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New Beginnings under the Cherry Blossoms
Every March I travel to Washington D.C. for work and it was an annual tradition for my Mom and I to meet in the city several days in advance of my meetings. We enjoyed exploring museums, monuments, galleries, and trying new restaurants while logging many miles of walking each day. This year I went to Washington D.C. for the first time since my Mom passed away. I knew this trip would bring up tender emotions and a yearning for her presence, but it would also bring memories to mind that I have not thought of in some time. While stepping onto the Metro platform for the first time I was…
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An Unexpected Coffee Date with my Mom
On really cold winter days in the Pacific Northwest I slip on my Mom’s puffy jacket and pop on her cozy Ugg hat when I take my morning walk. I’ve been doing this for two winter seasons now and I thought I knew each pocket and feature of the jacket. One morning during my walk I found a top chest pocket I just hadn’t noticed before and I opened it up. Inside was my Mom’s business card with $10 cash, it felt like striking gold and it was such an unexpected surprise. Right after my Mom passed away I made a promise to myself that I would continue to talk…
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Receiving Birthday Love from Above: My 40th
Today 40 years ago I was placed into the arms of my Mom for the very first time. That moment is one of the greatest gifts I will ever receive – the gift of her nurturing love, guidance, and presence in my life for 38 years along with countless lessons that she taught me along the way. I wanted to share just a handful of those lessons with you today to mark this milestone day. Lesson #1: Be Present. When my Mom and I talked on the phone (which was all the time) she would stop what she was doing and would give me her full attention. In a time…
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Speaking Words of Comfort
Have you ever struggled with what to say to someone who has had a beloved family member pass away? Or what to say when a cherished pet has moved on? Or wondered how to support that person in the months that follow? I’ve been giving this some thought over the past 9 months when family and friends have come to me asking, “What do you need?”, “How can I support you?”, “How can I be present for you?” Just asking those questions is the first step in continuing a healthy relationship with the person going through those big life changing events. Many people say not to ask questions, to just…
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Presenting the Outstanding Community Achievement Award – 2021
My Mom, Kelly Buchanan was the founder and creator of the HER brand (https://her.today) – a program in eastern Iowa that empowers women and gives them the tools and community support to succeed in any career path they choose. After my Mom’s passing her colleagues reached out to me and we met in March 2021 to discuss creating a new award in her honor. The Outstanding Community Leadership award was born and I had the honor to present this award to the recipient in person on June 16, 2021. This event was small and intimate, it was the first event many of us were able to attend in person and…
