Episode 118| Embrace Your Story & Lead with H.O.P.E.

LWH Podcast Recording: What if the hardest chapters of your story aren't just something you've survived? What if they're part of what shaped you into the person you're becoming? I've been thinking a lot about that question as I prepare for a women's leadership symposium this October. My keynote is called Embracing Your Story and Leading with Hope. And honestly, working on this message has caused me to look at my own story in a different way. Here's what I mean: our stories don't just shape how we lead, they shape how we live. And sometimes they can remind us that it's time to take better care of ourselves too. When I was in my early 20s, my mom died of cancer. She was only 44 years old. I was in college, I was married, I was raising two small children, and during that season of my life, I had the responsibility, the privilege of caring for my mom. It was hard. Being a caregiver requires a lot of you, and sometimes you don't realize just how much you've given until years later. After college, I went into education. I became a school social worker and then a principal and eventually a superintendent. Looking back, I don't see that journey as simply a career. I see it as a calling. The loss of my brother Brandon had deeply shaped me. My community surrounded me when I experienced that loss. And I wanted to become the kind of person who could do the same thing for others. So I spent decades helping people navigate hard things. Students, families, other educators, leaders. But when you're used to being the person who showed up for everyone else, it's easy to put yourself somewhere near the bottom of the list. And that's exactly what I did for a lot of years. Now, fast forward to today, I carry a lot of stories with me. Some of those stories are painful, some are beautiful, and some honestly I would rather forget. But all of them have shaped me. shaped me into the person that I am today. And recently my husband and I had some blood work done. Most of my numbers weren't too concerning, but my cholesterol was high and my triglycerides were very high. And it got my attention. because I realized I have a responsibility to take better care of myself. I want to be here for the people that I love. I want to enjoy my grandchildren. I want to continue doing work that matters. I want to see what God has in store for the next chapters of my life. And that means that my health has to become part of my purpose. For most of my life, when I thought about getting healthier, my motivation was weight. Fit into a smaller dress size, a certain number on the scale. But I'm looking at it differently now. My goal isn't to just lose weight, even though that is part of the goal. It's to be healthier. It's longevity. It's to have the energy and the strength to live a life that I am called to live. So I'm starting with the basics. I'm changing some of my eating habits. I'm increasing protein. I'm adding more fruits and vegetables. I'm reducing processed foods, added sugars, carbohydrates, and I'm making movement a daily priority, a daily habit. I'm not calling it exercise yet. My goal is 30 minutes a day, but I'm giving myself some flexibility. It can be a walk or a bike ride. I've thought about trying something new like pickleball. Some of the things I enjoy doing is going to the park with my grandsons. The other day I did a little jog with my four-year-old grandson at the park. Some days it might just be 10 minutes, and that's okay. Other days might be an hour. The goal is simply to move every day and find activities that I enjoy. I'm also exploring some supplements with guidance from my healthcare provider. And I want to be clear: I have a doctorate in educational leadership, I am not a medical doctor. So I'm sharing this from my personal experience, not giving medical advice. So don't misunderstand me. I'm going to continue working with my healthcare providers to determine what's best for me. Because the goal for me is to understand my health, to address what I can through lifestyle, and to make informed decisions And this is where my keynote message comes full circle. Hope isn't just something we talk about when life gets hard. It's something we build. The habits we practice today shape the life we'll live tomorrow. And I'm learning that taking care of myself can't be something I do only when I have time. It has to become a part of my everyday life. I have to be a priority in my life. I could look at my blood work and focus on what I've done wrong. Instead, I'm choosing to see it as information. Information that gives me an opportunity to respond. That's what an optimistic outlook does. It doesn't deny reality. It helps us to believe we can still influence what happens next. My health is connected to my purpose. I want to continue serving leaders. I want to speak and coach. I want to be present with my family. I want to run around the park with my grandchildren. And there are still chapters I want to live. And excellence. It doesn't mean perfection. It means stewardship. It means doing the best I can with what I've been given. For me, that means making better choices more consistently. Not trying to completely overhaul my life overnight. Maybe you've been there too. You've spent years taking care of everyone else. You've built your career, you've raised your children, you've supported your spouse, Cared for aging parents, led organizations, walked through grief, and handled responsibilities that nobody else could see. And somewhere along the way, you've become really good at putting yourself last. Maybe this is your reminder. You matter too. Taking care of yourself is not selfish. It's part of being able to live and lead from a healthy place. Your story has brought you this far, but your story is not finished. If what I've shared resonates, you know the cost of the status quo, the persistent feeling of being last on your own list, the isolation of leadership, and the slow burnout that comes from pouring into everyone but yourself. We tell ourselves that we're going to focus on our own growth when things settle down. But that day rarely arrives on its own. If you're ready to step out of that cycle, I'm opening a limited number of spots for the Hope Collective This is a VIP level experience designed specifically for leaders who want to be intentional about their growth and need a circle of peers who truly get it. This group is small by design, ensuring you aren't just another name on a list. Don't let another season go by where your own well-being and growth are sidelined. If you're ready to reclaim your purpose and lead from a place of wholeness, Visit my webpage using the link in the show notes. as I prepare for my keynote this October, I'm realizing that embracing your story doesn't mean loving every chapter. It means acknowledging where you've been, recognizing how it shaped you, and choosing how you want to move forward. My story, it includes loss, it includes caregiving, It includes leadership, it includes purpose. And now it includes a renewed commitment to take care of myself so I can fully live the life ahead of me. Maybe your next chapter needs something similar. You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to take the next step. Because your story matters, your purpose matters, and there is still hope for the chapters ahead. Until next time. Keep leading with hope, and remember the best chapters of your story may still be unwritten.

LWH Closing: That's a wrap for today's episode of Lead with Hope. ⁓ Remember, ⁓ the world needs your leadership and change starts with you. ⁓ Fuel your life with HOPE, embrace your purpose, and shine your light for others. ⁓ If this episode inspired you, I'd be so grateful if you could take a moment to give us a five-star rating and share it. ⁓ Every review helps spread HOPE ⁓ and empowers more leaders to rise. ⁓ Thanks for listening ⁓ and until next time, ⁓ keep leading with HOPE. ⁓