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Ever feel the pressure to reinvent yourself by February? We’re choosing a better path. After a year marked by cancer and stacked medical emergencies, I’m done proving and ready to design a year that actually fits: slower travel, calmer mornings, kinder boundaries, and choices that honor energy, not ego. This isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about becoming more of who you already are—on purpose.

We start with ease as a strategy. I’m taking a six-week road trip and breaking it into humane days so I arrive well, not wrecked. That mindset spills into work, home, and service. I share how we built systems for a record stewardship campaign at our cathedral and why I’m handing leadership on so others can thrive. Ease isn’t slacking; it’s intentional design that keeps the most important things front and center.

Peace gets a real definition here: fewer circular fights, slower replies, and acceptance of people as they are—especially the ones we love. We talk about joy shifting from big, performative moments to small, repeatable pleasures you can count on: a quiet coffee, a comfortable bed, a text from someone who knows your heart. Then we get honest about choosing yourself without guilt, receiving help when you need it, and learning what enough finally feels like—enough plans, enough stuff, enough proving.

If you’re craving a good year instead of a big year, you’re in the right place. Letting go created room; choosing wisely fills it with ease, peace, joy, and contentment you can sustain. Press play, take what serves you, and tell us: what are you choosing more of this year? Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a gentler plan, and leave a review to help more people find the show.

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Forget the pressure to reinvent yourself. We’re starting the year by choosing relief over resolutions and building a life that feels lighter, calmer, and more honest. I share a comfort-first plan for a six-week road trip—smart hotel picks, slower pacing, and the joy of clean bathrooms—and use it as a lens for unpacking emotional luggage. From gummy bears to good coffee, the practical choices become metaphors for midlife edits: keep what helps, leave what hurts, and skip the drama you didn’t sign up for.

We take on the heaviest habit of all: relentless self-critique. I talk candidly about weight, medication, old family messages, and the daily work of kinder self-talk. Then we put that compassion into action with boundaries that stick. No can be a complete sentence. You don’t owe a backstory for every decision, whether it’s a travel budget, a deadline you won’t meet, or a plan you’re not comfortable with. When you stop explaining to win approval, you reclaim time, money, and peace.

Friendships get the same thoughtful treatment. Not every ending is a fight; some are edits made with gratitude. We explore how to release connections that take more than they give, while cherishing the people who remain. To guide the year, I offer better questions: What am I done carrying? Which obligations feel heavier than they should? What version of myself am I still performing? Wanting less isn’t failure—it’s wisdom.

Aging isn’t shrinking; it’s editing. Keep what matters and let the rest go. If this season feels lighter, you’re doing it right. If it feels heavy, be patient—clarity will come. If this resonates, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs permission to let go, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

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Resolutions feel like a trap when life is already full. This conversation offers a gentler, braver path: set intentions that match your energy, honor your season, and still move you forward. Fresh off a joyful, busy holiday and looking ahead to a milestone 65th birthday, we talk candidly about aging, boundaries, and what it means to spend time like the precious resource it is.

We lay out five grounded intentions you can adopt today: listen to your body and move in ways that feel good; protect your energy with clear boundaries and fewer draining commitments; stay curious by learning new tools and trying small challenges; nurture relationships with honesty and care; and enjoy life now rather than waiting for perfect conditions. Along the way, you’ll hear real stories—from water aerobics wins to city walks in Chicago, from crossing suspension bridges to taking the train despite fears—that show how tiny, brave choices add up.

You’ll also get a peek behind the mic: launching a third show, Unbottled, focused on sobriety and everyday habits; building Marcy Bacchus Media; and how podcasting provides purpose beyond sponsors. We talk about solo travel plans out West, turning intentions into monthly check-ins, and practicing self-kindness around weight changes tied to cancer medication. No rigid rules, no shame spiral—just practical ways to choose what matters and celebrate progress.

If you’re ready to trade all-or-nothing goals for a way of living that lasts, press play and pick one intention to guide your year. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a gentler start, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.