April: What a month!
Every year I look forward to April.
Every year I look forward to April. Growing up in Canada, April marked the beginning of warmer temperatures and longer days. The end of the school year was imminent, the promise of endless summer days sprouting in our young minds. April signaled the end of cold evenings and doing homework late into the night, just as it signaled the start of spring and new field sports and long neighborhood walks with friends. As I’ve grown older, April has taken on a richer meaning. My son was born on April 9, a week’s early birthday present for me. April is the start of the new quarter for business, a quarter full of fresh possibilities and new projects. And this year, April marked the launch of my first book, Stumbling Towards Inclusion: Finding Grace in Imperfect Leadership.
But this April, 2024 took on a life of its own. It was at times frantic and chaotic, loving and inspiring, intense and frustrating. My parents came to town. I planned a Pokemon themed birthday party for Zayn. I had my book party. I hosted a coaches’ retreat at my house. I traveled to do multiple keynotes. One day, I went to Atlanta in the morning and came back the same night. My HVAC broke. My son got a Hollywood agent. The front axles on my car cracked. I ran or walked at least 10,000 steps a day. I signed new contracts. My daughter got a lead role in the school play. I created a new management training program. I drove back and forth to volleyball practices and violin rehearsals. I interviewed for a board position at a local school. I met dozens of new people. I wrote for three new publications. I celebrated my birthday. I joined an Editorial Board for a coaching journal. I watched several friends’ dreams come true. I recorded new podcasts. I slept and ran weird and got a shoulder injury. And two new cavities. Yes, I went to the dentist this month, too.
Middle age, am I right?
Somehow I managed to get enough sleep (most days), eat well, and laugh. A lot.
Reflecting on this colossal month, I recognize the importance of memorializing life, even (especially!) as it happens in its most simple and unexpected ways. Yes, my book was released this month. That’s pretty significant. But it was all the other moments - crying in my therapist’s office, picking up a friend from the airport, watching Anjali nail her overhand serve - that made this month special and memorable. In writing this post, I want to safeguard the memories I created with my family and friends this month. Which is why I believe in telling and sharing stories. The through line of all my April highs and lows is this: We’ve all got a great story to tell. I know that because hearing people’s stories, digging into them, sitting with them, and writing them together is what got me through this month with a sense of gratitude, joy, and relief. I want you to tell your story. And if you need a little help, I’m here for it. In fact, Part I of Stumbling Towards Inclusion is my story. Story-telling is how we commemorate our lives, how we are seen and how we see others. If you’re looking for something new this season, start with your story.