The courage to speak my truth

This week, I narrated the audiobook for my memoir, Dancing on My Own Two Feet. It was an emotional, fulfilling, and deeply special experience I’ll carry with me forever.

A year ago, I was still tethered to my corporate career, knowing deep down that launching my book the way I envisioned would require a leap of faith. Seven months ago, I took that leap, trusting my intuition to guide me as I retired from my twenty-year public accounting career.

Since then, I’ve been focused on restoring my energy, detoxing from patterns that no longer served me, and regulating my nervous system in a healthier way. These past few months have been about rebuilding—not just my strength, but my confidence in fully owning my story.

When I shared my memoir’s pitch at a French writing retreat over the summer, I could barely hold it together. The emotions overwhelmed me, and I cried as I spoke. That same wave of emotion returned this week as I narrated some of the more challenging parts of my story. But it wasn’t until I finished the recording that the tears really came.

Throughout the process, I felt as if I were channeling an inner strength—stepping into a version of myself that was calm, grounded, and present. Whenever strong emotions threatened to take over, I paused to take a deep breath, reminded myself of the importance of sharing my story clearly, and kept going. I allowed my voice to carry the depth of my journey, but I didn’t let the emotions derail me.

Sharing my story with the world is too important to take lightly. I approached this week with the seriousness it deserved, warming up my voice with exercises, paying close attention to my nutrition and sleep (as best I could, with a sick child waking me in the middle of the night), and carefully enunciating each word.

I know this experience would have been very different if I had tried to squeeze it into the margins of my corporate life. Staying emotionally steady, present, and regulated would have been challenging if my energy were pulled in competing directions.

I’m deeply grateful for the inner work I’ve done over these months to strengthen my nervous system and prepare myself for this moment. It’s allowed me to fully step into my author era.

If audiobooks are your favorite way to experience a story, I hope you’ll enjoy listening to mine when it releases next April.

What experiences have you navigated that have been emotional to share? What tips have helped you stay emotionally regulated? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

For the world needs who we were made to be.

Cheers!