Hello World

T minus 0

I have a compulsion to communicate and connect that finally boiled up onto the page.

Why Now?

Of the many wonderful things I read in Elizabeth Lesser’s book “Cassandra Speaks”, the call to action that’s been a burr under my saddle is one from Pauli Murray: “One person plus one typewriter constitutes a movement.”

And I got real life encouragement this week from Megan McDonald and Korie Pelka; Megan is an old friend whose writing I’ve admired for decades and Korie is a new inspiration, on the cusp of publishing her first book. Both are writers worth following!

Why Transitory Muse?

I get most of my ideas while in motion: walking, riding trains, on cigarette boats crossing Lake Como, but mostly, onto the commuter bus into San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge is inspiring, even at 6:18 am. I didn’t realize this was a thing until physicist, novelist & speaker Ransom Stephens shared he has the same propensity.

I’ve also found myself an inadvertent agent of change throughout my career. I am someone who gets things done, organizes the charge into the unknown, and helps teams build consensus and find meaning as we tackle difficult problems. I inspire folks to navigate transition in work and life with less friction and more curiosity.

This means I spend a lot of time in the liminal space; the place where the tides come and go, meet people where they are, willing to be uncomfortable.

I love the layered meaning of the word muse; to be deep in thought, and also that lovely collection of nine goddesses, presiding over and inspiring learning and the arts.

Who Am I?

Human, intersectional, bi-coastal, hyphenate, one of the ampersands, the list goes on. We’ve had to come with a bunch of labels because our media habituates us to sound bytes, 280 characters, “3 things.” We are all so much more than a label. I want to be able to talk about all the things, somewhere, without curating the perfect communication nugget.

My first “outside the family” memory is leading the mice in a children’s production of the Nutcracker at 3 ½. I’ve played a number of instruments and sung a lot, my favorite being medieval and Renaissance a capella. I love to dance, and do not require myself to be good at it!

I love the water. I can seemingly walk forever. I am an avid reader and I will often tell you about the books that are affecting me, though I do not guarantee I understood them or am conveying the author’s intent accurately. I collect vintage cookbooks and love to putter in the kitchen. I have worked in learning & development, filmmaking, advertising, radio, New York City art scene, organic farming, and most recently consulting, coaching & leading transformations in the bay area tech & startup scene.

I think this is enough “to be getting on with.” (don’t you love the English?!)

What’s Next?

Here you will hear me thinking about the worlds that I inhabit, sometimes where they intersect and sometimes not.

I can’t wait to tell you about the funny and curious things I see in myself and my communities and in the world around me.

Let’s play.