In my late 30s, I’ve learned that real compensation isn’t just a salary. It’s how peacefully you can live the life your work makes possible.

As a coach’s wife, I never miss a game or leave the sideline—not because I have to, but because showing up for my husband is how I choose to love him.

What I once mistook as punishment (i.e., law school setbacks, surgeries, divorce, and financial strain), I now see as the wilderness season that prepared me to trust myself and God’s timing.

Preseason in our house isn’t just a date on the calendar. It’s a shift in rhythm, a set of quiet rituals, and a reminder that we’re in this together from the first whistle to the last.

In the heat of summer, I stop wearing makeup. Not because I’ve let myself go, but because my skincare is solid, my confidence is rooted, and ease looks better on me than foundation ever did.

When your work comes from the heart, even small critiques can feel like a gut punch. But that doesn’t mean you’re not called to create.