Beginnings Upon Beginnings...

It was a sunny warm Thursday in April, 1999, the first time I walked the streets of Manhattan by myself. I was listening to Enya's song, Everywhere Is, on my discman (remember those? ha... ha... ancient!) Enya whispered straight into my soul...

I walk the maze of moments But everywhere I turn to Begins a new beginning But never finds a finish

I had arrived in New York by a series of synchronicities that are too much to tell in today's story. I just knew two things: The first, was that my high school best friend was having very serious cancer surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering and I needed to be there with her. The second, that I wanted to figure out what in the world I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to see if Teachers College at Columbia had something to offer me.

After seeing Bettina the day following her surgery, I made my way from the Upper Ease Side to Columbia on the other side of the park. I walked into Teachers College and asked for a good ol' course catalogue to explore their many graduate programs. I sat with the big fat book at the TC cafeteria and began to reading class descriptions. My heart seemed to say I wanted to be a teacher and I was curious... "what kind of teacher might I want to be?"

I read the various programs as I flipped through the pages. Early Education? Nope. Bilingual Education? No thanks. Adult Education? Art Ed? Math Ed? No. No. No.

And then I saw it... Counseling Psychology.

I thought to myself, * *"Counseling?! But I've never thought about counseling!"

It didn't matter. Every single class described in the counseling program was one that sounded fascinating and I could not wait to take. I didn't understand it. I couldn't see myself as a counselor. I had a business undergrad degree. For five years, I had been working in marketing and market research at Procter & Gamble in Venezuela. I had discovered the hard way what it was like to be absolutely miserable in a profession... to know what I HATED doing, but have NO clue as to what I might like. Two years earlier I had been in total despair because I felt I didn't know myself, "how could I not know what I liked?"

But in 1999, there it was: Counseling. I couldn't explain it logically, but I was excited. Very excited. A couple of days later, Enya sang to me...

I wonder if the stars sign The life that is to be mine And would they let their light shine Enough for me to follow?

Somehow, I could feel the next phase of my life was beginning. Like Paulo Coelho wrote in The Alchemist, the universe was conspiring in my favor to materialize my dreams. I didn't know quite what it would look like, but I was certain it had started. I got confirmation when I was accepted into the Teachers College Counseling program for admission starting the fall of 2001.

It's hard to believe that 27 years have passed since that spring day in Manhattan, and 25 years since entering grad school. The journey has not disappointed.

These twenty five (plus) years have brought monumental growth both personally and with my clients in ways that I could've never imagined. And through the years, I've fallen just as much in love with clinical hypnotherapy and neuro-linguistic programming as I did when I first set eyes on counseling. Then came all of the energy psychology modalities, EFT (or tapping), Reiki, parts work, yoga teacher training, Compassion Key, and let's not forget becoming a certified nutrition and holistic health coach.

But there has also been a parallel journey. My journey of awakening.

To leave the thread of all time And let it make a dark line In hopes that I can still find The way back to the moment

The darknesses I've known in my health, in sexual trauma, in carrying ancestral wounds, and in the sequelae of my parents' bitter divorce --as well as one very dark night of the soul shortly after deciding to quit my full-time job at Amex to commit to my journey as a healer and teacher--- have all fueled my spiritual journey.

The dark times made me dig deeper into my my meditation practice, my journaling practice, and my communion with Divine guidance. The unshakable knowing in my bones of our direct connection with Source has been the ONE constant that always helped me find the way back to myself and my path.

That's why when the pandemic lockdown landed on us, it was clear that I would host a meditation group. Since that spring of 2020, my sweet little group has been meeting consistently on Monday evenings. It's been life-changing for everyone involved. The consistency of practicing together, the sweetness of the support, the lack of expectations or rules, and the unconditional acceptance of everyone exactly as they are, is something that is not often found. Every regular member treasures it... and for the past six years, I've had the vision of it growing and becoming something more.

The turn I have just taken The turn that I was making I might be just beginning I might be near the end

From that April day in 1999, I could feel that my destiny was to work with and speak to groups. And I've done that in a variety of ways over the years. But now, the spring of 2026 brought a new turn and a new beginning... and a new set of synchronicities that are a story for another time.

A new beginning: The birth of a growing community.

Life has changed a lot these 25 years. Our faces are now glued to devices that promise instant connection to community but instead deliver isolation and depression. And with growing AI chatbots doubling as friends, counselors, advisors and conversation partners, we are becoming less connected to other humans in deeply meaningful, vulnerable, and nourishing ways.

I've also seen that anything we do in a group setting is amplified and potentiated by the multiplying force of simply more humans in the 'room'. Shame evaporates when it's witnessed and held with compassion. People feel less alone in their struggles. One person sharing a story inspires someone else.

Like the sweet woman in one of my sexual trauma groups sharing with another, "I too feel scared at night, which is why I listen to bedtime stories for adults." The whole group felt the tenderness of her support for the other woman who was struggling. We all share in the hug of one human tenderly holding another.

That's why we need community.

We heal quicker. We grow quicker. We feel supported. We are inspired. We experience the deep satisfaction of supporting and inspiring others. We cheer for their wins and we hold them in their challenges. We meditate together and we share our insights.

It's either this or that way It's one way or the other It should be one direction It could be on reflection

As you follow your own stars, listen to the dreams in your own heart, and sort the twists and turns of your own life, perhaps you'd like to join our community.

You're welcome to come and stay for as long as you'd like. Thrive In Community is a place where women become each other's guides, co-creating a space where mutual empowerment becomes the engine of collective thriving.

This is just the beginning...