Hi, Friend! A (re)introduction

I hope this note lands in your inbox as a happy little surprise.

It’s been a while, so let me remind you how we got here (and why I’m reaching out). For over a decade, my husband Kris and I kept a yearly bucket list and shared our adventures through The Great Goal Rush. That little corner of the internet became something really special — full of joy, encouragement, and connection. For many of you, that space was you.

But somewhere along the way, social media started to drain me. So I stepped away, which also meant stepping back from that wonderful community. Before I left, I asked for your contact information, not knowing exactly what I’d do with it. 

Well… three years later, I’m finally doing something with it.

Of course, you’re welcome to unsubscribe anytime, no hard feelings. But before you do, I have something I think you just might want to hear…


THE GREAT GOAL RUSH… BOOK?

In 2024, I had a lightbulb moment: over a decade of living by a yearly bucket list hadn’t just added excitement to my life, it had rewired my brain. This playful little tradition, born out of curiosity and a need for momentum, had quietly become my compass through some of life’s darkest seasons. It got me through a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. It carried me through postpartum Covid times in April 2020. And while working at a humanitarian organization covering war zones, natural disasters, and global suffering, I kept getting asked: How do you do this work without falling apart?

The answer, surprisingly, wasn’t just retail therapy (though that helped - I call them emotional support shoes). It was this system – this joyful, intentional, goal-setting practice that kept me grounded and dreaming. And suddenly, I realized: Is this my superpower? Should I be sharing this?

That question, the story about this experience in my heart felt like it was going to burst – it prevented me from sleeping.

So in 2024, I answered it the only way I knew how: I wrote a book.

THE WORLD CONTINUES TO BURN

At the start of 2025, as I do each year, I chose a word, or in this case, two, to guide me: “fun and freedom.” I meant freedom from body image baggage, job stress, and anything that dimmed my creativity. I was wrapping up my book, tackling joyful adventures, and finally making space for the things that light me up. 

Then came the plot twist: an unpaid furlough, courtesy of an unelected bonehead and the felon who gutted USAID. 

The irony isn’t lost on me — now “fun and freedom” includes writing cover letters and not having a salary. But oddly enough, the theme still fits. I’m using this time to focus on what truly fills me up and to get even clearer on what’s next. Which brings me to why I’m sending this email.

THE SPARK

The big dream, besides getting this book published, is to turn this superpower of mine into something bigger. What does that look like? Still unfolding. But I know this much: my mission is to spark movement—within ourselves and in the world around us.

I’m rebuilding the community I stepped away from years ago, this time in a more intentional, email-based space. It’s where I’ll share updates, behind-the-scenes stories, and sneak peeks as the journey evolves.

I’d love for you to stick around and be a fellow spark-maker. Or sparkler. (We’ll workshop the name.)

Either way, you’re here now—and that means something. Let’s see where this goes, together.