LEMON TREE: A PLACE FOR OUR STORIES

There was a time I thought I needed to use every waking hour for professional development, and everything I did had to be in service of my leadership. I was wrong.

It took the joy out of my life and my work. Dedicating my life 24/7 to my profession sounded noble, but it left me no time for art, music, writing, or even cooking. All I was doing was “growing” as a leader or helping others “grow” as leaders.

I forgot that true growth as a leader meant enjoying life. I forgot that creative expression is a critical part of leadership despite all the forces pulling me back to a 24/7 work model. I forgot that engaging in fulfilling activities outside of work fires up the part of our brain that promotes well-being, helps us to think differently, and enables us to tackle challenges creatively.

Neglecting the things that brought immense joy, sweetness, and tenderness to my days resulted in losing my zest for life. Writing, which in the past had been my greatest creative expression, had become a chore. I was only writing for work, not for myself.

I slowly found my way back to my words and voice, thanks to Jena, my writing coach. Lemon Tree: A Place for Our Stories is the result of our work together. I love telling stories and hearing other people’s stories, and I realized I wanted to create a place where we could gather for this reason alone. Women are full to the brim; our stories shape us, yet too often, they go untold in a world that has forgotten to listen.

Lemon Tree: A Place for Our Stories is still just a baby, but I cannot wait to introduce it to you. Go to www.lemontreestories.com. Take a peek and tell me what you need me to know!

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