One of my best and dearest friends said to me Friday night, “You are amazing. And crazy. But those go hand in hand, I think. Most amazing people have to tackle crazy to find their amazing.” Laughs…not sure I am amazing…I am simply surviving like most. Crazy…probably…most definitely. But, when times are hard or life throws you a loop, you have no other choice but to find your way in a different way. That good advice was from my mom. I am so grateful and lucky to be surrounded by such strong women.

Not sure about all of you who might be reading this blog, but it is easy to feel overwhelmed and exhausted in times of uncertainty and increased worry - be it a child, family, friend, societal pressures, a pandemic, politics…etc. Right now, it feels like the answers are so hard to come by…maybe not even available or yet defined in this new space and time our family and society finds itself. But, maybe we should be asking ourselves questions. Questions can pave new ways…new bridges with awareness, perspective and understanding. By seeking to understand and exploring what we do not already know we empower something different…we just have to define what different is. And the questions per author Kobi Yamada are so simple, but powerful. Questions like: What is my gift to share? How can I help? Where is the opportunity? What am I grateful for? We all need to pause and wonder, imagine and explore what is beyond the world we know and understand. Only then will new insights be found and new conversations sparked. We need to stop, pause, capture our own attention and think about things in a whole different way.

I certainly find myself in uncomfortable waters, but the surrounding environment remains beautiful and hopeful. I just keep treading.

Right now I have to trust and follow my dreams praying they know the way. I have to trust because after our journey this past year all the other ways I have known and understood to be true no longer make sense. I have to have faith that I will find my way in a different way. I think I am…and so will all of you. We all just need to lead with our hearts and have a bit of faith in ourselves and each other.