Palmer, Alaska

One of the biggest things I did in my life to be able to live intentionally was leaving traditional employment and creating a business. At first, creating the business was allow me to stay home with my children while maintaining work. It was a means to an end. However, over the last few years it has given me so many growth moments (both good and bad... some extremely difficult and stressful). That growth has allowed me to develop one of the most important things I need to live the intentional life I want to - the courage to choose work that interests me and aligns with my life, instead of forcing myself to take work that "just pays the bills".

Learning to say "no" to things that didn't align with me allowed me to open up doors to experience new things - like getting to shadow a local radio station for a day in Alaska. It was fascinating seeing how a radio station operates! This opportunity allowed me to learn about a new industry and explore a town that, for around 20 years, was in my backyard and I never experienced it. I decided that, this time, I wasn't going to sit in a hotel room waiting for the next day - I was going to explore it. Aside from it being fricken cold (-19 and lots of wind), I had a blast. I discovered a small bookshop, a smoothie bar, a pleasant coffee shop, and an amazing restaurant. Who knew this sleepy town held so many great little treasures!