Still in Training
On answering unexpected calls, differentiating my content, and staying open to growth, even after decades of doing the work
I told myself I wouldn’t overextend this summer, and I meant it. After a few relentless years of upheaval, pivot, and rebuilding, I’ve been clear: I am not doing that anymore.
But I also believe that when something calls to you more than once, you should pay attention.
A few weeks ago, a friend texted about training for a triathlon. I hesitated because life felt too uncertain and too full. But then another friend mentioned the same race, and that second nudge was my sign. I texted back: LET’S DO THIS.
Tonight is our first practice swim.
This season has become one of training, but not just in the athletic sense. I’m training my body to show up again. Not to chase performance, but to meet the moment. I have run so many races that I’ve lost count and mastered yoga poses, but now I’m a beginner again, on purpose.
I’m also training others: leading weekly sessions for New York State school administrators on leadership, evaluation, and systems-level change. And while I’m holding space for their growth, I’m training myself in new ways, too — re-learning the terrain of social media, joining a new host agency for Charted (more to come on that!), and reorienting my voice in public.
This is the paradox of mastery: the more experienced you are, the more you understand how essential it is to stay teachable. I’ve been an educator for close to two decades, but I’m still (and always will be) a student.
Redefining My Voice Across Platforms
I posted a storytime on TikTok today that was raw, personal, and unexpectedly resonant. It was just me, sharing something real. But it hit me: that’s what TikTok is for! Maybe I don’t need everything in every place to be so polished and perfect.
For a while, I tried to keep it simple by sharing the same content across platforms. It made sense. I’m one person running a brand rooted in deep reflection, not churning content for algorithms. But lately, I’ve felt inclined to differentiate. To let each platform do what it’s best at, and to stop flattening my voice in the name of efficiency.
So here’s the new rhythm I’m testing:
TikTok: Journal entries, storytimes, and (for fun) trends. The kind of raw, moment-in-motion posts that feel like voice memos to the collective.
Instagram & Facebook: More crafted visuals — reels, quotes, info posts. The kind of content that’s easy to save, share, and revisit.
Substack (here): Longer form. Opinion pieces, reflections, and strategy. The map-making layer — where I zoom out and make meaning.
All announcements will go everywhere — retreats, launches, offerings. But the tone and texture will shift depending on where you’re finding me.
This isn’t about playing the algorithm game better. It’s about being more honest with how I want to show up and where different versions of my voice feel most alive.
If you’ve been following me across platforms, thank you for riding the waves as I find my footing. I’m not interested in “building a brand” that drains my soul. I’m building a life that lets me speak, create meaningfully, and connect deeply, and Charted is the container for that.
So no, you won’t see the same post everywhere anymore. You’ll see what fits — where it fits.
And if that helps you claim a little more space for your creative sovereignty, even better!