Five and a half years ago our trusted publisher, Guy, had an idea that I should be a contributor to the Neighborhood Gazette. This idea was sparked after speaking with me on a friend’s house hunt about coaching, my own journey, and my life philosophy. He named this column then and there, “This Way to Happy”. Apparently I made an impression!
What he couldn’t have predicted was what it would open up in my own life.
Last month I led a breakout session at a Cultural Resources/Archaeology Conference in San Diego. It was a beautiful moment surrounded by amazing, talented, passionate human beings. I was challenged to be more than I thought possible, but also exactly as I’ve always been, as I led the group through my framework of leaning into discomfort rather than avoiding it.
What many may not know is that, “Be the Bison,” would not have happened without the Gazette.
Sometimes when we’re building something we know exactly where it will go, and sometimes we surrender and let life surprise us in the most miraculous ways. I have never known where this path I embarked on in 2020 would take me. I’ve trusted my heart, intuition, and the energy that felt light and like it was a way to happy as often as possible — well, at least when I wasn’t getting in my own way.
On May 10th, 2022, I received an email from one of your readers, a Wheat Ridge local. A few zoom calls later, and he made the bold move to trust me with 10 weeks of coaching and where he wanted to go in life and leadership. Fast forward to 2026, he and I were hugging at the conference that also had three other former clients, cohorts of your neighbor. Their field of work is so intricately interwoven and also so impactful to our everyday lives.
Being trusted with this column has become a monthly ritual for me, and it’s truly always been a great honor and gift, but it’s also a way to stay connected. What I’ve learned is that this publication is more than just something in print and online. In my experience, it is a trusted community.
It is with the deepest of gratitude, and a bit of thanksgiving cliché, that I thank the team that makes this publication real every single month. Guy, thank you for trusting me, and seeing me and my gifts so many years ago. And every single person that reads this column, has reached out or connected, you are my why. Thank you.
May your presence and desire to empower a local community ripple out and return back to you ten thousand fold. [email protected].
