A Year of Change and Those Who Made it Possible

Looking back at last year, it was one of my toughest years, and also one of my best. That’s the hope I want to share, and for which I need to thank those around me. At the start of this past year I could not have even dared to imagine the end would be as good as it’s been. I was in a part of my life that still felt very marred by life changes. I felt stuck in a place that I wanted to get out of. I had grown, but it felt like my life hadn’t caught up. 

There were nights I needed to stay on a friend's couch so I didn’t feel alone. Countless crying calls and messages where I needed to vent. I was still processing a lot of changes I wanted to make to myself and in my life, and in therapy. That wasn’t an easy road. There were oftentimes I felt so much despair that I wasn’t where I wanted to be. But I kept working through it, and I did more of what my therapist has always said was my biggest challenge – letting others in and asking those around me for help. 

I am so grateful for a deep community of friends, especially some very strong women who support me through my journeys. A personal thank you to Gretchyn Meinken and Amber Mason, who know how tough it is to own and run a business, and are always there to let me vent my “scaries” out. 

My friends Amaia, Eva, Megan and Steph are the ones that listened to all my dating stories, had wine ready when needed, ran that race, went on that trip with me, and any other crazy thing I dreamt of. They either helped me plan it, process it or do it. I have so many friends, my wider circle of friends have been amazing supporters this year, too. Thanks for the coffees, the laughs, the advice, and for answering my cold calls and texts. Most of them had no idea how stressed or upset I was at the time and how much better they made me feel!

Many of you know and love Britt Patterson, and she is one of the people who I talk to frequently about life and goals. We not only work to make Stylebook the best it can be with fellow board members Rachel Gang and Kristin Try, but she and I talk about how we can help our community, and where we should do it, and what personal goals we have.  

For me, I hated renting a home. I know for many people it’s awesome, but I just don’t like it. It was my goal to get back in my own home. I had to extend my lease earlier this year and it felt like a gut punch. Then in October after months of messaging Britt and Paige randomly with houses I wanted to see and them patiently going with me, giving me advice, I found my “Goldilocks house”. 

Just big enough, not too big, central to most of my friends, walkable to shops and restaurants, and newly renovated so my Type A personality could move in as-is. I have worked with Patterson Sotheby’s for years, and for good reason. Having Paige Patterson walk through this place with me, knowing me, knowing the things I like to do, my personality, it made the whole process so much easier. I am so grateful for The Patterson Group’s help and advice. I also had a great mortgage broker in Heath Bourne because buying a house solo as a business owner isn’t always so cut and dry. And my two financial advisors: McLaughlin Ryder and Patrick Holley at RBC really helped me get to my goals.

I also truly want to thank Lonnie Rich and Shannon Kroeger. Our business had a big transition, as Lonnie Rich stepped down from being a partner to of counsel as he figures out what projects he wants to devote more time to. And while both Shannon and I are so excited for him, we also needed to fill some very large shoes. We knew that we could thrive by ourselves, but we also needed to find someone to join us to really build the firm we wanted. After having a supportive partner in Lonnie since 2008, we wanted someone who we felt the same confidence and ease with. We were so excited to meet Natalie Page, and to talk more and more about potentially joining forces and to have made that happen.  

I never in a million years at the start of last year in a place where I felt I was spinning my wheels could have foreseen buying my house, and having such a great year in business this year. I also didn’t foresee my life clicking into place as it has. Sometimes our path isn’t certain and through it all I just kept trying my best to keep going and with a firm belief I would get there. And we never really get there, it’s always a work in progress, but I am at a stage I really like right now. It’s times like these that I know I can look at my clients when they too are feeling stuck, in the scary part of life and know that while I might guide them through the most challenging parts of their life, I truly believe they are on the track to something happier.

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