An Honest Reflection on Life and Work

Another year has gone by and we are now into 2026. What a futuristic number. I remember the year 2000 and thinking that was such a big moment and in the blink of an eye, here we are 26 years later. The passage of time is a funny thing. For the last few years, I’ve made a habit of reflecting on the year past and the lessons that came with it. My hope is that in sharing, I can create community and encourage more openness.

The first of January marked two years of sobriety. Alcohol for me was a social lubricant. It made it easier to slide into small talk and it created feelings of connection, even by false pretences. I did not create anything meaningful when I was drinking, it was a house of cards. It was a place to hide. The effects of drinking were wide ranging. I had less energy for my kids, my body was weak and my sense of self was shaky. Alcohol is poison and quitting was an act of self-respect. Looking back over two years, my only regret is not doing it sooner. I have not missed it once.

Not drinking has significantly shifted how I socialize. Without alcohol, I’m choosier about the company I keep. I want real conversations and true connection. I don’t want to fit in, I want to belong. That one shift in my life created a ripple effect of choosing authenticity before all else. To paraphrase Naval Ravikant, an easy life is made through hard choices, and inversely, easy choices make for a hard life. Through a commitment to authenticity, I ended up leaving a marriage because the version of myself that I needed to be to stay could not be sustained through this more penetrating lens. I have a different view on marriage now, and I place a high value on growth, and vulnerability.

The friendships I have now are deeper, and despite asking more from me, the reward I receive in return, is greater. I started a book club two years ago as a way to bring women together that are interested in discussing ideas and being open. It has been a huge success, based on the metric of connection and community. If you are reading this, and are curious, I encourage you to come. Even if you’re not a reader, you can still participate in the ideas and concepts we discuss.

This probably sounds like a mid-life crisis. It was a crisis and I am at that midlife point, so sure! I feel like no one gets through midlife unscathed, however, for some, very little needs to change. For me, it was approaching the awareness of my mortality and wanting my life to mean something. It wasn’t about grand gestures though, it was about intention. It was a call to action and I had to make some changes.

As I look ahead to the year and think about goals, nothing really screams at me the way it has in the past. I used to have a clear picture of all I wanted to accomplish. Now, I just want to focus on good energy, building something meaningful and learning more about things that interest me. I have the most incredible group of women working alongside me, and I want us all to be our very best and to serve our clients impossibly well. What excites me now is raising the bar for the people we serve. Creating strategies to handle complex scenarios. Thinking creatively to present ideas in new ways. Building up our team so we can make a real difference.

Speaking of making a difference, we raised $5000 from our Christmas Minis to donate to the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Centre and an anonymous donor matched our donation, making an even bigger impact. We also raised another $1500 to benefit the Airdrie Public Library. Next year, I’d like to make it an even larger event so we can raise more for the community. If you have any ideas, I welcome them!

For now, I wish you a very happy new year. As always, I'd love to hear from you if you have any questions about the market, or book club or simply want to discuss ideas about life. I love our clients and I'm grateful for each and every one of you.

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An Honest Reflection on Life and Work