"How willing are you to shine?"—Tracy Litt

This is a question that’s been echoing in my mind since I returned from an inspiring event in California: “How willing are you to shine?” – a beautiful reminder from Tracy Litt that I felt deeply as I sat in a room filled with amazing women, each there to bring light and purpose to the world. I had the honor of attending this gathering that was, in a word, transformational.

This event was full of female founders and business owners who are not only creators of beautiful things but of beautiful lives, each weaving inspiration, resilience, and authenticity into everything they touch. The speakers all shared pieces of their journeys that resonated with my own as a creator, business owner, and human being on a growth path.

Being around such powerful, accomplished women reminded me of the importance of our roles as creators. We pour ourselves into our work, infusing each piece with love, intention, and creativity. We strive to add beauty to the world and create spaces for others to feel seen and valued. But as I learned at this event, we also need to be inspired ourselves. Just as we fuel our own creativity, we must nurture the light within us, staying connected to our purpose and finding ways to keep shining brightly.

Choosing to shine is a conscious decision to step beyond the comfort of playing small and to honor the calling within us—the calling that whispers (and sometimes shouts) that we’re here for more, that our unique gifts are meant to be shared. It’s easy to shrink back, to feel unworthy, or worry about taking up too much space, but there’s a deeper truth at play: we’re all here to contribute something beautiful to the world. When we choose to shine, we’re not just saying yes to our dreams, but to the hearts we’ll touch, the people we’ll uplift, and the ripple effect of inspiration we’ll create.

Every time we choose to let ourselves shine, we give others permission to do the same. We create ripples of inspiration that move out into the world, touching lives in ways we may never fully realize.

Happy Monday!