Joy Health and Wellness

10/15/2026

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the Minnesota Social Care Summit, and I left feeling inspired by the conversations, connections, and possibilities for strengthening the way we support people in our communities.

One message really stood out to me:

Just because resources exist doesn’t mean people can easily access them.

Think about how overwhelming it can be to navigate healthcare, find support for an aging parent, access community services, or simply figure out where to turn when life changes.

Sometimes people don’t need another website or phone number. They need someone to listen, help them explore their options, and connect them with the right people and resources.

That’s a big part of why I do the work I do through Joy Health and Wellness.

I believe well-being is about so much more than physical health. It’s about feeling supported, having meaningful connections, finding a sense of belonging, and knowing you don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone.

I was especially encouraged by the emphasis on collaboration between healthcare systems, community organizations, and local partners. So much good work is already happening around us. Imagine what’s possible when we become more intentional about connecting those efforts!

🌱 My biggest takeaway: We don’t always need to create something new. Sometimes we need to strengthen the connections between what’s already there.

Whether I’m walking alongside an individual navigating change or helping organizations build stronger community partnerships, this is the heart of my work.

Because well-being grows through connection. 💚

09/29/2026

Last week was one of those moments where I could feel several pieces of my work coming together. ❤️

As part of United Way’s Days of Caring, I had the opportunity to facilitate Listening for the Common Good at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

We gathered people from across our community around one table and asked some big questions:

Where are needs going unmet?
What helps people feel connected and supported?
What gets in the way of organizations working together?
What do people need from faith communities?
And what could be possible if we partnered differently?

There were so many thoughtful perspectives shared, but what continues to stick with me is the importance of simply creating spaces where people can talk to one another and where someone is willing to really listen.

We didn't need to leave the room with a new program or a perfectly packaged solution.

We needed to hear one another first.

I loved facilitating this conversation. It brought together so many things I care deeply about: belonging, community health, faith, collaboration, asking good questions, and helping people imagine what could be different.

I'm incredibly thankful to everyone who showed up and trusted us with their experiences and ideas and to United Way of Central Minnesota for creating Days of Caring and giving us a reason to gather around the table in the first place.

Excited to see where these conversations take us!🫶🙌

05/27/2026

May has felt like one of those months where life is happening faster than you can process it.

Graduation.
Travel.
Grad school finals.
Long walks.
Sunrise yoga.
A few emotional support romance novels 😂

I realized somewhere along the way that I stopped trying to keep up online and just stayed with what was right in front of me.

And honestly? I think that’s what being present actually looks like sometimes.

I wrote a new Substack post sharing the “group chat version” of my month, along with a little invitation into something I’m really excited about this summer: Walk and Wonder 🌿

If your life has felt full lately too, I think you’ll relate.

Life was lifing… and honestly, I was just trying to keep up

05/11/2026

Last week we gathered for another Central MN Wellness Exchange, and I left feeling hopeful.

There were people from healthcare, nonprofits, churches, volunteer organizations, and community programs all sitting around the same tables asking an important question:

How do we help people feel more connected and supported in our community?

Some of the biggest themes that came up were:
✨ The importance of listening
✨ Reducing silos between organizations
✨ Sharing resources more effectively
✨ Creating more accessible pathways to care and volunteer opportunities
✨ Building relationships before crisis happens

One idea that sparked a lot of conversation was the possibility of a shared community resource hub — a way to help people more easily find support, services, and opportunities for connection.

What I appreciated most was the honesty, collaboration, and willingness to learn from one another. There is so much good work already happening across Central Minnesota.

If you would be interested in being part of smaller conversations around what a shared resource hub or collaborative wellness efforts could look like, I would love to connect before our next gathering.

📍 Next Wellness Exchange Gathering:
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church – Sauk Rapids
📅 Thursday, August 6
⏰ 9:00–10:30 AM

Thankful for everyone working to create a more connected and compassionate community. 💛

04/21/2026

This season feels like a lot.

End-of-year emotions, big transitions, and trying to take care of myself in the middle of it all.

I’m learning something simple but important:
➡️ I can feel overwhelmed and still choose something that helps.

Sharing more (including a very unexpected workout win 😄):

Choosing fun in a season that feels like a lot

04/03/2026

I left last week’s gathering feeling really hopeful.

We brought together a group of people from across Central Minnesota who care deeply about the health and wellbeing of our community—and the conversation was honest, thoughtful, and needed.

One thing became really clear:

So many people aren’t accessing support until they are already in crisis. And even when help exists, it can feel hard to find, overwhelming, or disconnected.

Instead of trying to fix everything, we’re starting with something simple:

✨ How can we support people earlier—before they reach crisis?

That’s what we’ll be focusing on at our next Central MN Wellness Exchange gathering.

📅 Thursday, May 7
🕘 9:00–10:30 AM
📍 Bethlehem Lutheran Church
💻 Online option available

We’ll be talking about:
• Where people are getting stuck
• What’s already working
• Small, shared next steps we can take together

This isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about listening, connecting, and beginning to move forward together.

If you’re someone who works in health, wellness, education, ministry, or simply cares about this community—you are welcome.

And if someone comes to mind who should be part of this, feel free to share this with them 💛

04/02/2026

I recently completed a training on supporting people who are using or considering GLP-1 medications, and it really confirmed something I’ve been noticing in my work…

There’s a big gap between getting the prescription and actually knowing how to live day-to-day in a way that feels good and sustainable.

So many people are left wondering:
• What should I be eating?
• Why do I feel this way?
• How do I make this work long-term?

This is where I see coaching making a meaningful difference—not by adding more rules, but by helping you understand your body, your habits, and what actually works in your real life.

This is something I’m starting to lean into more, alongside the work I already do helping people get clear on their health.

If you’ve been navigating this yourself, or even just feeling stuck in your health and wanting a clearer path forward, I’d love to support you.

I offer Health Clarity Sessions where we look at your full picture and create simple, realistic next steps that actually fit your life.

Feel free to message me or reach out if you’re curious 💛

03/31/2026

March was about noticing for me.

Not fixing.
Not starting over.
Just paying attention.

And honestly… I’m kind of surprised by what I found.

Even with stress, healing, and life feeling full—I didn’t spiral like I normally might have in the past.

I felt aware.
And even a little proud.

That feels new.

Now April is here, and my word is:

Choose.

Not from pressure.
Not from “I should be doing better.”
But from a place of understanding what I actually need.

Already, it’s looking like:
💧 Drinking more water
☀️ Getting outside more
🚶‍♀️ Moving my body again
🤝 Letting myself have support

Nothing extreme… but it feels real this time.

So this month, I’m trying something different.

Less pressure.
More presence.
Less all-or-nothing.
More small, intentional choices.

I wrote a little more about this shift (and what I’m learning) over on Substack—and I included a simple tool I’ve been using to help me move from noticing → choosing.

If you want to follow along or try it for yourself, I’d love to have you there 💛

👉 https://substack.com//note/p-192629413?r=79jaj7&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action

If this month feels like a fresh start for you too…

What’s one thing you want to choose differently?

A shift is happening—and I’m inviting you to be part of it

03/27/2026

I’m still reflecting on our first Central MN Wellness Exchange… and honestly, I’m just really grateful.

There’s something powerful about getting people in a room who care deeply about the well-being of this community—and giving them space to connect, listen, and share what they’re seeing.

We had people from different organizations, different roles, and different perspectives… and yet there was such a clear thread:

👉 A desire to support people more holistically
👉 A recognition that no one organization can do it alone
👉 And a shared openness to collaborate in new ways

What stood out to me most wasn’t just what was said—but how people showed up. Thoughtful. Curious. Willing to listen.

It reminded me that so much of this work starts with simply creating the space.

This feels like just the beginning, and I’m excited to see where it leads.

My only regret is not getting a group photo! So sorry to all of those who attended and left before I remembered! 🙃

If you’re in the Central MN area and are passionate about health, wellness, and community connection—I’d love to have you be part of future conversations 🤍

03/23/2026

Today marks 3 years of coaching with BetterUp 🤍

When I started, I thought coaching was about helping people set goals, stay accountable, and make progress.

And while that’s part of it… what I’ve learned has been so much deeper.

After 1,800+ conversations, one thing stands out:

Most people don’t need a better plan.
They need support that actually fits their real life.

They need space to pause, notice what’s going on, and take one small step that feels doable.

This work—along with my MA studies—has shifted how I see health and growth.

Less about pushing.
More about listening.
Less about fixing.
More about working with what’s already there.

I’ve been leaning more into my role as a *practitioner*—bringing together body, mind, and real life in a way that feels sustainable and honest.

And honestly… it feels really aligned.

If you’ve been feeling a little out of sync lately—low energy, overwhelmed, or just off—I’ve been opening up a few simple “Health Clarity Sessions” as a place to pause and check in.

Nothing complicated. Just a conversation to help you reconnect and figure out a small next step.

Message me if you’re curious 😊

https://open.substack.com/pub/rhythmsofpresence/p/what-1800-corporate-coaching-conversations?r=79jaj7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true