What brave things are you doing right now?

Dear friend,

This is a question — a mantra — I’ve been holding lately:

What brave things am I doing?

Bravery doesn’t always look like bold leaps or loud moves.

Sometimes it’s quiet, tender, deeply personal.

Sometimes it’s practical.

Sometimes it’s inconvenient.

Sometimes it’s delicious.

Here are a few of my recent brave things…

I finally made challah from scratch.

You may know I learned to bake and cook six years ago, when I turned 50. If you’ve followed along on my socials, you’ve seen the evolution — from only being able to assemble charcuterie boards to baking galettes, chocolate cakes, Boston cream donuts, and nourishing meals for my family.

But bread — challah! — felt like a mountain.

A braided, holy, sacred mystery.

Last week, I finally went for it. I was nervous, but I found a recipe that made the braiding feel doable…and the loaves came out beautifully.

I felt proud.

And nourished.

And a little bit like I’d crossed an ancestral threshold.

I switched our estate planning team.

Talk about grown-up bravery.

Over a decade ago, estate planning terrified me — not the planners themselves, but the decisions:

• Who will lovingly care for your children if you were to pass unexpectedly?
• At what age do you feel your child can responsibly receive resources?
• What health and medical directives matter to you? Would you want life support, and do you plan to donate your organs?

These are just a few of the important questions you face when creating an estate plan.

Before I was ready to hire anyone, I even interviewed an estate planner in 2016 for my podcast as a first step — a way to build courage. (You can still listen to this interview here.)

We then finally created our family estate plan in 2021. But recently, I realized we weren’t receiving the care and follow-through we needed. There were mistakes, missed updates, dropped balls. When I spoke to the firm, they were gracious and apologetic — but I knew I wanted a smaller, more attentive team.

So I had the hard conversation. I asked for accountability. And I chose a new, more aligned path forward with someone I’ve known and trusted for 25 years.

Bravery isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes it’s simply choosing better for yourself.

I flew to Montreal to nourish a dear friendship.

I love travel…

and I do not love planes.

Or leaving my cozy nest with my husband, son, our three cats, and our big puppy.

But I really wanted time with my dear friend Danielle Cohen and her family.

So I packed my courage, got on a plane, and flew across the continent.

We wandered neighborhoods, explored food and thrift shops, made shakshuka and galettes for her family, and played backgammon (a childhood love of mine — I also play weekly with a 99-year-old Iraqi Jewish man in my community!)

There were tree walks.

There were funny late-night facial masks that somehow solved all our problems.

There was deep nourishment — the kind that only long-time friendship can offer.

Danielle and I met when she photographed me for my first Art of Money book. Since then, our lives, families, and work have woven together in beautiful ways. She’s brave, too — if you haven’t listened to my interviews with her on single motherhood, fighting for child support, and transitioning her photography business during the pandemic into a soulful online teaching called Visibility Medicine…I highly recommend them.

Friendship requires bravery.

To show up.

To travel.

To prioritize love and connection across long distances.

When I told my husband about creating my own imprint, he joked that I sounded like a 16th-century queen summoning her court — which, honestly, made the whole thing even more delightful.

But truly, I’m dreaming.

Softly. Quietly. With helpers.

Even on sabbatical — still not teaching live or doing sessions — my creativity is alive. I’m exploring self-publishing beautiful educational products that bring my financial therapy teachings directly to your inbox (and maybe your mailbox).

And yes, perhaps publishing my first book in new languages.

My first new offering in this next chapter is already here:

The Art of Money Self-Paced program — my 12-module, somatic-based financial therapy journey through Money Healing, Money Practices, and Money Maps. Inside, you’ll hear me guiding you in your earbuds, as though we’re sharing sipping chocolate together. The classes aren’t live, but the presence is real. The curriculum is lovingly curated from my most cherished audio and written teachings from 25 years of this work. You can learn more here.

And as I continue dreaming this imprint into being — if you have ideas, I’d love to hear them.

Now, your turn.

These are my brave things.

Some small. Some big. All meaningful.

What brave things are you doing right now?

Maybe you’re learning a new recipe.

Maybe you’re having a hard conversation.

Maybe you’re showing up for a loved one.

Maybe you’re opening a savings account, or looking at a credit card statement you’ve been avoiding, or asking for support.

Maybe your bravery today is simply resting.

Bravery comes in many forms.

Sometimes it’s bold. Sometimes it’s tender. Sometimes it’s quiet as a whisper.

And I would love to hear

What brave thing are you doing right now?

With love and courage,

P.S. Sometimes bravery looks like big leaps.

Sometimes it looks like quietly tending to the parts of life that matter most.

If you’re feeling the nudge to gently deepen your relationship with money — to build compassion, clarity, and confidence — the Art of Money Self-Paced Program is here for you, whenever you’re ready.

It’s lifetime access, no pressure, go-at-your-own-pace support for your financial life and your emotional life around money.

If this is your brave step right now, here’s where to begin → [Learn more + sign up here]