Finding & Living with Purpose

Over the years we’ve had the good fortunate of speaking with thousands of successful entrepreneurs, artists and creatives. Some are happy, some are not. The happy ones almost always had a strong sense of purpose and so we are very focused on trying to help our community members and audience find their purpose. This series is our attempt to create more dialogue around finding your purpose.

Tabby Halsrud

My understanding of my purpose has been unfolding over the last several years as I’ve been focused on deep inner work and self-healing. In my twenties and thirties, I held a number of corporate jobs and my top priority was my work. After I became a mother at the age of 37, things began to shift. I realized that all of my relationships were surface-level and strained and I was falling out of love with the daily grind. When I left corporate America and started my own business a few years later, I was pulled into the deep work of soul discovery. My forties were quite tumultuous and full of challenge, personal and professional loss, financial and spiritual poverty, and an incredibly long and very dark night of the soul. Read more>>

Leigh Purtill

The company began in 2017 with the intention of creating a full-length ballet that would be a sequel to Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet.” To do that would require a group of dancers that would be committed over a long period of time. They would need to be willing to explore new ways of creating dance, other than what they had done in the past. Read more>>

Alt.

The alt. Collective consists of five extraordinary musical artists. They find purpose in striving to uplift production quality across the Midwest region and beyond. ROYCE XOXO, Stylist and Audio Engineer, discovered his purpose as a creative who inspires authenticity after realizing his unique fashion sense, musical gifts, and immense self-love. Through his creative endeavors, he hopes to positively impact modern society, and generations to come. Read more>>

Carly Oberbeck

I’ve always had a strong desire to help people, even from a young age. When I was 12, my older sister was in a car accident and became paralyzed. I was deeply involved in her recovery, doing everything I could to support her. It never felt like a responsibility or burden—it just felt like the right thing to do. I believe that experience was the turning point that solidified my passion for a career in physical therapy. Read more>>

Eduardo Delacruz

At 5am most days, I sip my coffee in the quiet of the house. I dust off the record player and place my mother’s Itzhak Pearlman playing Mozart. The cats are still too sleepy to ask for food. A lone light creeps in through the window. As I sit here, in this quiet hour, I realize that my purpose is about connection—connecting with others, helping them to see their own worth, and using creativity as a bridge between them and the world around them. It’s not just what I do; it’s who I am.
It’s clear to me now that helping others has always been a thread that runs through my life. In high school I was the bridge—the one who connected different groups, who befriended the quietest or most “odd” kid and helped them find their voice. It felt natural, like something I was meant to do.
As a teacher, I feel the same pull. Read more>>

Ray Hattori

It’s not an easy question but I strongly believe that I’ve found my purpose or let me say “my mission” through a matrix of my family background, my past experience and my character. Read more>>

Taylor Gatson

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always had a serving heart and I knew that whatever job I had, I wanted it be one where I was able to help others. Before entering the fitness industry, I was constantly trying to find the right career that made me happy, but I found myself just working through the motion. In 2019, I decided to quit my job with the State of MO and take some time to figure out what really made me happy. During this time, I was also postpartum and I didn’t recognize myself mentally or physically. I began dancing when I was 3 and it was always an outlet for me, so in October of 2019, I decided to get certified as a Zumba Instructor and quickly began teaching at my local YMCA. Being in the gym setting I met some amazing individuals and while everyone had a different background, there was always the common denominator of wanting to live a healthy and happy life.  Read more>>

Carly Pok

I have been an animal lover since before I could even walk or talk. My entire family thought I was going to be a veterinarian when I grew up! I ended up taking a corporate job after college and 10 years later I am still in the corporate world. I thought the only way to help animals was to be in the vet field until my husband and I got our first dog, Emmy. Emmy is the typical bully that suffers from crazy allergies. We have been adding natural supplements to her meals and only feeding her single/limited ingredient treats to make sure she doesn’t get any flare up’s from unnecessary ‘ingredients’ that these well known corporations are adding. My husband had the idea of starting a treat company with only limited, clean sourced ingredients to help dogs and cats like Emmy! From thinking we can only help animals by being a vet we are now helping animals on the nutrition side and this is how I found my purpose, by helping furry friends enjoy treats with no B.S fillers! Read more>>

Sonya Azeemey

I believe we find purpose when don’t accept limitations and focus on what makes us feel alive. With this approach, I have always allowed myself to take different paths in life to learn more about who I am. Finding my purpose has been a journey. When I was in school, my favorite subjects involved making colorful fun projects. I loved the arts and projects that inspired me to creative. While growing up I slowly lost touch with that side of myself due to distractions and the mundane responsibilities of life. In time, I found myself suffocating within my own presence as if I needed to break free from something without knowing what that was. Sometimes we get sidetracked in life and forget who we are until those feelings creep in. Read more>>

Jacob Tegtman

Purpose may adapt at each stage of life, or sometimes change entirely. Finding purpose, I’ve found, is usually a process of being quite with myself, and listening to what I hear inside. Some people are naturally more motivated than others, or more easily set goals. Wherever you are is fine. Sometimes, the purpose you find within yourself is that simply being where you are, and being happy with that easefulness, is enough. Purpose doesn’t have to be something “grand,” or world-shaking. The point of purpose is to be harmonious with yourself, with what is. Read more>>

Willis Grajales

I found my purpose through a combination of meditation and a deep belief in my inner calling. From a young age, I’ve always known in my heart that my purpose is to create, to innovate, and to bring meaningful changes to society. Even as a child, I was drawn to inventing—sketching ideas, building prototypes, and imagining solutions to everyday problems. Read more>>

Paula Villarraga

Since I was young, I’ve been captivated by the concept of functionality and how it blends with creativity to solve everyday problems. This curiosity evolved into a passion for architecture and wellness as I realized how profoundly the spaces around us shape our feelings, productivity, and quality of life. Read more>>

Jacqueline Mclean

After nearly 30 years as a nurse with a primary focus on chronic disease, my life took a pivotal turn six years ago when my brother passed away from a heart attack caused by uncontrolled blood pressure. Alongside the deep grief of losing him, I also experienced a profound sense of hopelessness. Despite my decades of experience in nursing, I couldn’t save my brother. Read more>>

Franco Gandolfi

Since childhood, I have been captivated by the idea of standing before an
audience—teaching, performing, and sharing ideas. Despite being an introvert at heart,
I am deeply passionate about discussing my own learning journey, sharing knowledge,
and exploring solutions to the complex challenges of the world. My father also instilled
in me a lifelong commitment to continuous learning and the importance of imparting
wisdom to others. This early influence helped me discover my purpose: fostering growth
and development in people. Read more>>

Lucie Tassel

I spent 10 years in a relationship with a man met in high school. We started to date at 18, studied and then started a career as an elementary school teacher together (not in the same school though). We bought a house, lived together, then decided to get married. To me, my life was all set. But, after 10 years, from a day to another, he left me, just by saying « I think I don’t live you anymore so I leave. » and this was the beginning of my new life. It was so hard and sudden back at the time that I knew it would be for the better. It couldn’t have been other way. I had a depression a few months after, couldn’t go to work, realized my job wasn’t making any sense without him because I actually had chosen my career with him and not for me. Read more>>

Johnicea Miles

I believe I found my purpose in 6th grade, but I didn’t realize what my purpose was until the end of my 20s, going into my 30s. Learning how to sew in home economics is where I first found the inspiration to create and to take a simple piece of fabric to create something you could wear. It was awesome, and you could be as creative as you wanted to be. From there my journey to learn more about sewing and the fashion industry became my pursuit. I took sewing and art classes in high school, and in college I learned about textiles, pattern making, fabric dying, and more. The more I learned, the more my interest grew. What’s interesting is that even though I knew I wanted to make clothes, I don’t think I ever thought of myself making and designing clothes for a living. Now as I am working on building my brand and business. I know for sure that my purpose is to create and to share the joy of creativity and being comfortable with oneself. Read more>>

Gabriela Gjurekovec

Finding my purpose was not a straightforward journey—it was a path shaped by life’s twists, turns, and invaluable experiences. The 2008 market crash turned my world upside down. I lost my job, and with a new house and a baby on the way, I had to get creative. One day, I overheard a realtor lamenting about her struggle to find a good photographer. In that moment, without hesitation, I offered my skills. A colleague of hers took a chance on me, and that opportunity opened the door to a whole new world—real estate photography.Read more>>

Jennifer Donaldson

As a designer with over 20 years of experience, my work is inspired by a rich tapestry of influences—antiques, art, vintage attire and jewelry, textiles, architecture, literature, music, and historical events. These elements come together to form the foundation of my eclectic, multilayered event aesthetics. My deep appreciation for all things vintage fuels my passion for preservation and repurposing, creating beauty from what once was. Read more>>

Cindi Rodriguez

Finding my purpose was driven by my desire to find unique ways to connect with and care for animals, a passion that has been a guiding force in my life. From an early age, I felt a desire to be near animals, to care for them, protect them. and bring happiness into their lives. Animals, especially my own pets, have been my greatest teachers, showing me the power of love, compassion, and trust. Read more>>

Danielle Penn-lusby

I’ve always had a desire to help people. I grew up watching my mother serve others as a licensed cosmetologists and my dad serving as a Church of Christ minister. Serving/supporting others is something that I, in a sense, inherited. All of my career paths have included this concept and I find a strong sense of fulfillment in being there to assist/advocate for others – especially marginalized school-aged children and their families. Recently, however, I had an experience that caused me to question myself and whether or not if helping others is truly my passion/purpose. Through some extensive self-reflection with the help of my mental health therapist, I’ve learned that while my purpose certainly includes supporting others, I can not effectively fulfill that purpose without first supporting myself with a, sort of, selfish intention.  Read more>>

Diamond Natural

I mother died 7 years ago, and was overcome with grief. I became so depressed that I completely disconnected from my family. I was not in communication with them for 4 years. However, this made me more depressed. In an attempt to reconnect with my heritage I clung to memories of my mother and my aunts. Then one day I began speaking with a heavy Guyanese accent. During COVID I often thought of ways to make my FB and IG friends laugh, and I knew I could do it with my Guyanese accent. So that’s what I did. Read more>>

Brandon J. Larry

My purpose was always clear to me from a young age. Making films was all I can ever remember wanting to do. The difficult part was getting sidetracked and finding my way back to my first love for filmmaking. Read more>>

Erica Faye

I’ve always been the shy type when it came to certain things, so finding my purpose as an actress was a beautiful and transformative journey. Especially when it evolves from unexpected circumstances. Coming from a traditional high school where there was no connection to the arts, the shift to an alternative school was a pivotal moment in my life. At first, it felt like a simple requirement—taking theater because it was the only elective available. However, this seemingly random decision set the stage for something much greater. Read more>>

Melanie Patterson

When Jesus revealed Himself to me, I quickly realized why my life “never worked”. I didn’t know God. I didn’t have His Word that is Spirit and Life to lead me and guide me. After giving my life to Him, I realized that I was created by God and for God’s purpose on the earth. In fact, that’s a revelation for each of us to have. God, who created the Heaven’s and the Earth, created us, for Himself. Our main purpose in life is to know God intimately, to have a relationship with Him through Jesus. That’s the MAIN purpose above all other things. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things will be added unto you”. Read more>>

Kyira Tyler- Cox

I believe everyone’s purpose is rooted in answering two core questions: “How can I help people?” and “What am I influencing those around me to do?” My purpose is to inspire women to increase their quality of life through healing and embracing a life of wellness. This clarity came during one of my lowest moments, as I battled untreated anxiety and depression. What I’ve learned—and now deeply appreciate—is that suffering often brings revelation. During that challenging time, I discovered the profound connection between faith, fitness, and mental health, which I felt called to share. Read more>>

Jessica Garrett

My name is Jessica Garrett, owner of Jazzed Up Salon in Oklahoma City. I have an incredible, loving, supporting husband who is my inspiration and cheer leader in life. I’m extremely close with my parents, sister, niece and nephews. My whole life I’ve been lead by my faith. I strive to be the best I can to help provide a better future for them. I enjoy being in nature and going hiking and seeing wildlife, which is where my passion for protecting the environment comes from. I’m a philanthropist with a huge heart. I believe that truly caring about people can change their life and I have that opportunity everyday! Read more>>

Dr. Leili Sadaghiani

I find my purpose in transforming the leadership landscape, especially during today’s climate. After years of working for and with ineffective leaders, I became deeply aware of the profound impact leadership has on individuals, teams, and entire organizations. This led me to write my dissertation about the impact of the hubris behavior of executives on mid-level leaders. My experience and my dissertation shaped my career mission: to tackle poor leadership head-on and prove to the world that good leadership is not only possible but also essential for lasting success. Read more>>

Stephanie Meadows

I found my purpose by trying to stay focused on helping people. I utilize my faith and spirituality to help me stay focused on my purpose. Read more>>

Molly Kay

The concept of purpose is prominent in my book. Charlotte, in her season of waiting, discovers purpose in unexpected places and ways. She learns where it is that her purpose comes from and finds satisfaction and contentment that withstand the trials of waiting. Charlotte’s story is not terribly unlike my own. I have had many seasons of waiting that have lasted much longer than I would have liked, and currently find myself in one I had not expected. Still, as I have waited for what I want to be my purpose in life, I have learned that my overarching purpose is to serve the Lord with the gifts He has given me. This can take so many forms.  Read more>>

Arnisha Allen

I’ve always known the cooperate world wasn’t for me. Never liked being told what to do !! Then one deep & two car seats later I decided to follow the passions I’ve had since a child and start my own business. Now I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur , but mistakenly I let family & friends failures set me back. After having my first son Kingston, my whole perspective on life changed. How could I tell my African American young king that he could be anything in this world if he just try , if mommy doesn’t ? From there I went on to successfully complete two separate lash courses. Lashed for about two years before I had my second son Cordea. By then life had been hectic and I needed to take a break from the lash industry for a year. Read more>>

Sasha Royce

Finding my purpose has been a fascinating journey shaped by my upbringing, education, and life experiences. I have a background in law and psychology, with multiple degrees, and even earned a PhD in law. I worked as a lawyer for seven years and, while I liked the work, I always felt it lacked “soul” for me. I wanted something deeper, something that truly resonated with who I am at my core. Read more>>

Ta’bria Snowden

I found purpose by blending my love for media and storytelling with my passion for social justice. For me, storytelling has always been a way to connect, inform, and inspire. But when I realized how powerful it could be in amplifying marginalized voices and shining a light on issues of inequality, everything clicked. Read more>>

Dylan Seeman

I failed, brass tax, just an immense amount of failure. My opinion is we get to choose our purpose, it is not given from some outside force. And so in making choices it requires making the wrong choice. Takes time to learn what our right choices are too. As a youngster, I thought I was a rebel without a cause, that didn’t pan out. I thought I was a rock climber for a while, then a sailor for a long time and I failed at all that too. All my relationships never worked out, once a week I was late to any job, barely paid my debts on time, I often owed the bank a chunk of my paycheck—feeling like I was out of my body hoping whatever task could just be over as quickly as possible. After attending considerably more funerals than weddings, never been to a wedding…I gave up. Went on autopilot for a few years, my soul collapsed and I was beaten.  Read more>>

Rebecca Velez

I really found myself and my purpose in life when I was 29 turning 30. It was a transition in my life that I didn’t really see coming but it needed to happen one way or another. I was at a high end NYC salon for 5 years that was starting to become really draining. I was always big on having a job that I loved to do because I saw how my parents worked these 9-5 jobs and always came home miserable with always something negative to say , I never wanted to be like that or live my life like that. I thought at this job this is what I was supposed to do. I was hardworking and loyal and I just wanted to move up and be successful so bad. When I worked at the salon my mentor there introduced me to the freelancing world of the hair industry.  Read more>>

Xiaoli Mei

I grew up in an Asian family both parents were high well educated. with a typical Asian tiger mom, I was told to study to become a lawyer or doctor one day. since being a doctor was not really my passion, I pursed law degree because a lawyer, but I hated every minute of it. back then my dream was to become a corporate executive travelling around the world doing business. with that dream, I came to USA to pursue MBA degree, landed a corporate job. I participated in corporate prestigious rotational program, designed to cultivate global leader. My roles in marketing, corporate hiring, training, and recruiting allowed me to hone my understanding of people and interpersonal dynamics. however, despite my good job with a good pay, I felt unfilled and empty. my personal life suffered, I divorced twice, raising two kids in bay area. Read more>>

Liron Danieli

My journey to find my purpose began early in life. In school, I was frequently chosen to sing at events and ceremonies. My music teacher recognized my potential, he believed in my voice and always assigned me the singing parts. His encouragement ignited my passion for music. As I grew older, however, fear began to set in. I was cautious about putting all my efforts into one area, so I leaned on other skills for financial security. While this brought me a sense of stability, it also led me away from my true calling. I was comfortable and successful financially, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing—the thrill and joy that music had always brought into my life. Read more>>

Joe Mcclain Jr.

I found my purpose in 2001, during my junior year at East Chicago Central High School in East Chicago, Indiana. My English Literature teacher, Mrs. Brenda Joshua, enhanced my writing abilities through extra assignments that only she would review. While I initially hated this, I later came to realize that she had seen a gift in me before I even knew it existed. Without her, I wouldn’t be the author/creative that i am today. So, I am eternally grateful for her guidance, wisdom, and willingness to take a chance on a loud mouth 16 yea old kid. Read more>>

Burçin Aktükün

I discovered the magical world of music at a young age, and I decided where I would take part in this magical world in my 20s. When I was playing an instrument or singing, I always felt as if I was playing and singing into the void. Therefore, the idea of recording the songs I played or sang began to weigh heavier on me. Since I don’t like to be in the foreground, instead of playing instruments and singing, singing in the background and recording those who play instruments… This was just right for me. In the 1990s, I bought my first computer and started to pursue this dream. In those years, there were no departments related to music technology in universities in Turkey. Read more>>

Mariah Sargeant

I feel like I have always been an artist at heart, it came in many different forms, like drawing, wood working, singing, enjoying the outdoors and finding those places of sanctuary, photography but it wasn’t until 2 years after picking up my camera did I finally realize what I could actually do with it. I could literally create art out of the human body that changed a persons who perspective of themselves. That gave them confidence and started or helped them along their journey to greater self love. When I realized I could do that for other people, my whole world changed. It’s seriously the best feeling ever, why would I ever do anything else? Read more>>

Kristine Reiner

I don’t think I’ve truly figured out or found my purpose yet; but I know I’m on the right path. Life is about creating moments that turn into memories. For me that is captured through the time I spend investing into my passions. Like painting or drawing with my son every morning. To me staying purposeful means to act with a practiced tradition of gratitude. Making gratitude for this life, my privilege, my accessibility, my everything is appreciated. I am grateful to be living this life, no matter how hard it becomes. Read more>>

Uriel Maksumov

Finding my purpose was not a straightforward journey; it was a path shaped by love, loss, and a deep connection to the energy that surrounds us all. I was born in Tajikistan, where my grandmother’s stories about my great-grandfather’s miraculous healings captivated me as a child. She spoke of his ability to bring light and hope into the lives of others, which planted a seed in my heart, even though I didn’t fully understand its significance at the time. Read more>>

Alfredo Espinosa Olivares

When I was a kid, my grandma used to take me and my siblings to the movies every week, it was always something I was excited about, and after every movie I always repeated the lines or recreate the scenes on my own, so I think I found it as a kid, but decided to follow it until I was 15. Read more>>

Tina Rix

By using my desire to heal myself and others, as I came from a very abusive household, which eventually landed me in CPS custody. I knew that I wanted to help people, so I became a licensed marriage and family therapist. I also worked on music off and on, returning to it on a professional level once more in 2020 after a 7-year hiatus. I utilize my music to help others heal and embrace all parts of the healing journey process. I also am a documentary filmmaker. I have a docuseries streaming on Amazon Prime and TUBI currently, titled, “Music and Mental Health.” In short, my purpose came about from coming from a severely dysfunctional and abusive home as a child, and knowing that children and adults such as myself needed help navigating complex trauma. Read more>>

Emlyn Taveras

Today, I find my purpose in art-making, educating and creating transformative community arts experiences. My journey toward discovering purpose has been one of continual exploration and growth. As a child, growing up in Brooklyn, New York, to immigrant parents, purpose seemed like a distant and elusive concept, reserved for selfless adults. For my family, purpose was rooted in making ends meet, feeding the family, getting through school and staying safe. Read more>>

Khrystal Stanley

My purpose was birthed out of pain and obedience. My walk with the Lord began at the age of 14, and over the years, I have faced many trials and tribulations. Yet, even in the midst of hardship, God planted seeds of hope within me. By the time I was 29, a supernatural encounter with God changed my life forever. I experienced intense spiritual warfare, moments of deep pruning, and soul-shaking transitions—each refining my faith and igniting a passion for ministry. This transformative journey with the Lord gave me the courage to step fully into my calling, both personally and professionally. Read more>>

Nicole Castaneda

It was a long journey of learning about myself and exploring all the different options life offered. I’ve always been a dreamer, and for that I’ve had multiple passions. That confused me a lot of times because it was hard to understand who was and I felt I had to choose one thing out of the many I enjoyed.
I had a passion for fashion since I can remember and I started shaping myself for that, I studied some courses in Parsons New York and in Istituto Marangoni in Milan. I was also a person that liked to help other and so I studied Psychology as my major in Bogota, Colombia, but I was also very passionate about storytelling. My mother says that when I was little she would always find me in my room with a brush in my hand, in front of the mirror talking as if I was a reporter. Read more>>

Krystal Peters

I’m not so sure I found my purpose as my purpose found me. Other than always wanting to help people and having a very strong passion for understanding the human body I had no idea what I was suppose to be doing with that. I actually didn’t really understand or feel that I had found my purpose until this last year. In hindsight I can certainly see that I am exactly where I am meant to be – it wasn’t always that clear during the journey. It certainly hasn’t been a streamlined path like some people who sail through school straight to their career path and stay there until retirement. Read more>>

Attorious Renee Augustin

Finding my purpose is a daily practice, truthfully. I find myself by asking what it means to be alive. As a philosopher I appreciate that answers without question are a violation to natural law and who we become is a decision predicated on all of the decisions made beforehand. I believe in finding the self we must seek the honest amplifying mirrors in this fun house we call life. I, attorious renee, decide everyday that the purpose of my life is to bring pragmatism to encrypted and unprocessed information. So I rise and seek what is unknown to contribute to the vibrations of changing tones. And in that research I am allowed to find all that it is to be, to question, to explore, to create. The practical answer is I found myself seeking to understand the world around me so I documented it in journals to innerstand the world is what I make it and that is complete. Purposeful. Read more>>

Melissa Ferrazzano

Finding my purpose in life was quite a journey, It took me over 40 years to get to the place where I am today. I had a lot of things to work through to get here, especially embracing who I truly am without the fear of judgment from others. To tell you a bit about my story, I have an unconventional job, I work as a Psychic-Medium. This is not something I ever thought I would do.for a living, it certainly was not my dream job when I was a young child growing up However, my journey began when I was a child, I had experiences with otherworldly things that I could not explain. I found it to be very unsettling.and even frightening at times. The adults in my life did not believe that what I was experiencing was real, they chalked it up to it being a child’s imagination. Read more>>

Nick Walker

My journey to start a company for the first time began after college. I never thought I would end up a small business owner, it was actually never a dream I had growing up or even during my college years. Visualizing my future, I knew I wanted to do something unique and after years of trying to find my path and purpose I ended up here. After brainstorming for years with my wife Kat about this crazy bus idea, we finally decided to pull the plug and make it happen. We would get inspiration from other local businesses and keep repeating… “Why not us? If there are people all over the world taking chances and following through with a dream, what’s stopping us?” The decision to make the exciting (and scary) leap came from a desire within to do something fun and different. To create something that we could be proud of and share with the world. Read more>>

Jahleel (dj Jso) Muhammad

How I found purpose is strange in the fact that purpose found me, an associate of mine I met in college invited me to be a co host on his radio show and through that experience along with others at the time culminated the amazing career I have today and by chance gave me a purpose to assist those who need my skills and expertise to overcome their challenges and help achieve their goals. Read more>>

Sydney Rae Stephens

In an ironic way, finding my purpose happened with most sincerity and depth when I dismantled the idea that I had to. I spent a lot of time as teenager and young adult stressing with existential gravity about finding a career that had meaning- purpose. At the time, I believed those two concepts- a ‘career’ and ‘purpose’ had to be intertwined to be done effectively. I put a lot of pressure on myself to make my life meaningful. At some point I realized, in the midst of depression, that I wouldn’t be able to do *anything* very well if I wasn’t happy. I have my childhood pets to thank for reminding me that the things that bring me the most joy are animals. I remember feeling like I couldn’t get out of bed and had no interest in life at one point. But one day looking at my cat and dogs reminded me that I could feel joy, and curiosity.  Read more>>

Sahmeer Hoggard

I always had a passion for cooking and feeding others. Before I even considered cooking as a profession or culinary school I would just cook for my friends and family. After moving from my home state of New Jersey, I struggled to find work in Georgia. I worked odd jobs until I found a full time job working as a helper at a funeral home. After a year of working there I got fired. I decided shortly after that with the encouragement of my family and friends to attend culinary school and pursue a career in hospitality. Getting fired from that job was probably the best thing that happened to me because I’ve been able to thrive and reach milestones that I could only dream about before. Read more>>

Lamone Downey Leonard

My purpose is deeply rooted in my upbringing and the strength of the women who raised me. I was raised by my grandmother during a pivotal time in Harlem, at the intersection of the heroin and crack epidemics. She was a housekeeper with a giving and feisty spirit—the kind of woman who, no matter how little she had, always extended a meal, advice, or a space to anyone in need. Watching her pour into others while navigating her own struggles shaped me into someone who felt an innate desire to help from a young age. Read more>>

Nikhilesh Singh

Finding one’s purpose often begins in unexpected places, and for me, it started in the living rooms of Tanzania, where Hindi cinema served as more than just entertainment – it was my bridge to India, my heritage, and ultimately, my future. As an Indian expatriate growing up in East Africa, my connection to my homeland could have faded into a distant concept. However, Hindi movies became my cultural compass, painting vivid pictures of a land that, despite the geographical distance, never felt foreign to me. When I visited India during summer vacations as a child, the streets of Mumbai or Delhi didn’t feel alien – they felt like places I had already lived in through countless stories on screen. Read more>>

Cami Mclaren

I never really considered “purpose” in my life. Through a series of events, I ended up in a personal growth program at the age of 40. During a 4-day seminar weekend, at the end of day 3, the facilitator said to us, “Tonight while you are falling asleep, say to yourself 7 times, ‘Tonight, I am going to dream about my purpose.’” I did that. I dreamed that I was in front of a group of people sitting on bleachers and that I was teaching them something. Read more>>

Stephen Lee

How I found my purpose; My name is Stephen Lee and I have been asked to share my story. Unfortunately my story is not a happy one. It is a story filled with heartache and obstacles. I suffered the loss of my mother as a child and a vacant father which shaped my life and led me down the gypsy lifestyle from city to city. I was punk rock and spent a considerable amount of time sleeping in the park, on couches or wherever I passed out for the evening. I went job to job getting what I could. I mostly found myself washing dishes or bussing tables. It was the summer of ’86 and I was washing dishes at the Ave Ristorante in the University district, Seattle WA.  Read more>>

Ace Doligosa

Ace has an extensive background in media and entertainment business development, thought leadership, social media influencing, and activism. Her wide demographic of followers range from age 18-65. Ace has developed a thorough understanding of the media and industry by working at Comcast NBC Universal, iHeartRadio, Sirius XM, CAA, E! Network, and with prominent political figures in the city of West Hollywood. Read more>>

Yocairys Diaz

I discovered my purpose through a combination of reflection, challenges, and faith. My life experiences—like launching businesses, navigating personal struggles, and helping others—helped me see that my true calling was to ignite the light in others. The pivotal moment came when I stopped running from what I knew God was calling me to do and fully embraced my assignment. It wasn’t about perfection or having all the answers but about trusting that He could use me as I am. That’s how Raise Your Spark was born and how I stepped into my purpose with intention. Read more>>

Alan Herrera

Finding my purpose wasn’t a single moment of revelation, but a deeply personal journey shaped by family, professional challenges, and unexpected turns of fate.
My career began in business banking, where I was rapidly advancing my career. I had just accepted a promising promotion that would take me out of state to the beautiful state of Texas – a career opportunity that seemed like the culmination of my professional ambitions. But life had other plans.
My father fell seriously ill, a moment that instantly recalibrated my entire perspective. The promotion suddenly seemed inconsequential compared to family. I made the difficult decision to return home, setting aside my professional trajectory to be close to my loved ones during this critical time. Read more>>

Delfina/ena Hallett

I have always been an artist, of varying types. After my children were grown I rediscovered my passion to create, picked up a camera and boom things exploded. Read more>>

Zeping Sun

Finding one’s purpose is never an easy process for anyone. Many people don’t know what they truly want to do. I consider myself fortunate to always be curious about many things. I often feel like water—taking the shape of wherever I go or, more accurately, falling in love with new forms and willingly transforming myself. I once thought I was deeply passionate about filmmaking and commercial advertising, but when I joined the Expanded Animation program at USC, I discovered my love for the versatile forms of expression in animation and my desire to tell deeply personal stories. Read more>>

Annie De Leon

After many years in the advertising industry, I realized it was time for me to find my own path. When my daughter was born it sparked a turning point, and I left the agency world to create something new—something that could inspire others, especially women. Taking a leap of faith, I embraced the challenges of entrepreneurship with the joys of motherhood. I was driven to build a life and career rooted in passion, creativity, and purpose. Transforming dream jobs into incredible clients. Read more>>

Roger Betka

I remember when I was very young I felt deeply affected by the environment and world around me. So just about anything that I experienced seemed to leave a profound impression on me. Whether that was for better or for good. But because I feel that I went through a lot of strife in childhood, I learned to attach myself to things that excited me. I think the earliest experience that sparked an important interest was during a field trip in the third grade. My school took us to what I think was some kind of museum in Los Angeles, and I remember we were shown an outdoor sculpture by some famous artist. Read more>>

Laura Viada

I don’t believe that purpose is something you “find.” Nor is purpose something you “do.” It’s something you ARE. Purpose is a practice. It evolves over a lifetime of choices and habits, and requires intentionality and self-awareness. Purpose is more than my job/profession; it’s more than my personal relationships; it’s more than making art. It’s a deep sense of being a contributing part of the vast creation that is this world. Read more>>

Abby Qi

At The Shalizi Group, I focus on marketing in the music industry for artists, including brand collab, music releases, content creation, and social media operations, I manage Marshmello’s Discord community, ensuring fans feel connected and engaged. With a particular emphasis on expanding Marshmello’s presence in the Chinese market, one of the most exciting parts of my job is building and managing Marshmello’s presence on Chinese social platforms like Douyin, RED, Bilibili, WeChat Video Channel, and Weibo. I’ve also fostered strong partnerships with major platforms such as QQ Music, China’s top DSP, which plays a key role in promoting new music. Recently, Marshmello’s China social numbers was blowing up, especially for bilibili, we have finally hit the 1m followers from 70k followers within 5 mouths. Read more>>

Angie Kraft-meldahl

It was a health crisis that got me on the path of my purpose and healing. I found myself in a situation where I had zero options other than to explore energy healing, and this is the path that ultimately has been a big part of my purpose that I share with others. The breaking point for me was when my body was breaking down in my mid-20s, it was around 2002. I was a mess. I received a diagnosis of genetic kidney dysfunction, which was causing me to lose potassium at alarming rates. I was taking 13 pills a day at one point to manage it. Read more>>

Sara Gorovits

I’ve been a visual artist for as long as I can remember, doing anything from children’s book illustrations and theatre costume designs, to commercial murals and commissioned paintings. When I had my kids, I decided to become a stay-at-home mom to spend more time with them, but I eventually dissolved into my family and household and completely lost myself. I was still trying to find inspiration to paint here and there, but sometimes went years without touching the canvas. Later down the line, when my sister was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, and I found out I had a high risk of getting it too, I decided to get a preventative bilateral mastectomy. This surgery ended up going horribly wrong, resulting in 12 more surgeries over the next 7 years.  Read more>>

Hasanat Adewole

I believe my purpose found me through my curiosity. From a young age, I’ve been fascinated by fashion—not just as an art form, but from a construction perspective. I was always intrigued by how clothes are made and the stories behind their creation. That curiosity grew into a passion for telling stories through fashion. For me, fashion is more than just clothing; it’s a medium to express history, culture, and personal narratives. Finding my purpose meant leaning into that fascination and using it to create designs that speak, inspire, and connect. Read more>>

Kateryna Boldyrieva

It took me a long time to uncover my true purpose. My journey was long and full of twists, but every step along the way left me with clues, guiding me closer to what I was meant to do. By education, I’m an accountant and economist, but that’s not the path I ended up walking. I chose this field because it came easily to me, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t what would bring me happiness. It was a steady path, but it didn’t ignite any real passion within me. Read more>>

Chesoen Tan

I found my purpose in life when I was introduced to the world of photography. The moment I held a camera and started capturing moments for others, I felt an indescribable joy. Seeing people smile and express their satisfaction when I was able to beautifully preserve their portraits or moments of togetherness was incredibly fulfilling. Read more>>

Bryant Herbert

I found my purpose by reflecting over my life to see what God has given me as skills and then asked for clarity to understand my experiences. Once I began to see my gifts and talents, I had to figure out what I was passionate about, i.e. what makes me up set or bothers me that I need to fix, and then see how I can fill that void. After I have this picture, I look and see where I can go, what I can do, and how I can help because this gave me direction on how I can look for opportunities and make a living. I firmly believe we should be able to make a living off our purpose. Now I have a vision for my life or for a season until I complete it. In my life, I was and am passionate about young people. I grew up not having a black male teacher so I got into education to fill that void. I wanted to be that black male teacher I never had in school.  Read more>>

Kristin Irwin

My life’s purpose is to be of service to others, and it is rooted in my own journey of self-healing. Through this process, I developed Reiki Sound Meditation as a powerful tool to guide others toward self-acceptance, dissolve limiting beliefs, and cultivate self-compassion. This transformative practice has allowed me to help people release the effects of stress and traumatic experiences to access their inner wisdom and personal power, helping them navigate life with greater clarity, confidence, and peace. Read more>>

Jaleema Webb

Finding my purpose wasn’t a straight path, but it’s one that has brought me incredible fulfillment. I’m a licensed massage therapist and business owner now, but my journey began in a very different place. I spent four years working at the largest day spa in Texas, giving everything—my time, ideas, and dedication—only to feel undervalued and underpaid. That experience planted the seed for me to create something of my own, where I could truly pour my passion into helping people and see the direct impact of my work. Read more>>

Dax Mpire

I think my purpose found me. Let me explain. I was always a driven and active child. My parents divorced when I was very young and my mother played both roles for many years. She made sure I played sports and learned chess and in the middle of all of that I took piano lessons. Which at the time I was not a fan of. But mom knew best so I did as told and learned to play the piano at a decent level. And though at the time playing the piano was not something I found fun it got tucked away and put in my tool box. Fast forward years later I’m a freshman in highschool and Hiphop took over my life. I fell in love with music. And Hiphop became my full time dream and passion. I started off as a writer. I had written poetry for many years so rhyming came natural to me.  Read more>>

Andrea Echeverry

Life has always seemed to lead to the right place, time or encounter even when that was not my original “plan”. Many times, it felt like I was taking only left turns, but deep down I knew the path itself would eventually show me the reasons why the road felt like it had not been set with a clear destination. Despite being trained to become an academia scientist, I had always wanted to become involved in some form of activism, where I could serve the public, and the planet. This path of many left turns started just 12 yrs ago when I first became a scalp micropigmentation artist. Being one of the first in the world to learn and optimize this paramedical technique plunged me deeply into the science of scalp and hair follicle health and how it related to hair loss. Read more>>

Jess The Divine Hippie

We are all born with a natural gift instilled within us; and we have to ability to go within to remember it after life experiences have caused us to forget. I found my purpose by seeking clarity through meditation. Prayer is when we speak to God, and meditation is when God speaks to us. What better source to get your answers from? I started meditating when I was experiencing my personal “hell on Earth”. Postpartum depression, chronic anxiety, and a divorce forced me to question a lot about why I even existed. I leaned on God like never before, and was encouraged to ask questions like, “who am I”, “what are my desires”, and “what is my purpose in life”. The answers came to me in multiple divine ways and experiences, but meditation was the most clear and promising. I began to receive visions of my future, whispers of guidance, and a strong reassurance like never before. Read more>>

Jinnifer Murphy

Through my own Astrological Chart! Well, that and the questions, “What are you fascinated with? What do you do in your spare time? What would you do if money were no object?” I remember so clearly sitting at my desk, looking at my own astrological chart, and pondering those questions. As I looked at the indicators for purpose and career in my own chart, it was so obvious, loud as day, like “duh!” it was Astrology, try to understand the secrets of the universe, and make a difference for people and empower them. Both the desire and interest, and also that it was my purpose, and as I added up the indications it was being an Astrologer – Using Astrology to empower people to love all of themselves, and get in sync with themselves and the Universe. Read more>>

Jack Perry

I have to say, I never really thought about it as “found my purpose” but more that my purpose found me after years of music lessons, participating in school bands, and attending different kinds of concerts, from Jazz to Latin to Hip Hop, where I was fortunate enough to see firsthand the incredible impact that music can have on someone’s life. Through these experiences, I began to understand the power of music in invoking different emotions for each person, as well as transcending languages and cultures to affect each listener. Read more>>

Cody + Sarah Caswell

Your home is more than just a place – it’s a feeling. The feeling of warmth, familiarity, relaxation, and inspiration that all of us need. Our love for creating homes started when we set out to renovate our first home: a historic 100+-year-old charmer that had good bones but needed some serious love. We were engaged when we bought it and had around six months to renovate it before we got married and needed to move into it. We were limited on funds, so we set out to do a lot of the work ourselves. The uniqueness of that house really brought out our creativity. We used reclaimed wood accents, custom cabinetry to create functionality in once-awkward spaces and even discovered an old wood-burning fireplace that had been covered up with drywall over the years. Read more>> 

Yanbin Li

As a queer Asian woman living in the United States, I have had some challenging yet inspiring moments in my life that make me want to make some small but cool contributions to promoting the well-being of people in my communities. When I say my communities, I use the plural form due to my intersectional identities. I do sometimes feel like I do not belong to any of them as someone living in-between, but more often, especially in recent years, I have appreciated the intersection of all my identities and feeling connected to all of my communities. Read more>>

Krystle Ramento

Growing up, it was instilled in me to do well in school in order to get a successful job and career, which then will allow me to have a successful home life as well. At that time, I felt that was my purpose. It was my driving force to do well in college because I wanted to do well in all aspects of my life. Read more>>

Keri Serota

As a young child, I was always curious and empathetic towards those with physical disabilities. I can remember back to being in 4th grade and seeing a 3rd grader who used a wheelchair. I was determined to make her my friend. All my summer jobs growing up were at camps for kids with disabilities. I always enjoyed working with this population, problem solving to ensure they could fully participate and be active. This was something that started when I was young and followed me through my life. This became my purpose, my calling. Read more>>

Joel Perez

I’ve always had a deep love for art. Something as simple as drawing in the sand or staring at the clouds would captivate my imagination. My grandmother, whom I called Mamá Conchita, was like most Mexican grandmothers—a second mother. The bond we shared was incredibly special. I was attached to her as if she were my best friend. She was my protector and one of my greatest sources of love. Mamá Conchita was a retired teacher, and every 15 days, she received her pension—what we call La Quincena in Spanish. I eagerly awaited those paydays because they meant we could do something special. Sometimes we’d eat out at a new restaurant or get a toy, but my favorite treat was going to the cinema. Read more>>

Keisha Jordan

I discovered my purpose through a journey of self-exploration, rooted in my passions and life experiences. Over time, I realized that art, creativity, and storytelling weren’t just interests—they were integral to who I am and how I engage with the world. As I navigated my career as a Creative Director in advertising, often as the only one who looked like me in the room, and balanced my personal roles as an artist, filmmaker, lupus survivor, and owner of a home decor business, I began to see how these passions aligned with a higher calling: to create spaces and experiences that uplift, inspire, and reflect the beauty and world around us. Read more>>

Sage Wolf

Music is my purpose, seeing the emotion music brings people no matter what background, it’s the one thing that can bring us all together. I always imagine two strangers meeting for the very first time at my show and becoming friends for life who would have never met if not for my music and that thought keeps me going through all the rough times. Read more>>

Bryan Garcia

I found my purpose in film through my passion for storytelling. The idea of creating stories and sharing them with others has always driven me. Film gives me a platform to bring unique perspectives to life and connect with people on a deep level. Read more>>

Liana Bassior

My purpose is something that developed over time, and was something that I am actualizing now that I am in my 30’s. It was honestly a process of throwing spaghetti at a wall and seeing what stuck until I connected to something that felt so undeniably right I could not miss it. That’s what I realized purpose is. It’s that feeling in your heart that feels like warm, light energy. It’s doing something that energizes you, gives you spirit when you do it. You might be physically drained and exhausted, but when you are doing something that’s your purpose, you have this burst of energy that goes beyond your exhaustion. That is what doing my astrology practice and recording my Podcast AstroLyrical feels like to me. Read more>>

Smiely Khurana

Finding my purpose has been a journey of connecting with my roots, navigating through my passions, and learning to use my voice for something bigger than myself. Growing up as a daughter of immigrant parents, I was surrounded by stories of resilience and determination. My parents’ journey and life taught me about sacrifice, hard work, and hope—values that have deeply shaped who I am and the work I do today. They supported my dreams and encouraged me to pursue a path where I could make a difference, even when that path was unconventional. Read more>>

Nikki de León

As far back as I can remember, I’ve been a very curious person, always constructing and deconstructing the world around me. I used to break apart my toys, rearrange colors, and explore textures, instinctively creating compositions. This led me to study architecture, initially driven by a dream to build meaningful structures for communities in need. Architecture taught me to see the world in lines, shadows, and geometrical compositions. It was my first language of expression, and I still draft my ideas in ink on tracing paper, a method that feels as natural to me as speaking. Read more>>

Kendra Timmons

I was sitting in a meeting at my corporate job being reprimanded by my boss (and my boss’s boss) who was supposed to have my back for something that wasn’t even my fault and I thought to myself, “there must be a better way to earn a living.” That day, I gave my notice and never looked back. The stakes were really high. I was 24 and my husband and I had just purchased our first home and were trying to start a family. My job provided me with financial stability, a flexible schedule and great health insurance. I just knew I was meant to make an impact and didn’t think I could continue grinding away at a job that was so soul crushing. Read more>>

Aliesha Mann

I truly believe my purpose found me. As a faith-driven woman, God has always been at the forefront of my mind, guiding me even when I didn’t realize it. Looking back, I see how He was preparing me for this journey long before I took the leap to start my own business. Never in a million years did I think I’d leave a stable Nurse Practitioner role, with no prior business or marketing background or strategy to go all-in on creating a business that serves others in such a deeper, more profound way—but that’s exactly what I did. The desire in my heart was placed there for a reason. With over 15 years of healthcare experience across inpatient and outpatient settings, I saw the glaring gaps in our current system. The “pill for every ill” model left me feeling unfulfilled, knowing I wasn’t truly helping people heal. I’ve always believed in the power of nutrition and the truth that Food is Medicine. That belief led me to research further into nutrition certifications, an area that wasn’t emphasized enough in my medical training. This eventually led me down the rabbit hole of integrative, functional, and holistic medicine—and that’s when the fire inside me was ignited. Read more>>

Sudipta Maity

My favorite quote is from the American author Mark Twain – “The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” Let me tell you a small story of a girl. A little girl was born in the small town of Bagnan, located in the suburbs of Kolkata, India. Her world revolved around her parents, her sister, and her grandma. Her access to knowledge and the outside world was limited. Growing up watching typical Bollywood movies where the staple of the script was romance, she dreamt of meeting a boy, falling in love with him, and eventually getting married. She dreamt of a colorful life and lived in a romantic bubble. She hated studying and would not get good grades, which are points by which most are judged in her society. On the contrary, she loved going out, playing outdoors, making friends, playing with boys, and watching films. Read more>>

Makena Schmidt

I find my purpose in photography by using my work to share stories and learn about the world, while also raising awareness about important issues in the community. Through my lens, I aim to capture moments that might otherwise go unnoticed and bring them to the forefront of public attention. For example, I’ve had the privilege of photographing loads of events like the Renegade Paws Rescue, a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing animals, and a Down Syndrome walk that celebrates and supports individuals with Down Syndrome. Read more>>

Paige Soleimani

My dream of becoming a teacher shattered in a classroom of 20 first-graders. I’d always envisioned myself inspiring young minds, but the reality was far different. I attended Syracuse University and immediately started student teaching. I quickly learned that the constant demands of classroom management drained my energy, leaving little room for the creative, inspiring lessons I’d envisioned. Something felt off. Read more>>

Genie Wu

I found my purpose through the rich tapestry of experiences that shaped me, moving from the East to the West, from Taiwan to the United States. Thriving amidst diverse cultures, languages, and traditions, I discovered that every interaction and every moment offered a new lens to view the world. These experiences not only deepened my understanding of life but also fueled my passion for graphic design. Read more>>

Solveiga Jaskunas

The three most important things are understanding who you are, what you stand for, and having the courage to be yourself. The advice I give for others: be bold and be you. It’s better to be hired for who you are than for who you are not. When you live abroad, having a community that supports you is huge. It’s crucial to find mentors and build meaningful relationships by learning from them, sharing insights, and supporting each other throughout our professional journeys. My mentors challenged my fears, showed me that silence can be an insult to someone who relies on you to speak up, and encouraged me to persist through difficulty. I’ve learned a lot, discovering new strengths I never knew I had. None of this would have been possible without my mentors, who have encouraged me along the way. Read more>>

Tylynn Mackenzie

If you would have asked me what my purpose was when I was a child, I would have told you that I am here to be a best-selling author and my purpose is to impact people’s lives with my words. Although I am not a best-selling author yet, (working on that for inner child!), I do impact people’s lives. Purpose is not meant to be something we “find”. It is something that lives within all of us. I guarantee you, if you go back to the inner child within, he/she/they will have some insight into your life’s purpose. This is an interesting topic because purpose can be both a solid and flexible concept. For example, in some way shape or form, I’ve always felt that my purpose is to help with the evolution of this planet. That part of my purpose has never altered although it manifests in many different forms! I impact the collective with my unique expression and through the wide range of healing modalities I practice.  Read more>>

Roxana Mincu

I truly give it my all in everything I do and put a lot of thought and effort into every dessert I make. When I baked my first cake I just knew I found my passion and I wanted to bake and decorate nonstop. I even dream about my creations sometimes. Read more>>

Corbin Standley

I’ve thought about this question a lot in my life. As I have, I’ve learned that many experiences have informed my purpose. My first job was as a janitor in an elementary school. Throughout high school and my first two years of college, I worked part-time after classes while living at home. I learned a lot from that job and am so grateful for the perspective and lessons I gained as a result. The friends and colleagues I got to work with made a real impact on my life. But it was the kids I saw and interacted with that helped inform my purpose. I worked in a Title I school, meaning many students were from low-income families.  Read more>>

Dr. Marina Fischer

Ever since I was 4-5 years old, the healthcare field was an interest to me. At that time, I was fascinated and obsessed with bandaids. There are professional JC Penny pictures of me with bandaids on my wrists. (My mother said she was done fighting with me to remove the bandaids, lol). During my middle school years through high school, the anatomy and functioning of the human body was interesting and made sense to me at such a young age. Therefore, I always wanted to become a healthcare professional, a provider. Read more>>

Jamie Bonfante

I have always had a love for social media and documenting every moment that happens. I have always been that friend that has her phone ready to capture anything and everything. While planning my own wedding in 2023 I, fell in love with everything weddings and came across the wedding content creation world. Upon taking the leap of faith to become a wedding content creator and start my own business, I fell head over heels in love with it! I have been able to combine the two things I love most, social media & love stories, all while having fun doing it! Read more>>

FURKAN TAN

I find my purpose in a very young age by being at construction sites and following my mom’s footsteps. She was an architect/ designer, and she would design all of our houses from inside out. As I kid, I had lots of interest in design and learned many different skills set by watching the process of projects. I designed my own room when I was 14 years old and had many joys out of it. I always knew that I wanted to be in a creative industry. Read more>>

Sonal Sheth Zawahri

How I Found My Purpose: My family’s journey to the United States in the early 70s was one filled with both challenges and dreams. We didn’t come from privilege, but we came with a vision—a vision to build something better, not just for ourselves, but for the generations to come. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, I saw firsthand what it meant to fight for every step forward. My parents didn’t have the luxury of choosing an easy path. They worked multiple jobs, transitioned into entrepreneurship, and kept moving forward—no matter how tough things got. They showed me what perseverance truly looks like. Read more>>

Alexa Kravitz

I can’t remember a time I wasn’t obsessed with music. There’s a classic family video of me at age 4 singing and playing air guitar to Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets”. The first two decades of my life I tend to think of in terms of what band I was obsessed with at the time. I was all about the Spice Girls (my first concert) in elementary school, which transitioned to Avril Lavigne (my second concert), then Red Hot Chili Peppers and Oasis, and then my Dave Matthews Band period. I wasn’t allowed to watch MTV, so I watched hour upon hour of VH1’s Behind the Music, Storytellers, I Love The [name your decade], etc. to learn more about those who made music, gave me those unforgettable concert experiences, and soundtracked these periods of my life. Despite this deep love for music, I never learned how to play any instruments. Read more>>

Trine Bradshaw

I’ve never been satisfied with the normal or average answer to anything. I have always felt an urge to go deeper, to find real solutions, and to understand connections in human minds and bodies I moved to Arizona, newly postpartum 21 years ago. It was an overwhelming time—no family nearby, no support system, and no one to lean on. I felt isolated, but I also realized that I wasn’t alone in that experience. There are so many new parents out there who face similar challenges. Read more>>