A lot happens in a year

I'm sitting here at my desk, watching the winter sun dance across the water, reflecting on a year that feels like several lifetimes packed into twelve months. You know that moment when you pause to look back, and suddenly everything comes rushing in at once? That's where I am right now.

This year taught me something important about our capacity to hold both grief and joy, endings and beginnings, all at once. Spring brought the kind of losses that shake your foundation. We said goodbye to three beloved family members in quick succession. Each loss carved out space for deep reflection, forcing us to ask ourselves those big, uncomfortable questions about what truly matters.

And then, in one of those strange twists of fate that life sometimes delivers, our dream house appeared – the exact one from my vision board (I still can't quite believe it). Sometimes the universe has impeccable, if challenging, timing. After 25 years in one place, we took the leap. Now I write to you from our new home, with its sweeping water views that remind me daily of life's constant flow.

On the professional front, the work we're doing with The Uplifters feels more vital than ever. If there's one thing I've learned beyond doubt, it's this: when you bet on women, you're betting on resilience. We have this remarkable ability to take life's toughest moments and transform them into stepping stones.

Some highlights:

- Launching our first-ever Uplifters Live event (and yes, mark your calendars – the next one is coming on March 13, 2025, on my 50th birthday!)

- Hosting our inaugural community retreat

- Recording and sharing over 50 interviews with inspiring women for the podcast, each story a reminder that we all have more courage than we know

- Writing a book proposal that aims to share these remarkable stories with an even wider audience

But here's the thing – and I see this in every interview, every conversation: we all struggle with limiting beliefs, those nagging voices that whisper "not enough" or "not ready." That's exactly why we need each other. Our stories are more than just narratives; they're deposits in what I like to call our "courage capital" (thanks,

Cher

)– that precious resource that grows every time we face a fear, learn something new, or help someone else rise.

What transitions shaped you this year? Which challenges helped you grow? And most importantly – what moments of courage (big or small) are you most proud of?

I'd love to hear about one moment where you surprised yourself this year. When did you do something that the "old you" might not have believed possible? Share your reflection in the comments below – your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear right now.

Looking to channel this reflection energy into intentional action? I'm excited to share two gifts to help you step boldly into 2025:

➡️ First, paid subscribers can find my complete Year-End Reflection Guide below – it's a thoughtful companion for processing your 2024 journey and dreaming into what's next.

➡️ Plus, I'm offering something special: Courage & Clarity Sessions for January 2025! In these intimate 75-minute 1:1 sessions, we'll dive deep into your reflections, identify your core desires for the year ahead, and craft a practical roadmap to get you there. I have just 8 spots available at $275 (regular price $400). These tend to fill quickly, so if you're feeling called to start your year with purpose and momentum, reply to this email to claim your spot.

Here's to honoring where we've been and boldly stepping into where we're headed!

Aransas

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Your Next Uplifter

Our next episode of The Uplifters Podcast is headed your way on Thursday featuring Tania Kinsella the first woman of color to serve as First Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, the nation’s largest police department. We talk about her remarkable journey from taking the police exam on a whim to leading with love and humility at the highest levels of law enforcement. Tania shares how she maintains her humanity while making tough decisions, balances being a mother with a demanding career, and stays focused on building meaningful community relationships.

Paid Subscriber Zone

✨ Huge gratitude to our paid subscribers! Your support makes all the difference. An extra special thank you to our newest paid subscriber,

Jamie Bolton

.

✨ Save the date for the next meetup. Details below.

✨ As always, all of my writing is free and you can listen to every episode of the podcast for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack, or wherever you get your podcasts. For those of you who are more visual or want to take a deeper dive with our guests and who want to support this work with a paid subscription, you’ll find the extended-cut video of my conversation with Aditi Sethi below.