As I look back on 2025, one of the defining themes of the year has been reflection and transition. Professionally, I left the world of nonprofit fund development after five truly amazing, growth-filled years. Personally, it culminated in sending three kids off to college. While not something you will find on a LinkedIn profile or résumé, being a working mom has shaped how I make career decisions and, to a large extent, how I have defined success.
Years ago, I left what felt like my dream job in San Francisco when we had our happy oops third child and moved to more family-friendly Austin, Texas. I could not have known then that Austin would become our home for the next eighteen years and counting. Sending our third child off to college marked a significant pivot for me in ways I am still uncovering.
When my husband and I welcomed our third child, we talked about the day all three would someday leave home. That day arrived last fall. It came with major logistics and layers of emotional complexity. More than anything, I hope college gives my strong, capable daughters the space to explore, to be curious, and to discover what energizes them. And yes, eventually get a job. I hope they gain skills and perspective that allow them to contribute to something larger than themselves.
At the same time, I am giving myself that same permission. Room to explore and evolve. Room to better align my strongest skills with what I genuinely enjoy and with work that serves our greater community. For those who have worked with me or followed my career, this season is less about reinvention and more about thoughtful alignment and where my experience can add the most value.
That idea clicked for me during my last run of the year while listening to Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty. I am late to this one, but I have been surprised by how many friends had not read it either. Better known today as a speaker and podcaster, his message still resonates deeply.
Shetty describes dharma as the combination of what you are good at, what you love, and how it serves others. What struck me most is his view that dharma is not a title or a single lifelong calling. It is a practice that evolves as we do.
As 2025 moves into the archive and 2026 begins, I am reminded that dharma is not a destination or a milestone. It can unfold slowly, even across generations, and often becomes clear only when we pause long enough to reflect.
Cheers to you, and wishing everyone a purpose-filled new year.
We're Pivoting 
Thank you for sharing!🌿
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