They say good things come in threes. That was certainly true for me in Mayโa month of abundance.
The first good thing involved my friend Bryan Wittman, Owner and President of the Dry Creek Group. He invited me to collaborate on the script for a Key Ceremony he was producing in honor of WNY Army veteran Nathan Kalwicki and his wife, Veronica. The โkeyโ unlocked the door to a mortgage-free, specially adapted home built for the Kalwickis by the nonprofit, A Soldier's Journey Home.
Bryan and I have worked together for more than a decade, and each event has been creatively fun. This time, the experience went beyond that into a realm of meaningful and life-changing. It was also consuming for everyone working with Bryan on the ceremonyโall of us striving to go above and beyond for the Kalwickis in thanks for what they have given to our nation.
At the end of a ceremony filled with music, patriotic pageantry, heartfelt speeches and fireworks, it was everything we had planned, worked for and hoped forโand more. And I will be forever grateful for the experience.
The second good thing that came my way in May was a client for my new business.
Yes, I have started a new business. Itโs called The Next Chapter: Moving You and Your Memories with Care. I decided to launch this service after reviewing my life experiences of moving my family 12 times in ten years, working as the move-in coordinator for Fox Run at Orchard and helping family and friends downsize, upsize and relocate throughout my life.
That review helped me realize I have the skills to help people during one of the most stressful times of their lives: moving.
My client is also a friend---Mike Billoni--- who recently was downsizing from a suburban, 1,700-square-foot house with land and gardens to a one-bedroom condo in the city. The work is everything I anticipated and more. More fun. More interesting. At times, more challenging. And unexpectedly, more meaningful.
Yesterday, Mike sent me this note: โThank you for all you did for me in making this move. My new home is a dream come true.โ Iโm going to frame his words, along with a couple of photos of his beautiful condo, in affirmation of all that is possible in life.
I saved the best for last with my third good thing from May. I have been invited to participate in the San Diego Festival of Books, sponsored by @https://www.facebook.com/KPBSSanDiego. This is my first foray into Southern California, and I am excited for the opportunity to bring ๐ป๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐, and all of my books, to new audiences. I am also reinvigorated to make additional national connections for ๐ป๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐presentations and signings.
The abundance of goodness in May was equal parts exhilarating and exhausting, especially when adding the demands of my weekly podcasts. Looking ahead to my summer calendar of gardening, family birthdays, weddings and seasonal traditionsโand the need to cram in as much fun as possible before it starts snowing againโone thing has become clear.
I need to step back from my podcasts until the fall, or perhaps even the New Year.
Itโs a decision I made thoughtfully and with a twinge of regret. Nonetheless, there are only so many hours in a day and only so many ways I can stretch. Ultimately, I am grateful for the abundance of May, which has provided me the wisdom to chooseโand a direction in which to grow.
Thank you to everyone who supported my podcasts and enjoyed them. I look forward to returning to them in the future.
Talk soon.