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Category: Dream Big – Start Small

Are You An Empty Nester? 5 Ways to Fill Your Life with Renewed Purpose

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Dream Big - Start Small, Handling Change, Women in Leadership.

Here are five steps to help you go from being an empty nester to one who embraces this new season with energy and intention.One of the most profound transitions many women face is when children leave home for college or their own adventures. The house feels quieter. The routines you once lived by suddenly shift. Often, this stage of life is called the “empty nest syndrome” and moms are the “empty nesters”. But what if we reframed it? What if instead of emptiness, you began to see spaciousness, giving you room to grow, dream, and thrive and giving the kids room to do the same?

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Permission to Slow Down, Relax and Unwind Even When Things Speed Up

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Controlling Stress, Dream Big - Start Small, Life Skills.

Rest isn’t the reward for finishing everything; it’s the foundation that makes everything in your life sustainable. It’s what fuels your energy, creativity, and clarity.Fall has a way of pulling us into its whirlwind. The long, lingering days of summer give way to calendars packed with deadlines, school schedules, family events, and the unspoken pressure to keep up as life speeds up around us. Sometimes it feels like we have to force ourselves to relax and unwind, which causes more stress, rather than relieving it.

Slowing down feels like a luxury you can’t afford. Rest becomes the reward for checking everything off your list or something you earn after the work is done.

But here’s a new way of looking at it: rest isn’t the reward for finishing everything; it’s the foundation that makes everything in your life sustainable. It’s what fuels your energy, creativity, and clarity. Without it, you’re running on fumes.

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How to Reset Your Life Seasonally, Intentionally: Small Shifts, Big Impact

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Dream Big - Start Small, Transform Your Life.

The shift from winter to spring, the long days of summer into crisp autumn, or the quiet descent of winter all carry an invitation to reset your life seasonally. There are moments in every season when life offers us a natural pause. The shift from winter to spring, the long days of summer into crisp autumn, or the quiet descent of winter all carry an invitation to reset your life seasonally. These changes in the natural world remind us that transition isn’t just possible; it’s necessary.

For high-achieving women, however, the idea of resetting can feel complicated. With full careers, relationships to nurture, and countless responsibilities, the last thing you need is another list of things to “do.” Yet the longing for change persists: the sense that you’re ready for something to shift, to feel lighter, to live with more alignment.

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What Is Life About – Happiness, Meaningfulness, or Something Else?

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Dream Big - Start Small, Life Skills.

What is life about for you? To go for the gusto and experience a new thrill every day? To live a quiet life? To live a good life? To live a happy life? To live a life of meaning and purpose? Each phrase brings a different picture to your mind, doesn’t it? What does it mean to YOU to really live?

Life is about how you choose to spend the time you have – only you can define and design the life you want. What makes you happy or gives your life meaning may be vastly different from anyone else’s. The key is to determine YOUR Perfect Life and then live it without apology.

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Strategic Living: Intentional Transformation that Achieves Your Big Dreams

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Change Your Life, Dream Big - Start Small, Transform Your Life.

The key to strategic living is not adding more but choosing with clarity. September is a time of transition. Here in Oregon, we’re shifting into autumn weather and it’s back-to-school time. It reminds us of the thrill of fresh starts, new beginnings and renewed focus. This time of year fills me with anticipation and excitement. It’s my season for reviewing and preparing for next year, because strategic living involves knowing where I’m going, how I’m going to get there, and recognizing that I’m on the right path.

For high-achieving women, this season offers an invitation. The rhythm of the year naturally turns toward structure after the ease of summer. You have an opening to create intentional transitions in your life. Whether that means redefining how you approach work, deepening a relationship, or recommitting to a personal practice, the key to strategic living is not adding more but choosing with clarity.

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