From Vacation to Renovation
Last year I made a commitment to my friend Cindy that Paul and I would rent a house with her for a week at Rocky Neck (on the CT shoreline).
Little did we know that we would be moving and still have much to sort out in the old house since I still have to finish cleaning out the attic!
But we did go to enjoy the last vestige of summer, and it was a perfect week to walk the beach, have a fire in the firepit each morning, and enjoy beautiful sunsets.
Our friends took care of Jack and Maeve and we were blessed to get to enjoy some relaxation after the very busy summer we’ve had.
When we got home and walked into the living room, we both said, “It’s time to update this room.”
We tackled our big, dark red-brick fireplace.
Dove came over and, with some patience and paint, we gave it a whitewash, and I just love how it looks and feels.
Inspiration and Transformation
It seemed like that vacation and the fireplace makeover suddenly changed the weather too!
Although I know this is not true in reality, it just happened to coincide with the fall.
Fall had always been my least favorite time of year. But because of that, I began to look for things that I could love about autumn.
Now I clearly see beauty in the change of the season.
I feel the crispness in the air and enjoy the coolness of the night for sleeping better.
I look forward to the change in food as we begin to have more soups, make stew, and enjoy pumpkin spice everything,
I choose not to look at the negatives, like death and decay. Instead, I look for what I’m grateful for.
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
~ Viktor Frankl
The Lesson
Leadership and personal growth are the same way: transformation doesn’t always mean tearing everything down.
Whether it’s your home, your habits, or your leadership style – fall is the perfect season to refresh what’s already strong and make room for what’s next.
Just like our fireplace, you don’t need a complete demolition to create meaningful change. Sometimes a small shift, a gentle refresh, is enough to transform how everything feels.
So what can you lighten up on so your best self shines through?
If you’d like to talk about it, feel free to get on my calendar for a networking call.
All my best,
Maureen
Last vestige of summer 2025
