I believe stories help us recognize ourselves in one another.

There was a time in my life when I barely recognized myself.

After my divorce in 2018, I found myself starting over in ways I never expected. My children were getting older, the life I had known was changing, and I felt deeply lonely. I knew people, but I didn’t have the kind of connection that makes you feel truly known and supported.

I also knew I couldn’t be the only woman feeling this way. So I invited a few women to lunch. I wasn’t trying to start a business or build a movement. I simply wanted someone to sit with, laugh with, and talk to honestly. That first invitation opened a door.

That gathering became the Fabulous Ladies of Naples. The Facebook group grew to more than 10,000 members, and approximately 500 women actively participated in community events. At its busiest, the community offered five to seven events each week.

I trained and supported 20 volunteer hosts in welcoming culture, warm connection, and event logistics. Through monthly meetings and idea exchanges, we kept learning how to help newcomers enter the room and feel included.

My master’s degree in education and teaching background shaped how I guided those experiences. The women’s stories shaped me, too. They showed me what becomes possible when people are invited to speak honestly and listen with curiosity.

Today, I carry that work forward through interviews, writing, speaking, workshops, and community consulting. Whether I am behind a microphone or in a room with a team, connection through storytelling remains the thread.

Sometimes your next chapter begins with one brave decision, and sometimes it begins with one brave hello.