Hi Reader,
As most of you know, over many years my spouse and I have built a life that dances beautifully between California and Vienna, Austria (where my husband is from). In not having any kids and both being able to work remotely, our philosophy has been one of, "why not?" and trying to have the best of all worlds. It's worked super well for us.
But, in between flight connections, weeks of jet lag, and small, quiet moments, we've been quietly testing the thought: what would it be like to move to Europe? Full time? Like, for real?
To be honest, we’ve been tossing around possibilities for years. Austria, was top of the list, sure, but there was another option that kept resurfacing. And, the more we looked into it, the more it made sense.
And, that option, was Ireland.
Let me back up.
I’ve felt a deep, slightly weird/vibey connection to Ireland my entire life. I grew up hearing hazy stories of the mysterious Irish relatives my mother remembered from her childhood, stories tinged with a grief beyond the loss of specific people, but of a connection to something greater.
In my late teens, I would listen to the weekly Ceol na nGael Irish trad music program on WFUV and half-jokingly ask my mom if she thought I had an Irish accent (I didn’t).
In high school, when asked to give a presentation on what “the kids were listening to,” I chose an Irish band that was on repeat for me (I definitely did not represent "the kids"). In my early 20s, I hitchhiked coast to coast across Ireland from Dublin to Dingle and back. In my 30s, I spent lunch breaks buried in New York City’s Municipal Archives, searching for immigration and vital records of my Irish family, hoping to cobble together enough hints to find them.
And about five years ago, all of that work paid off.
In a very, "Oh there you are" moment, my grandmother’s cousin finally found me on Ancestry.com. We met in-person a few years ago during a trip where I also toured around with my husband, trying my best to show him this magical place through my eyes while not accidentally driving on the wrong side of the road.
That trip stitched something together.
So when we started thinking about long-term plans - where we could land, live, belong - Ireland came forward as both a deep personal connection and a brilliant solution. We’d be much closer to his family, and not much further from mine on the East Coast. It checked every box.
And so, a few months ago we decided we're going to have our toes in Irish soil by January 1st (Dublin, specifically).
In between tackling a seemingly ever-growing list of to-dos, we’ve been sharing the news with friends. And, while there’s excitement and understanding, there’s also a touch of grief. It's an odd feeling to leave somewhere you love as much as I love Topanga.
It's also interesting for me to see how I protect myself by being slightly in denial that I won’t see so many of my people regularly anymore.
That said, for my clients, many of whom are already familiar with my cross-continental life, not much is changing. I cracked the code long ago for making this work across time zones, and I’ll continue to coach, create, and connect as always.
A close colleague and I are already excitedly planning in-person workshops and events for us to jump into together in Dublin and nearby Bristol, and it feels like the puzzle pieces are clicking into place.
There are still a lot of unknowns. But my gut is clear: the road ahead is the road. It’s alive, and calling, and I’m answering. And it feels right.
All the best,
Fresh from the Blog: The 6 Types of Entrepreneurs
Not all entrepreneurs lead the same way, and understanding how your personality can shape how you lead and cope with stress changes everything.
Click here to view the full post
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I'm so thrilled to share a big congrats to Dr. Kristi Clarke on the launch of her new podcast, Climbing Fish Parenting, a podcast for parents whose kids don’t respond to typical parenting advice (think ADHD, autism, anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or just beautifully wired differently). |
Kristi offers practical, behavior-informed strategies that work with your child’s wiring with real scripts, specific examples, and zero shame. If you’ve ever heard a parent say “I’ve tried everything and nothing works,” this is for them.
Each episode offers practical insight, emotional grounding, and the kind of nuance that real parenting requires. You can listen at Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Learn more at climbingfishparenting.com
Self-Doubt's only job is to pump the breaks. Forever.
If you’re procrastinating, people-pleasing, feeling paralyzed, hustling for worthiness, or letting perfectionism keep you under lock and key—congratulations: you’re human.
You also have self-doubt (same thing).
I help entrepreneurs and leaders heal their self-doubt, build self-trust, and connect with their inner leader—using evidence-based methods with compassion and clarity.
If that sounds right up your alley, I invite you to inject a little bravery into your here-and-now and join me for a free virtual discovery call.
An accompanying cup of tea/coffee/cocoa is encouraged and possibly mandatory. I can't wait.
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