Summer 2023: A Pause to Reflect

Photo by Allie Jorde Creative in Sedona, Arizona

“Why the hell does ‘someone like you’ live in Wisconsin?”

This is a question I am asked several times a week, and although I understand why and know there’s no ill-intent behind it, I am still taken aback every time I hear it.

To some, Wisconsin might seem boring–maybe even a little “backwoods” to the metropolitan city folks. But if you’ve been here and you’ve truly experienced all this beautiful state has to offer, you’ll realize there’s so much more than what meets the eye. That was confirmed to me in July when hundreds of bloggers and content creators from around the world visited my humble little city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and I got to experience it again for the first time through their eyes.


Sure, we have long, seemingly never-ending winters. And yeah, once in a while they get a bit brutal, but that’s why we have wine and books and cozy blankets.

Those winters give us the opportunity to hibernate, recharge, and reconnect with ourselves in ways that we otherwise might not take advantage of.

We are actually quite blessed to have a full four seasons here in Wisconsin. Seasons that give us a visceral reminder that it’s time to move from one phase of life to another. Seasons that remind us that time is passing by quicker and quicker, and if we don’t take advantage of it, we’ll blink and be one year older before we even realize it.

I’ve been home in Wisconsin since early June, and it’s been a summer of catch-up from a busy spring that was jam-packed with travel that left me feeling pretty depleted, both physically and emotionally. I’ve focused my summer on trip planning (I currently have 10 trips planned over the next 10 months–some group trips, some professional development, and a few personal endeavors thrown in) and honestly, just catching my breath.

But it’s also been a summer of reconnection, not only with the place I love and call home and the people I have missed while being gone—but most importantly, reconnection with myself. I’ve been lucky to be able to work from home with my Border Collies sleeping by my side while I take endless Zoom calls and spend a lot of time alone, and it’s been very rejuvenating.

The summer of 2023 was lived to the max, and I absolutely made the most of it. There were happy hours and wine dates, music festivals, pool parties, bonfires, late nights that turned into early mornings, and (of course, if you know me) many bad decisions. I explored new restaurants, kayaked, floated down the Chippewa River, went jet skiing (and flipped my first jet ski, oops!), took road trips, saw some of my favorite bands, worked backstage at my favorite music festival, and took time to strengthen my friendships, both old and new, and near and far.

Backstage at Blue Ox Music Festival in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Professionally, I attended my first travel conference and made tons of new connections and friendships, got my first hotel and brand partnerships, sold out a trip in record time (33 minutes!), was the guest speaker for my local women’s networking organization, and bought my first drone. I was a guest on many podcasts and learned that I can share my stories in other ways that don’t involve being on camera all the time (and that it’s okay that I don’t want to be). I committed to tons of coaching—I currently have four different coaches I work with—and doing the hard work on not only my business, but also myself. I’ve invested more money into my business than I’ve made this summer, trusting that it will pay off in dividends for my future self. 

I’ve dealt with imposter syndrome, asking myself regularly “who am I” to be doing these great big things, stepping into leadership in new, unfamiliar ways, and, if I’m being honest, putting myself out there in ways that make me immensely uncomfortable. But I’ve gotten very clear on the mission and vision for my business in the future, and I’m excited for what’s to come.

I’ve also been presented with opportunities that didn’t feel in alignment and made the difficult decision to pass on situations—and people—that weren’t right for me. I’ve gotten better at creating boundaries and saying no. I’ve ended relationships, both personal and professional, and I’ve had to accept the fact that some people will never like me, no matter how hard I try to please them.

People pleasing is an ingrained trait that is hard to overcome, but the harsh reality is that I’m not going to be for everyone—nor was I meant to be—and that’s okay.

And then there have been the not so great moments this summer, like finally settling my stalking case that’s been going on for nearly two years and weighing in the back of my mind every single day. I rarely talk about it (I will soon, I promise), but it’s been stressful and something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Because I was the victim of an ongoing investigation that was finally going to trial this year, I stopped talking about it publicly. I was going to be testifying in court, and I didn’t want anything I said to be used against me by the defense, so I kept quiet. I’ve also struggled with someone close to me wrongfully being imprisoned (unrelated to the stalking case) while I am out living my best life, and feeling ashamed, guilty, and embarrassed for the complexity of my feelings about the situation. I’ve done so much shadow work and probably learned more about myself this summer than I may have in my entire life up to this point.

I’ve had to process that my senior dogs (who are my whole life and have been my family since I got divorced six years ago) won’t be here much longer and prepared myself mentally and emotionally for what’s soon to come for my oldest dog who has been living with heart disease and now kidney failure. I’ve become a caretaker to her and learned to love her in a way that I never could have anticipated, and it’s been hard to think about leaving her in a few days for fear she won’t be here when I get back.

My sweet puppers, Ziji and Rigby

Traveling all the time can be really hard, especially when it’s for work. Don’t get me wrong–it’s such an amazing opportunity and a privilege to be able to have the world literally at my fingertips, but it’s also extremely difficult at times. It’s a challenging juxtaposition to want to be out seeing the world and also longing to be at home for fear of what I’m missing. The reality is that when you travel, you’re never 100% satisfied in either place–when you’re traveling, you miss home, but when you’re home, you long to escape and explore.

“When you travel, you realize you have the world at your fingertips, and it doesn’t really matter where you’re planted as long as you love it.”

FOMO while traveling is real. I miss holidays, weddings, milestone birthdays, concerts, and moments I will never get back while I’m gone, and it’s sometimes really hard to accept. I hate when someone asks me to do something and I have to decline because I will be gone on a trip. People always respond with something to the effect of, “oh, well that sounds way cooler anyway,” but the reality is that one isn’t better than the other. Travel is important, but it’s not everything. It’s difficult to visit friends and family who live far away because when I am finally done with my travel obligations, the last place I want to be is anywhere other than home. Burnout for an entrepreneur is real, and doing it on the road is even harder because you lack the stability you have at home.

This is the path I chose, and it’s part of the deal—there are pros and cons to every career path, regardless of how glamorous it may look on the outside. I don’t share this to be a martyr or to seek pity, but to offer perspective to those who think that living the travel life is all glitz and glam. It has its perks, absolutely, and I am truly fortunate to have been able to create this life for myself, but it’s also a reminder that nothing is ever what it appears to be from the outside, and everything has its challenges.

Photo by Allie Jorde Creative in Sedona, Arizona

So the short answer to the question of why I live here: because I choose to.

This place molded me into who I am, it keeps me grounded and sane, and surrounds me in nature and arguably the kindest, most loving people you can find in the United States. When you travel, you realize you have the world at your fingertips, and it doesn’t really matter where you’re planted as long as you love it. I am so fortunate to say I really can explore the world whenever I want, but there’s still only one place I want to call home. 

And it’s called Wisconsin.