🌿 The Lighthouse Blog Post: “Rediscovering Me”

Where My Journey Began

My journey began on Nantucket at nine years old.

Each day, I’d set out from Cliff Road on my bike—on my own. Before reaching the pharmacy, I’d stop at a private trail—a hidden path where I found my peace. I would walk my bike down slowly, listening to the birds sing and watching the bunnies hop in the gardens along the way. The trail led to a little pond, tucked just outside of Jetties Beach. On one side, the bushes were wild and untamed; on the other, beautifully trimmed, as if nature and nurture had agreed to coexist. Frogs would sit quietly at the edge of the water, and as I walked the long path, I would pause to watch them, feeling held by the stillness. Birds fluttered by. Bunnies crossed the path. It was a sacred kind of quiet.

From there, I would often stop at Something Natural for a bite to eat and continue toward town to the pharmacy for peppermint stick ice cream at the pharmacy. Then I would pedal on toward the cottages my father was building in Surfside, with a stop at the rotary for cinnamon sugar fried dough. When I arrived at the cottages, I often ventured past to the other side of the dirt road, diligently trying to ride around potholes in the dirt which led to the dunes and seaside, admiring the roses and picking blueberries by the sea.

I remember laughing as I entered Main Street, the cobblestones rattling beneath my tires. The turn at the rotary. The final dirt road before the ocean. If I went too far and missed the turn, I’d end up at Surfside Beach. I’d pass the gas station on my way, to climb the slight hill, and admire the home overflowing with flowers and flags. it would remind me I was in the right direction.

But upon my return each day one of my most sacred stops was the Cliff House—not to be confused with the Inn. I’d ride straight down the stone path to the back of the house and place myself gently in the hammock nestled behind it. I would sit patiently, listening to the breeze and the quiet hum of the garden nearby. Sometimes I would step out into that garden, in full bloom and full of bunnies. It was a beautiful, peaceful, safe place to be.

At that moment, I was kind, gentle, free, and curious about the world. And the world, in return, felt open and full of possibility.

🌊 The Resilient Path Begins in Childhood

What I remember most is how safe I felt. How free I was. How deeply I was me.

They say our values and beliefs in life begin to take shape between the ages of nine and fourteen. Mine were shaped by the soothing sea, peppermint ice cream, hidden trails, hammocks, the dirt road before the ocean picking blueberries by the sea. By the artists painting off the docks. By people who were genuinely happy and enjoying life.

As a child and throughout my teens into adulthood, I was always rooted in the Nantucket as I continued to return the spirit—kindness, happiness, and authenticity. From greeting each person, I passed with a smile to saying hello from my bike, remains within and me continues today. My smile has always been my signature—my brand. It’s what I have been known for throughout my life. A quiet offering of warmth, kindness, connection, and presence.

🕰 Bridging the Years: From Then to Now

Between those early bike rides and the woman I am today, there have been many seasons—each one marked by a return to Nantucket. Not just the summer, returning in winter to visit my father, in spring for the daffodil festival, in December for the Christmas stroll. Later, I joined the celebratory wine festivals, cranberry harvests, half marathons, and triathlons. Each visit deepened my bond with the island and reminded me of who I was beneath the surface.

Through every chapter—adolescence, motherhood, leadership—I carried the spirit of Nantucket with me. The kindness. The curiosity. The quiet joy. The smile, which began as a simple hello on a bike path, became my signature. My brand. A reflection of the authenticity I learned from the island and now offer to the world.

Nantucket brings me back to a place where I am my best self. Regardless of what challenges life brings, it’s the gentle calm of the sea, the whisper of the mysterious fog of the Grey Lady, that allows me to follow my beliefs and values and raise my standards in life. It helps me be my best—and give back to a place that has instilled so much in me. And in doing so, I empower others to find their authenticity and do the same.

I’ve learned to be resilient—to continue striving for the best. That resilience is rooted in the island’s quiet strength and reflected in the way I lead, live, and love.

Nantucket didn’t just shape my values—it gave me a rhythm to live by. A way to lead with grace, to communicate with warmth, and to design systems that honor both precision and humanity. It’s the reason I return. And it’s the reason I give back.

💼 Living the Legacy

Today, through Ack Professional International and The Resilient Path to Success, I have helped thousands of individuals reconnect with their own inner compass—through leadership and self-development programs drawing on decades of global experience with top healthcare pharmaceutical, coaching and banking industries to small businesses on the island and beyond. I guide leaders and creatives to align professional success with personal fulfillment, because I believe the most powerful path forward begins with remembering who we’ve always been. It’s our core qualities—the ones that nourish both mental and physical well-being—that are essential to true, sustainable success.

This work isn’t just strategy. It’s soul. It’s the quiet art of rediscovery, the gentle practice of returning to what’s true. And it’s my honor to walk beside others as they find their way back to themselves. It's my greatest motivator to help others and give back to the community.

💬 Reflection Prompt for Our Readers

Think back to when you were nine. Where were you? What made you feel safe, free, and fully yourself?

Your story matters. Your values are waiting to be remembered. Be the best version of you.

🌟 Join Us

Begin your next journey of success with The Resilient Path program. Let’s rediscover together—your truth, your strength, your way forward.

Be the best version of YOU!

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