I Won the Award. I Lived the Life. But I Forgot One Thing
My Own Damn Dream
Many years ago, I won an advertising award for Best Ad of the Year from the Oklahoma Newspaper Association.
And I beat out all the men—the supposed professionals.
That part? It matters.
I had no help preparing my presentation. No idea what I was doing. No clue what the expected norms were.
Meanwhile, the Madison Avenue types huddled in their elite little group, laughing at me. Their presentations were polished, filled with gimmicks and flair.
Mine?
It was just my one-page ad about delicious apples, pasted on a piece of cardboard. No fancy title. No sales pitch. Just the ad.
When it was time to announce the winner, everyone knew who it would be.
A particular gentleman—an advertising director from one of the largest newspapers in the state—was already halfway to the podium, preparing to accept his award.
But then—they called my name.
The judges from New York City determined that the little gal from podunk Oklahoma actually had the best design.
The room went silent.
Still.
Nobody moved.
And there I was—a lone preacher’s wife, scared of her own shadow, suddenly holding an award that changed everything.
For a single second, I went from a wallflower ad salesperson to the most sought-after person in the room. Suddenly, people were asking me for advice on their projects, treating me like I was some kind of advertising guru.
I was 26 years old.
Now, Let’s Frog-Leap Over Five Decades.
Here I am, begging and cajoling my fellow mid-life, empty nest, and boomer women to reclaim their dreams.
Why?
Because advertising was never my dream.
That award had a life of its own, pulling me into a career that kept me working like a dog while raising my family.
Sure, it provided for my family.
Sure, I had some fun.
But it wasn’t MY dream.
My dream? Got put off for decades.
There was no dream coach tapping me on the shoulder saying:
"Hey, what are you doing about that dream the universe placed in your soul?"
But here’s the kicker: Now, that IS my dream.
To be the one tapping YOU on the shoulder.
To be the voice saying:
"Hey, what about YOUR dream?"
One little Substack post at a time.
Re-Claim YOUR Dreams isn’t just another workbook—it’s your personal roadmap back to you. It’s designed to help you peel back the layers of doubt, conditioning, and forgotten aspirations so you can step fully into the dreams that have always been waiting for you. Through guided exercises, reflections, and actionable steps, you’ll start to rebuild the confidence, clarity, and belief that your dreams are not in the past—they’re right here, ready for you to claim. And the best part? You won’t be doing this alone. I’ll be walking this journey with you, one step at a time, cheering you on, holding space for your breakthroughs, and reminding you every single day that this is your time.