The Most Unexpected Yes
A few weeks ago, in a shocking life twist, I got engaged.
The story reads like a fairy tale: it involves reconnecting with the guy I took to my very first high school dance, falling in love decades later, and now, choosing to spend the rest of my life with him.
None of this was on my radar.
I’m in my (mid) forties and have never been married. I was (mostly very happily) single, living in big cities, traveling, building a life I loved, fiercely independent to my core. I certainly never expected to find a life partner in Buffalo, a place I adore but never envisioned calling home again. And I definitely never imagined ending up with someone so different from me on paper.
But here I am, leaning into the surprise and surrender, and it’s honestly the perfect thing for me.
It reminded me that we’re always exactly where we need to be. Though I've been saying this for years, living it is different. I've felt "behind" in various ways and still do sometimes, but that perception is simply false. The timing of everything - including meeting my fiancé - has been perfect in retrospect.
If I had met him even six months earlier, it wouldn’t have worked, because I wasn't far enough along on my path of self-discovery. I spent months doing the inner work to keep growing and evolving, and shortly after, he appeared in my life.
Getting clear on who I was meant connecting the dots in my life and making difficult changes. It was deeply uncomfortable to break old patterns and walk away (often unceremoniously!) from people and situations that weren't serving me. But the payoff has been nothing short of transformative.
And this applies across the board: I’ve been saying for a long time that shutting the wrong doors for us opens the right ones (both literally and energetically). It takes some courage, but growth rarely feels comfortable in the moment, right?!
Oh, and one more thing, this is your reminder that the perfect evolution - whether it's your next chapter, ideal partner, breakthrough product, or career direction - may not arrive in the package you expected. That was certainly the case for me, and has been in a lot of areas.
The great news is that it will likely be even better than what you originally envisioned.
(Though I will admit, I never compromised on height and I’m marrying a 6'7" man! Some standards are worth keeping :).
I'll say it until I'm blue in the face: have patience, have faith, and maybe most importantly, have fun.
When you're doing the work to grow, staying open to unexpected possibilities, and trusting your unique timing, the rest will certainly come.
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It might seem like a stretch to equate my engagement with the consulting/coaching/advising work I do, but it’s so related: Through my own personal and professional experiences (the good and the bad) I figured out how to move forward myself and support others in doing the same.
I help women-led businesses and purpose-driven women leaders turn clarity into action with smart strategies, soulful support, and sleeves-rolled-up execution.
Combining decades of entrepreneurial experience with deep listening, tactical savvy, and mindset work, I show you how to move from chaos to clarity, and get unstuck! Whether you’re launching something new, scaling a brand, or navigating transition, I meet you where you are…and help get you where you’re going.