In this episode, I share the deeply inspiring experiences from my recent trip to Paris with my 14-year-old son. What started as an eighth-grade graduation gift became a profound journey through living history, exploring three iconic sites that offered unexpected lessons about resilience, courage, and the power of individual choice. From the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral rising magnificently from the ashes of its 2019 fire, to standing at the Arc de Triomphe where my son experienced a powerful moment of historical realization, to walking the medieval labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral (the birthplace of the modern labyrinth movement) each experience left me with renewed hope and inspiration.
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Keywords: Paris travel, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, Chartres Cathedral, medieval labyrinth, Lauren Artress, Veriditas, World War II history, Colonel Welborn Barton Griffith Jr, General Dietrich von Choltitz, liberation of Paris, labyrinth walking, Grace Cathedral, AIDS epidemic, French h
In this episode, I'm getting personal and sharing a discovery that felt like a gift at exactly the right time. While clearing out my closet in search of structure and calm, I found my old portable CD player from 1997, still loaded with U2's "The Best Of 1980-1990." When track four started playing, I was instantly transported back to grad school and reminded of my personal theme song: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." This episode is about longing, faith, and finding joy in the messy middle of life.
I dive deep into why this song became a favorite. I explorie its spiritual roots and what Bono meant when he called it "a gospel song with a restless spirit." We'll look at the biblical references woven throughout the lyrics, including what I consider a powerful connection to Jesus's cry on the cross in Matthew 27:46.
I share three key insights this song offers us in 2026: that joy isn't dependent on having everything figured out, that faith and longing are powerful motivators, and that being a spiritual person means staying curious, questioning, and engaged, even when things feel hard.
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Keywords: theme song, U2, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, faith and doubt, spiritual journey, joy in the messy middle, longing, Christian spirituality, gospel music, Bono, Joshua Tree album, finding joy, spiritual practice, faith and questioning, religious exploration, personal growth, mindfulness, hope, Matthew 27:46, Psalm 22, living with intention, Nancy Meyers aesthetic, decluttering, self-discovery, INFJ, Yale Divinity School, religious studies, paradox, tension, wayfinding emotions
As we step into 2026, I'm excited to share my approach to planning your year with calm and ease. In this episode, I walk you through the exact planning methods I've used for over a decade to stay focused on what truly matters while maintaining peace and presence. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by the fast pace of life or simply want to create a roadmap for your goals, this episode will help you slow down mindfully so you can move forward with intention and joy throughout the year.
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I'm sharing two powerful planning tools that have transformed how I approach my goals: the "Ten in Three" exercise I created a decade ago, and a brand new seven-week planning cycle that I started using at the end of 2025 that has kept me focused on what matters in an easy and clam way. The best part? This is not acomplicated "system" that requires a specific planner, stickers, or a lot of time. It's just an easy way to remain connected to what brings you joy while making real progress on your dreams. Download the free printable worksheets at jumpstartyourjoy.com to follow along and start planning your year with calm and ease.
In this episode, we cover:
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