If you looked at me you would think my life has been easy. A quick glance wouldn’t tell you I’ve been through hard challenges and struggles, just as most of us have. It took me a long time to admit these struggles and have the courage to be vulnerable and open up about my past. I got used to putting a smile on my face and pretending everything was fine.

I share my story with the hope of helping other people realize we all face challenges and hard moments in life and that we aren’t alone. We can lean on one another and share, be willing to open up, learn from each other, and come out stronger. Life can be challenging for all of us, and talking about it and sharing is a way for us to feel more connected.
Two weeks after I had my first daughter my Mom passed away from cancer. It was devastating and I spent a long time pretending everything was OK. For years, I tried to distract myself from being honest about the pain and sadness that followed me around like my shadow. Grief can be a tricky thing and I didn’t know how to help myself. It’s been over twenty years since my Mom passed away, and I’ve finally made peace with her death and had the courage to talk about it. I know she would never have wanted her death to get in the way of me living my life, but it took me a long time to realize this.

Close to nine years ago my life was going brilliantly, undeniably, perfectly well, and then one day it wasn't. You see, there was this lump on my right breast that I happened to mention when I went to the doctor to get an antibiotic. I couldn't seem to shake a cold, and I never get sick. I thought she would dismiss it and tell me not to worry about it, but instead, several days later I found myself getting a biopsy.

And you can guess the rest.

It sounds cliche, but it really does happen that way. One day you think you're totally fine, and the next, you're sitting on a couch, hearing you have The Big C, and wondering if you're going to see your children get married. It ended up being breast cancer. Luckily, I found it early, and aggressively treated it with the many tools available. This experience brought up a lot of memories from when my Mom was sick. I know how hard it is to live in the world without my Mom, and I would never want my daughters to have to go through this at such a young age. To say it was a challenging time is an understatement.

Going through all of this changed me. I found myself questioning what I was doing with my life and my time. And, that's when I quit my job at a large bank as a Financial Advisor, where I worked for over twenty years, and made the decision to start CRAZY PERFECT LIFE.

People always ask me what Crazy Perfect Life stands for. It’s simple. Life is messy and full of ups and downs. At the same time, it’s precious and something to be cherished. My experiences have taught me what is truly important and I don’t take my life for granted.

My friends and family are everything to me and absolutely the most important part of my life. I live in North Carolina with my husband, Jon, and our dog Oliver. I love when our two daughters, Zoe and Avi, come to visit. We have a house full of joy, spirit, and fun.

After going through breast cancer at age 42, I learned the important things in life aren't represented on a balance sheet or financial statement. I guess you could say that cancer gave me the courage to do what I truly want to do. So, I'm doing it. When I was little I used to write short stories and “books” just for fun, but I was more concerned with the size of my paycheck than doing something I truly loved.

That was then, this is now.

Writing is something I am passionate about, and my books are written from my heart to yours. Everything I’ve been through has taught me how valuable each day of our lives is, the importance of taking the time to strengthen our relationships and connect with other people, and not to take anything for granted. Life is uncertain. For me. For you. For all of us. The way through the challenging moments is to realize you don’t have to go it alone.

I love sharing my message and speaking to organizations, women's groups, large corporations, nonprofits and schools. Taking the stage and speaking to groups is one of my favorite things to do.

I'm truly living the life of my dreams and I don't take any of it for granted!

Join me in making the most of your Crazy Perfect Life. Together, we’ll find meaning each day and learn to thrive, no matter what.

I’m so glad you’re here!