When I was in second grade, I raised my hand 🖐 when asked, “Who has a three-syllable name?” “Meeeeeee!” I enthusiastically replied. “What’s your name?” The teacher asked. “Charlene!” The teacher clapped once for “Char” and again for “Lene.” “No, sorry that only two syllables.” The entire class snickered and laughed at me. That was […]

The assumption is we hit a certain age, certain career stride, certain milestone and we think we’re done. We’ve got it all figured out. And then life pulls the rug out from under you and says… now what? And you’re on the ground fighting for the rug back. I’ve learned to stop fighting it. To […]

We arrived on camels 🐪 in 108 degrees to the Sahara Desert for one night only. This was last May 2019 on my retreat to Morocco. I remember feeling the unbearable humidity during the night, the sweat on my sticky skin and darkness like I had never experienced once we closed the doors to our […]

I read that before, but I didn’t quite understand how it applied to my life…until turned forty. When I turned forty I spent one full year tackling fearless acts around aging, going after my dreams and finding true love in New York City. And every time I would show up to do something fearless, like […]

Like a sugar addict, I needed the sweet rush of others to confirm my point of view. I noticed as soon as a problem, trigger or new idea would arise, I would grasp for someone’s approval, like I was drowning in my own uncertainty. I felt it in my soul that I could do better. […]

We live in a results-driven culture. Show me how you made a million dollars, bought the house, traveled the world, lost the weight, found the partner. People are always trying to prove to you or show evidence of their success, their growth. But true spiritual growth cannot be measured by external factors. True spiritual growth […]

I remember when I finished yoga teacher training in 2010 and I was working a full-time office job I hated… ⠀⠀I was complaining to a friend about this said job and how much I wanted to leave but I was afraid. I thought my only option was to get another job while trying to gain […]

I was sitting in class as a senior in college, counting down the days until I could graduate and start my life when…⠀⠀A young woman stood up in front of the class and started talking about working on a farm and how much she loved it. She was earnest and humble in a way that […]

The first time I heard that question I was on a stage at a rehearsal studio waiting for feedback from my teacher after I just sang.⠀⠀I didn’t respond.⠀⠀He asked again: What are you afraid of up there?⠀⠀I was stunned. Voiceless. I felt like I wanted to cry out of embarrassment. Other students were sitting in […]

So there I was, relaxing at Washington Square Park after just talking with my good friend, April about how I need a day to relax and not think about doing another fearless act when…this guy walks by me with a small camera crew and a sign that says: “Truth or Dare, Me.” Hmmm, I thought. […]