For the first decade of my adult life, I played small.

While I'm proud of the work I did and the life I lived during this time, I followed the safe path laid out by societal norms and pushed down the callings of that still small voice inside me.

I bounced around as a classroom teacher, coached many a season as a swim coach (Go Gators!), earned a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and was on track to becoming a school principal.

As much as I LOVED teaching and working with kiddos, I felt trapped. Daily.

I would stand in front of the classroom and silently think, this isn't for me. Claustrophobic overwhelm would creep in without warning and wasn't a quiet guest. My inner voice grew from a whisper to a shout: I needed to make a change.

I listened.

I quit my jobs as a teacher and swim coach, sold my car, donated a bunch of furniture and clothes, moved out of my apartment and bought a one-way ticket to Rome.

I used the funds I'd initially been saving to buy a home to explore our world for a year, meeting beautiful people and places along the way.

Traveling around the world solo for a year took courage, openness, and deep trust in my inner voice.

I learned these truths:

• When we open ourselves to the world, the world opens itself to us.
• Everything we need exists within us already. We have the answers.
• Gratitude works wonders beyond measure.

I also learned this truth, an affirmation I return to again and again:

Halfway through my year of travel, I spent two weeks in Northern India on a yoga retreat. It was here that experienced a deep knowing that we are far more powerful than we realize.

We are connected to Source Energy.

Transformed and inspired by my time in India, I created a yoga retreat company, Travel Soul Yoga. I'm proud of the experiences and connections we've created for women around the world.

At the beginning of 2020, I tripled my investment in Travel Soul Yoga and took action to expand the business-- launching more retreats in one year than in the previous two years combined. Weeks before our first retreat of the year on the Amalfi Coast, travel shut down...as did the business.

Cue another pivot.

I spent the first month of quarantine like much of the world: in sweatpants, self reflection and Netflix. I turned to journaling and meditation exercises I'd been using for years, especially during times of transition and transformation.

These exercises were (and continue to be) so instrumental in my self-development that I integrated them into a cohesive mini-course, Cocoon Work, just for you.

Through intentional writing exercises and meditations, Cocoon Work gives you the tools to get clear and take inspired action toward your dreams.

I loved creating Cocoon Work and can't wait to share more of it with you as it evolves.

It's an honor to be on the self-development journey with you.