: my core values. With some guidance, reflection, and quite a bit of narrowing down, I landed on three: Growth, Movement, and Purpose. Along wi Something new for My Next Wave. 🏄 I’ve started writing on Substack ! Instagram has become a place for me to share what I notice and experience. I’ve been wanting a space to explore those experiences more deeply, what they mean to me, a
The closer I look, the more there is to notice. From a distance, a tree. A hay bale. A field. Move a little closer and suddenly there is shape, texture, light, color, detail. Maybe that’s part of what I’ve been learning through all thi
Voice lessons, with a view.🎶🍁 I took my Zoom vocal coaching lesson with Paula @pbandj.music outdoors, beside a pond surrounded by the colors of fall. Was I a bit distracted? Absolutely!😂 There was gorgeous fall foliage, asters still blooming an Some days, paying attention is easy. Vermont in October is making that especially true. 🍁 No lesson. No big thought. A view worth stopping for. Hashtags: #MyNextWave #PayingAttention #VermontFall #AutumnInVermont #Noticing
PR Week! Time to see if I could beat my personal records from May. The results? 🏋️ Box squat: 155 lbs. Down 15 lbs. 🏋️ Bench press: 95 lbs. Matched my PR! 🏋️ Deadlift: 190 lbs. Down 25 lbs. No new personal records. And honestly, I’m not s
When strength training starts at 7 AM, there’s not much room for figuring things out in the morning! So tonight I’m getting everything ready for a full day of doing things I love, things that feed me. Strength training with @jhazdofitne
There’s my practice swing. And then there’s what happens when I actually try to hit the ball. 😂 Somehow, the two don’t always look alike. Fortunately, Patrick has been coaching me in golf. Quite the undertaking! 😂 He’s pa