Saying no is often hard, especially when I care so much about the work I do and the community I live in. But I have learned that if I don’t set an intention for my resources in advance, it’s easy to overcommit. And, when I overcommit, then I deplete my resources. It’s the law of diminishing returns.

In 2019, I made a vow to pursue only what makes my heart sing—a simple but powerful decision that transformed my life. From rediscovering my love for biking to finding joy in solo travel, I've learned that it's the small, everyday choices that lead to a fulfilling life. It's not always easy, but the journey to living a life that truly resonates with my heart has been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined.

I remember one lady specifically who lived down street. After the third or fourth weekend in a row we went around collecting cans, she started preparing for us. Each Saturday she saw us walking down the street with our wagon, she would run inside and come out with a tons and tons of cans - almost a whole wagon full!

Through the process of meeting so many of my neighbors, I honed my skills on how to approach criticism. I developed a process to listen to and respond to complaints in a positive way.