Today I found myself unexpectedly captivated by a high school graduation. Not my own, of course, but my sister's.
She's not the overly sentimental type, and to be honest, she didn't even really want to be there. But she showed up, cracked jokes, made us proud, and made the whole event better just by being herself.
As I found seats in the balcony with my family, I thought this would be just another normal graduation ceremony. I'm one of five siblings. This was my fifth sibling’s high school graduation, and honestly, none of us really wanted to be at our own. We just wanted to be there for each other. The ceremony always felt like a formality—but it’s a reason to be proud, and a guarantee of a great meal after.
It felt different this time. There was something about the energy that touched me a little more than I ever expected. It wasn't the commencement speaker's status or the shiny programs—it was the message. The message from every single person that spoke on the stage:
Life is about taking risks. It's about owning your voice. Creating your own path. Doing it for yourself and to make the world a better place. No matter how big or how small, it matters. At any point you may find yourself at the starting line of something big.
I realized this is exactly where I am right now. Not crossing a stage, but crossing a threshold. No cap and gown, but courage, a laptop, and an idea that's finally ready to take up space outside of my own mind.
I borrowed her cap, climbed a tree, smiled, and snapped a picture—because somehow, this moment felt sacred.
It's a poignant reminder that even when we don't take the traditional path, we're still exploring, still learning, still growing, still achieving, and still moving forward.
Threadlined Presence is my big leap. A business I’m building from scratch—hands-on, heart-first. A vision shaped by curiosity, creativity, and drive. There's no commencement speaker announcing what comes next here.
No script, no stage. Just me—figuring it out and showing up with heart.
If you're building something from the ground up too, no matter what stage—hi. I see you. I appreciate you. And I hope you'll follow along.