The Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything for Me 

Five weeks.

That’s all the time I had between the diagnosis and brain surgery. Five short weeks to absorb the shock, prepare for what was coming, and face the questions I’d been too busy to ask. 

I wish I could tell you I used that time to live boldly—resigning from my job, savoring every sunset, holding my daughter close like it was our last day together. 

The truth? I didn’t. 

I kept moving.
I kept showing up to work.
I scheduled the appointments.
I packed school lunches.
I waved goodbye to Elaina every morning with a heart sign and a smile, pretending nothing had changed. 

Everything had. 

Inside, I was unraveling.
And running. 

I ran in the early mornings. At lunch. After work. I pushed my body hard, hoping the exhaustion would knock me out at night. Sleep never came easy. My mind was spinning with everything I was losing—not my job, not the house, not my title – time. 

It was time that I was grieving. 

Time to watch Elaina become the young woman I already saw glimpses of.
Time with Ed, living the dreams we’d built together.
Time to prove—if only to myself—that I was more to me than what I accomplished. 

When Life Pauses, You Listen 

We all do it.
When someone we know gets sick or suffers a loss, we feel that jolt of clarity. We promise ourselves we’ll live differently. Be more present. Make it count. 

And then Monday rolls around.
And we get back into our routine.
And we forget. 

It’s not until time is taken from us—without warning or negotiation—that we finally see how carelessly we’ve spent it. 

That diagnosis pressed pause on my life, and for the first time, I really looked at how I’d been using my days. I saw all the ways my calendar was full, yet my soul was empty. 

It’s an all-too-common story. As a CEO, carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, I consistently missed bedtime stories and family dinners. Even when I was home, I wasn’t really there. My mind was tangled in strategy decks and board meetings. 

I told myself it was just a season. Yet for many people, that season never ends. 

Being Intentional Will Reshape Your Life 

One of the first questions I ask at every workshop I host is:
“Why is this important to you?” 

It’s a simple question.
And it’s also a mirror. 

If you’re not living in alignment with what truly matters to you, your time will reflect that. Here’s a short and powerful exercise to help put things in perspective: 

• Write down who and what matters most. 

• Look at your calendar. How much time are those people/things actually getting? 

• Then ask yourself—what needs to shift? 

Be honest.
The answers might sting. 

Here’s the uncomfortable question I had to ask myself: 

If I only had a few months left… would I be proud of how I spent my time? 

It’s a gut punch.
And also, a wake-up call. 

You don’t need a health scare to start living on purpose.
You just need a pause. A deep breath. A shift. 

Give yourself permission to take one now. 

Look at your calendar.
Then look at your heart.
Do they match? 

If not—it’s okay. You can change that. Today. This hour. With one decision at a time. 

Because this too shall pass.
And the only thing we can’t make more of… is time. 

Ready to Realign Your Life? 

If these words stir something inside of you, now is the moment to lean in.

My new book, You Don’t Have to Achieve to Be Loved, is an invitation and roadmap back to yourself. Inside, you’ll find the same reflective prompts and real-life lessons that helped me rebuild a life anchored in love and purpose. 

You deserve a life that feels like yours again. Order your copy and take the first step to reclaiming your life today.