My birthday is this week and as I stand on the edge of 48 and reflect on year 47, I can honestly say this past year cracked me wide open.

This was the year I met myself —> truly met myself.

I learned more about who I am, how I operate, and why I’m here than in all the years before combined.

Learning my Human Design was a big part of that awakening. It gave me a new lens to see myself through. One that felt like coming home. 

It was so transformative that I now weave it into my work with clients and teams. Because when you stop outsourcing your worth and start honoring how you’re actually designed… everything shifts.

I think back to the woman I was a decade ago. Just getting settled into a brand-new life in Los Angeles with a teenage daughter, and about to build the training organization for Quest Nutrition who had just grown over 57,000% in three years.

I had no food manufacturing experience. I wasn’t a seasoned leader. I hadn’t “earned” a role this big. And yet, there I was. Little ole me, standing at the edge of something massive… sink or swim time. Thank God for amazing mentors who see the potential in you and hold space for you to shine.

My years in L.A. stretched me in every way possible. It wasn’t just the job. It was the mission. The people. The exposure to new mindsets, new perspectives, endless possibilities.

Since then, I’ve worn many hats: including traveler, Uber driver, coach, consultant, author, and speaker. Each chapter taught me something about who I am and what I’m capable of. Every role, every road trip, every passport stamp has shaped this version of me standing here today.

But the greatest joy of all? Watching my daughter bloom in motherhood. The way she loves, protects, and guides her babies reminds me that the best parts of us never fade… they multiply.

This summer I had the honor of taking them on the Great-Great Grandma Tour. There’s something sacred about standing in the middle of five generations; holding my grandbabies while remembering the women who raised me. Feeling their strength, their stories, their love pulsing through me… Realizing I am part of their legacy.

So as I walk into level 48, I can see how it all connects. Every failure, every win, every pivot… all leading me back home to myself.

This next chapter? 

It’s about living my purpose out loud. Creating impact. Expanding love.

With conviction. With purpose. With joy. With deeper dedication to my why than ever before.

Because this isn’t just about me.

It’s about all of us.

It’s about LOVE.

Until next time, here’s to living your life by design, not default.

♥️ Terica