There was a moment recently when everything seemed to pause, and I could finally see how far I had come. It felt like a lightning bolt—sudden, overwhelming, and hard to ignore. I remember thinking, How did I get here? I am in graduate school, and I was recently accepted into the LBJ Women's Campaign School. For a moment, it didn't feel real. Part of me still wanted to say, Who is this? This can't be me. The girl who once worked at the front desk answering phones, directing calls, just trying to get through the day. For a long time, I carried the belief that I was "nobody from nowhere." But when I stopped and really looked back, I saw something different. I saw 20 years of showing up for students, for families, for my community. I saw the work of helping students regulate their emotions, find their voice, learn, and feel supported. I saw the quiet, consistent impact that doesn't always get recognized in the moment. And now, that same work has brought me into new spaces, reading policy briefs, building networks, and stepping into rooms where decisions are being made. Spaces I once thought were not meant for someone like me. That moment shifted something. It helped me realize that progress isn't always loud or immediate. Sometimes it is built quietly, over years of doing the work, even when no one is watching. I am no longer questioning whether I belong in these spaces. I am learning to recognize that I have earned my place in them, and that I have a responsibility to use my voice to help shape what comes next.

For years, whenever I had a slow day at work, I would sit down and write out my goals and visions for the future. I remember a defining moment while working for the state under a difficult leader. I wasn't fulfilled, and for the first time, I found myself questioning the passion that had always driven me. That's when I knew something had to change. So, I got intentional. On June 20, 2018, I created a goal sheet. I mapped out everything - 1-year goals, 2-year goals, 5-year goals, 5–7, 5–10, and even what I called my "infinity and beyond" goals. I carried that paper with me everywhere. It became my reminder that I was capable of more. I did not stop moving towards my goals, but eventually, life got busy, and I forgot about that list. Years later, while moving, I found it again. And in that moment, I realized—I had accomplished everything on that list, within the timeframes I set for myself. There were still some items remaining in the 5-7 years or 5-10 years categories, but everything under 5 years was accomplished. That was the pause I didn't know I needed. It shifted something in me. I've always been future-focused, always pushing toward the next goal, the next level, the next vision. But finding that paper reminded me that progress isn't just about what's ahead...it's also about honoring how far you've already come. Now, I'm more intentional about celebrating the journey, not just chasing the destination. Because life is beautiful. And while vision is important, so is presence. Don't get so caught up planning your future that you forget to live in and appreciate your present.

I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition in my early 20s just as I was preparing to go to graduate school. As you can imagine, this was devastating news. I was told by my specialist that I would not walk within the year and would likely need to be on disability. At a time when most adults are looking towards all of the future possibilities they can chase, it felt like my opportunities crumbled before my eyes. When receiving news as of this magnitude, it is hard to retain hope. Despite this, I continued on with graduate school, pushing my way through the pain and chronic fatigue. I achieved my masters degree 2 years later in social work and began my career as a therapist. Now 21 years in the field, I have maintained full time work, assisted many in profound healing and have held several leadership positions. I have honed in on incredible skills and have never stopped growing in a career I love. I say as active as I can and still walk on my own today. Though I have required 2 surgeries and ongoing medical visits for my incurable condition I have defied the odds. Recently I was engaging in physical therapy to recover from an ankle fusion from my condition destroying my ankle joint. I found myself frustrated in this particular session with wanting to do more than my body was likely ready to handle. The physical therapist gently pointed out this viewpoint I was coming with. He shared that although he shouldn't compare patients, he shared recently working with a client with my same condition (who was much younger than me) and was currently working on recovering from her 10th surgery. He encouraged me to be grateful for how hard I have worked in my journey and that my situation could be much worse. I took the time that day to reflect on how much work I have put in to help myself as much as I could to be as strong and healthy as I could be despite my vulnerability. I still walk. I am raising 3 children. I have maintained a full time job throughout my adulthood. I am largely healthy and fit for what I have. I keep growing, studying and learning to be at my best for those I assist. Sometimes it takes someone outside of us to remind us of what we cannot see because we are so focused on the summit that we forget to look back at the distance we have traveled. Some may never reach the summit but we still persevered, tried and grew with no promises in the end. It is a skill of resilience and strength to continue to reflect on all we do. It is important we do this for ourselves, but also others.

In a world of social media and constant comparing, I had to learn how to filter out the noise and focus on the things that got me up out of bed everyday. My journey is MINE. I am one of one and I am creating my own path to walk on that works for me and my family. I can't be anyone else but myself; move at a pace where I am not overwhelmed or stressed. Focusing on what I have already accomplished and setting mini goals for myself along the way has provided me with the peace of knowing that eventually I will accomplish all that I have set out to do.

Pausing to reflect on how far I've come isn't something that comes naturally to me. I'm constantly balancing ambition with the need to create more balance in my life, and I tend to stay focused on what's next rather than what's already been accomplished. The moment that truly shifted my perspective came during a period of transition. After many years as a multi-unit operations leader at Rite Aid, I made the decision to give notice and move on to a new chapter. What stood out most wasn't just the decision itself, but how my team and colleagues showed up for me afterward. The support, the celebration, and the genuine appreciation they expressed made me pause in a way I hadn't before. It was the first time I really allowed myself to see the impact I had made through the people I had developed and the culture we built together. Starting fresh and then building strong connections with a new team reinforced that even more. It helped me realize that what I had accomplished wasn't situational or by chance. It was a reflection of the leader I had grown into. That experience changed how I view my progress. Instead of only focusing on what's next, I've started to recognize the importance of pausing, reflecting, and acknowledging the impact along the way.

For a long time, I was so focused on what still needed to be done that I rarely stopped to look back. I was always moving to the next goal, the next responsibility, the next step forward. But one day, I found myself in a high school business class, teaching, and I paused for just a second. I looked around and realized I was no longer the woman trying to figure out how to get through the next day. I was the one standing at the front of the room, doing something I had dreamed about since I was a little girl, helping others build their future. That moment shifted everything for me. It was not just about the degree or the career. It was about recognizing the distance between where I started and where I am now. I began to see that progress is not always loud or obvious. Sometimes it shows up quietly in the roles we step into, the confidence we carry, and the lives we are able to impact. What helped me see my progress differently was realizing that my growth did not come from perfect conditions. It came from determination, passion, and a lot of chaos. It came from showing up on the hard days, pushing forward when things felt uncertain, and choosing not to give up. I started allowing myself to pause and acknowledge how far I have come, not just focusing on what is ahead, but recognizing what I have already overcome. And I remind myself often that growth is happening, even when it does not feel like it. It goes back to something I truly believe: know your worth. Part of that is recognizing your progress, owning your journey, and giving yourself credit for how far you have come.

It's easy to focus on everything that still needs to be done instead of recognizing how far we've already come. There are many moments when I have to pause and remind myself of my progress. Balancing being a mom, a leader, and everything in between does feel overwhelming at times. I like things to go as planned but life doesn't always work that way. What's helped me shift my perspective is therapy, meditation, self-care, and trusting my faith. Those things have grounded me and reminded me to slow down. Some days I grow, some days I rest but I'm not who I was yesterday. And that matters.

There was a time when I was so focused on everything I still needed to improve that I rarely stopped to acknowledge how far I had already come. In my work in ABA, I often found myself concentrating on challenging moments, high behaviors, emotional stress, and the pressure of responding correctly in real time. I used to see those situations as signs that I still had a lot to learn. Over time, I began to notice small but meaningful changes in myself. I could stay more composed during difficult moments, respond more intentionally, and recover faster after stressful situations. One moment that really helped me recognize my growth was when I was able to remain calm and professional during a highly escalated session while still supporting my learner effectively. I also started to see my progress more clearly through experiences outside of clinical work, such as organizing the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital fundraising event in Charlotte, where I helped coordinate logistics, manage responsibilities, and contribute to exceeding our fundraising goal. That experience showed me that I could handle pressure, lead with purpose, and stay focused even in complex environments. What helped me see my progress differently was learning to reflect instead of just critique myself. I began to recognize that growth isn't always loud. It often shows up in how you respond, how you recover, and how you carry yourself in situations that once felt overwhelming.

For a long time, I measured progress by what I hadn't accomplished yet instead of surviving what should have broken me. I think the moment it finally hit me was realizing I was no longer just trying to make it through the day. I was building things that might help other people make it through theirs.

A defining moment for me was being promoted to my social media position after proving my value to my boss. During my review, she walked me through every goal I had accomplished while setting new ones to strive for; hearing my progress spoken out loud was an incredible experience that helped me recognize how far I had come.

When your thoughts on your career are changed from focus on current and reflect to past you realize how far you have come and accomplished.

This year, completing a SWOT Analysis for Authentica Group forced me to pause and truly evaluate the business instead of constantly focusing on what was next. Looking closely at the KPIs (revenue growth, client growth, referrals, and survey feedback) reminded me that knowledge is power because the numbers don't lie. The exercise gave me clarity on what was working, what needed attention, and most importantly, permission to stop dismissing the growth and finally celebrate it.

One moment that helped me recognize how far I had come was when I realized that what began in a season of surrender, prayer, and obedience had become a ministry touching families, shaping students, and pointing young hearts back to the Creator. Every thank-you from a student, every face filled with excitement and amazement, reminds me that we are on the right path; and although the days are long and the weeks can feel never-ending, we are building something far bigger than time, something rooted in faith, obedience, and eternal purpose.

There was a moment when survival no longer felt like the entire story. Progress became visible through the quiet return of peace, discipline, and the ability to keep showing up with purpose despite adversity. Healing is not always loud. Sometimes it looks like choosing growth on the days exhaustion could have won.

When I started my company, I had a silent vision that I would consider 'success'. When I was introduced to a local Fire Department and they were so interested and receptive to my services to support them during a major transition of their workforce and culture, I knew I had made it. That was my vision: that my work would support my community someday.

I recently compared myself to the person I was in 2024. I was in a stressful job that was mentally, physically, and emotionally draining and I didn't have the capacity to accomplish my goals. Now I am in a stress free job, released my books, and started a non-profit organization. I realized that you can accomplish what you want when your mind is clear.

I have had to remind myself over the years that success is not only measured by numerical goals but on the relationships you are able to build along the way. Both of these help with personal and professional growth.

In my short time of being a CEO, I have accomplished many achievements including implementing further warehouse automation and optimization that streamlines warehouse operations and serves clientele on an expanded scale. This task is no feat, and after reflecting on how much progress was made in my at home office, it made me appreciate the lessons and the experience gained while completing such a heavy task.

I think what helped me most was learning to shift my mindset. Speeding up does not always equal faster results, slowing down to process your previous experiences may be what helps you move ahead.

I had to refocus and realize that I'd lost everything I had to lose. I had to learn how to be loving and loyal to myself for once in my life. After I learned how to do those simple things, I've been unstoppable ever since.

I think the moment I really paused was when I realized people were coming to me not just for design, but for strategy, clarity, and direction. That helped me see that I wasn't just building websites or marketing materials. I was building trust, momentum, and a business that could truly help other small businesses grow.