Afraid to Be Seen...

For months, I had been saying I wanted to host a Memorial Day Women’s Retreat. I had the idea, I made the list, I drafted the itinerary, even scoped out the perfect location. I talked about it, journaled about it, dreamed about it—but for some reason, I never actually launched it. I didn’t hit publish. I didn’t tell the world it was happening. I stalled.

At first, I told myself it was fear of being seen. That if I put myself out there and the retreat flopped, I would be exposed. But after some soul digging, I realized it wasn’t about being seen.

It was about being misunderstood.

Because deep down, I don’t mind being visible. In fact, I like connecting with others. I like telling my story. I like being honest. But what I feared was someone seeing a part of me and getting it wrong. Seeing the children's book author, but not the soft life woman with big dreams. Seeing the romance writer, but not the heart-centered entrepreneur.

I was afraid that people would put me in a box—and that box wouldn't fit.

But here’s what I learned: When you hold back out of fear of being misunderstood, you delay alignment with the people who do get you. The more I stay quiet, the longer it takes for the women I’m meant to serve, connect with, and grow alongside to find me.

So I shifted the story. I reminded myself: I’m not for everyone. And that’s a good thing.

I finally booked the trip. I created the event. I added it to my website. I started to show up.

And that simple act of following through cracked something open in me. Because it wasn’t just about planning a retreat. It was about making a decision from my highest self. It was about trusting my gut. And it was about realizing that fear doesn’t always look like fear. Sometimes it looks like procrastination. Sometimes it sounds like "I'm just not ready yet."

But the truth is: I was ready. I am ready. And so are you.

So if you’ve been putting something off—maybe it’s not because you’re afraid to be seen. Maybe you’re afraid to be seen the wrong way.

Here’s your reminder: You get to define your story. You get to show up in your wholeness. You get to hold space for multiple passions, identities, and dreams.

And if someone doesn’t get it? That just means they’re not your people.

To the ones who do get it: I see you. I’m building this for you. And I hope to see you in Alpena.

Let this be your nudge to move, even with the fear.

You are not too much. You are just enough. And the world needs your magic—exactly as it is.