What else I’ve done…
When I graduated from college, I was a hardcore environmentalist. In fact, I was certain that would be the work of my life. My first “real” job was as an intern for the Union of Concerned Scientist where I helped coordinate an education campaign on global warming. When that ended, I moved to Portland, OR and got a job at a recycling magazine. But life had other plans for me.
I soon found myself living in Hong Kong, working as the sales manager’s assistant at a large knitwear factory. Living there was a culture shock in many ways. There were many things I loved about living overseas, but life for me was challenging primarily because my job was not a good fit.
I yearned to do something vital, something that would make a difference both in people’s lives and for the planet. After an agonizing six months, I quit and did some serious soul searching.
This resulted in my landing a job teaching at an international high school. When I moved back to the States five years later, I was hired as an elementary teacher at a private school in Santa Monica, CA.
And then in 2000, I moved to Florida. Initially, I stayed home with my kids and volunteered at my older daughter’s school, the River School, located on my teacher’s ashram. I loved how the school was dedicated to bringing deep love and compassion into the classroom. The next school year I was hired as an educational consultant and continued to work there until the school closed.
In 2004, I co-founded The Willow School, a private K-8 school in Vero Beach, FL, with my husband. We started the school with a line of credit we took out on our house, and opened (despite two hurricanes that fall) with 11 children. In 2007, when the economy in Florida collapsed due to the housing crisis, we lost half of our enrollment and were $80,000 in debt. Instead of closing, we re-structured and a year later were back to break even. I served as the Executive Director until 2013.
In 2008, I went back to school this time for Social Work. As part of my program, I interned in community mental health serving low-income families, children in foster care, and families who have experienced abuse. I also worked as a hospice social work intern where I counseled terminal patients and their families through the dying and grieving processes.
In 2013, I left Willow to launch Decide Differently offering 1-on-1 counseling, workshops and meditation for people seeking positive change and self-transformation.
In addition, I’m a business consultant focused primarily on visioning, systematizing procedures and marketing.
In 2016, my family relocated to Washington State where I continue to see clients, teach meditation, write a regular blog, do sacred art, and travel.
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