I was visiting with a client the other day, and something she said really struck me. She mentioned coming from a family where her dad had done well in his career, and with that came certain expectations—maintaining appearances, presenting a specific image.

Over the last month, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting a mallard duck’s nest in the planter attached to the front of our house.

There are experiences that are memorable and those that are truly transformative. This weekend was one such transformative experience. I had the honor of officiating my daughter's birthmother's wedding.

This is a story of why not hitting my goal is a celebration.

So why am I celebrating?

We’re taught that we need to be good students and an A is expected. For the overachievers among us, failing can feel unacceptable. So we only learn that perfection is preferred and failing or making mistakes is bad.

Exactly a year from when I burned out, I started my coaching training. I started my journey excited and as we did the personal work, I dug in deep. Confronting my limiting beliefs, working to detach from identities, particularly those I strongly associated with, such as being a "good mother." This journey uncovered my fears of being an inadequate mother due to my path to parenthood being through adoption.

I've been in the dark depths where joy felt like it didn't exist. Finding small pieces of joy in my life helped pull me out of these dark depths.

I discovered Human Design through my therapist while I was recovering from burnout. She suggested I look up my Human Design. I figured it would be another type like Enneagram or even something like "Eat for Your Blood Type." This suggestion led me to a whole new world of self-discovery. I dove in deep, as I tend to do when something truly intrigues me.

We all have a purpose. It can sound like such a cliché and yet when you figure out your purpose and have it in the back of your mind, it can shift things. You have a sense of direction.