Remember When Life Felt Playful? Let’s Get That Back.
The unexpected gift of losing everything
We’re taught that losing something—a job, a relationship, an opportunity—is a kind of failure.
But what if it’s actually a redirect?
At this stage of life, we have decades of experiences, each one packed with wisdom. Yet, somehow, we still minimize ourselves, whispering:
"Who am I?"
"Why would my life experiences matter to anyone else?"
And you know what? Maybe they don’t.
And that’s exactly the point.
How Losing Everything Gave Me My Future
Years ago, I lost my real estate investment—the very thing I had planned to secure my retirement. Then came COVID, and suddenly, I was down to zero means of supporting myself, aside from a small Social Security check.
I felt trapped. But here’s the thing: having my back against the wall is actually a good place for me.
Because that’s when the fighter in me kicks in.
At the time, I had been selling a few pieces of art each year and growing my following on Facebook. While it was glaringly obvious to me that I should pursue art full-time, my loved ones? Not so much.
Oh, game on. I was going to make this happen.
So, I took the courses. Did the workshops. Followed all the business strategies.
It worked. For a while.
But somewhere along the way, I realized I had traded joy for dollars. And suddenly, painting—the thing I loved most—felt like a transaction.
And that wasn’t enough.
Helping Others Find Their Way Helped Me Find Mine
That’s when I shifted gears. I leaned into mentoring other artists—helping them navigate the art world, build confidence, and believe in their own creativity.
And in those conversations, I heard the same frustration over and over:
"My dream feels impossible."
"Nobody believes in me."
"Who am I to do this?"
Over time, I saw the real pattern.
💡 The dream wasn’t the problem. The belief was.
Because without belief, desire fades. And without desire, action never happens.
I realized something else, too.
The majority of the people I was mentoring?
They were women.
Women who had spent years—decades—putting themselves last. Women who had pushed their own dreams aside, convinced that they didn’t matter.
That hit me hard.
Because how dare we, as a society, as individuals, as fellow dreamers—trample on someone else’s deepest desire?
I believe that dreams are our soul’s way of connecting us to something bigger.
To purpose. To God. To Source. To the Universal Energy that fuels every living thing.
The name doesn’t matter.
The connection does.
The Moment It Clicked: ReClaiming Dreams
And yet, here I was—living proof that reclaiming a dream is possible.
For a year, I kept asking:
"How can I help other women believe in their dreams, in themselves, in the sheer value of those two things combined?"
And then, at the start of 2025, it hit me.
💡 I love to write. Not long-winded essays—pithy, powerful messages.
💡 I love storytelling.
💡 I love proving that it’s NEVER too late.
So, I started ReClaiming Dreams.
And now? Here we are.
What started as a single idea is turning into a movement. And if you’re here, reading this—you’re part of it.
You’re not too late.
You’re not too old.
Your dream still matters.
And we’re going to prove it. Together. 🚀💛
Come Play With Me: The Art of ReClaiming Dreams 🎨✨
There’s a painting I created called “Come Play With Me.” It hangs in the waiting room of a women’s hospital in Louisiana—a small offering to the children waiting while their mother brings new life into the world.
A tree. A swing. An invitation.
At first glance, it’s for the children—a moment of lightness in the midst of waiting. But I’ve come to realize… this painting was always for us, too.
Because reclaiming dreams?
It’s serious work, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be playful.
The Sunset of Fear, Doubt, and Worry
The tree stands strong, deeply rooted, just like you—your history, your experiences, your journey.
The swing? That’s possibility. It’s freedom. It’s movement. It’s the dream waiting for you to step onto it.
And the sunset? That’s the sunset of doubt. The sunset of fear. The sunset of every voice that ever told you, “You can’t.”
Because here’s the truth:
💡 The work of reclaiming dreams doesn’t have to feel heavy.
💡 It doesn’t have to feel impossible.
💡 It doesn’t have to be a struggle.
What if, instead, it felt like play?
What if we approached this journey with curiosity instead of fear?
With wonder instead of hesitation?
With the same lighthearted spirit we once had on a swing—trusting the motion, leaning into the wind, letting the momentum carry us forward?
The Invitation: Come Play With Me
I don’t just write about reclaiming dreams.
I invite you to step into them—with joy, with possibility, with a little bit of rebellion against the idea that it’s too late.
This is work.
But it’s also play.
And just like that swing in the painting, it’s waiting for you to take the first step.
So—come play with me. 🚀💛