In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, I’m sharing a list of 52 things I’ve Learned in 52 Years—from life’s tender truths to tiny practices that keep me grounded.
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You can grow up in the Great Plains of Oklahoma and still dream in (broken) French.
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The courage to veer off the expected path—like taking a gap year to ski and snowboard in Colorado post-college—can shape your soul.
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Midlife is a permission slip to nourish what you once neglected.
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Paralegal school taught me the power of precision—and that law firms weren’t my forever.
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A yoga mat in a living room can spark a movement.
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Saying yes to self-employment in 2000 was the most terrifying and liberating decision of my life.
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A master’s degree in women’s studies gave language to what I’d felt all along: we rise stronger together and don’t have to accept status quo.
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Growing two yoga studios to 50 soulful teachers and hundreds of weekly students began with one deep breath and a big vision from a DC fourth floor walk-up.
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Trust your obsessions. They’ll guide you across oceans—and sometimes, back to yourself. (Looking at you, Paris and Borneo!)
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Stepping onto a stage—whether to teach, speak, or dance—is vulnerability turned into art. Especially when you're standing there in a leotard!
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Writing, reading, and dancing is how I make sense of the world.
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Blogging since 2004? Still magic.
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Starting a podcast in 2005? It felt like speaking into the void. Then it felt like community. Now it’s pausing for reinvention.
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Social work graduate school in my mid-30s was a second act I didn’t know I needed.
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Paris isn't just a place—it's a way of being.
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Selling something you built from your heart is a heartbreak and a rebirth.
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Private psychotherapy practice reminds me daily of the resilience in all of us.
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Ballet at midlife is a love letter to my younger self.
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The Coterie is proof that midlife can be a renaissance.
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Medals are fun, but the real prize is dancing full out.
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Relationships evolve, stretch, and morph—and still leave room for gratitude.
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Healing is nonlinear and never too late to begin.
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Pugs are life’s greatest snugglers, teachers, and tiny therapists.
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Caring for special needs pugs taught me about unconditional love (and carpet cleaners).
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Orangutans will hold your gaze and your heart—Borneo changed me.
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Pigs & Pugs Project reminds me that small acts of kindness ripple wide.
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A 600-square-foot space can feel like a mini Versailles with a touch of tulle, gold-framed mirrors, sparkly chandeliers, damask wallpaper, a curated perfume tray, lace curtains, and imagination.
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Minimalism isn’t about less. It’s about making space for what matters.
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Podcasts end. Chapters close. And new ones wait for fresh starts.
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It’s okay to not know what’s next. Excitement and fear often travel together.
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Age 52 can feel more awake, aligned, and intentional than 22 ever did.
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Ballet buns, gold hoops, red lipstick, and the LBD are sacred rituals.
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Life is better with playlists, peonies, and Parisian flair.
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Pigs are gentle souls who know their names and helped inspire my path toward more compassionate living.
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Losing yourself isn’t failure—it’s often where the real you begins to emerge.
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Owning a business is not for the faint of heart, but it shapes you in the best ways.
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Every season of life offers a chance to reinvent.
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Being seen and supported in community offers a kind of healing that self-help alone can’t always reach.
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We’re allowed to rewrite our stories—again and again.
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Inspiration is everywhere: in rooftops, café chairs, thrift stores, and secondhand bookstores.
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Grief and growth often walk hand in hand.
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Boundaries are the kindest gifts we give ourselves and others.
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Choosing beauty in a chaotic world is activism. So is kindness, softness, and refusing to rush.
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A matcha latte can be a spiritual practice.
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Tiny steps, repeated often, create big change.
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Nostalgia is a powerful teacher—just don’t live there.
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Therapy works. Period.
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You can be both heartbroken and hopeful.
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The body is resilient. So is the spirit.
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The best accessories are confidence and compassion.
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Rest is not optional. It’s revolutionary.
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The next chapter is unwritten and I’m holding the pen with curiosity and a hint of Parisian perfume and possibility.
Mentioned in the Show A variety of offerings to nourish your soul
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I’m spending five weeks in Paris this summer—studying French, dancing in a ballet intensive, and living the dream midlife-style. Join the waitlist for behind-the-scenes peeks, Parisian inspiration, and special treats along the way!
