In the high-stakes world of executive leadership, we are often sold a lie: the idea that "work-life balance" is a scale that must sit perfectly level. We believe that if we just manage our time better or find the right productivity hack, we can keep our professional and personal lives in separate, equal boxes. But for the faith-led leader, this scale doesn't just tip from time to time —it often breaks down completely.

"You get what you give."

It's a saying we've all heard a hundred times, used in songs, poems and speeches. But it never hit home for me as much as it did last week as I was going through my dad's house, preparing for an estate sale. Removing the photos, sentimental items, and personal papers, I was overwhelmed by a beautiful, tangible confirmation of a life well-lived.

In our hyper-connected world, we often find ourselves caught in a paradox: the more "connected" we are digitally, the more "disconnected" we feel personally. This is the digital marketer's paradox I deal with, but it affects all of us. Whether you are a professional or a parent, you likely know the feeling of a phantom vibration in your pocket during dinner—a phenomenon I call Availability Creep.

I am a self-confessed productivity junkie. I love the "click" of a finished task and the "ding" of a sent email and my to-do list rivals the longest CVS receipt ever printed. For years, I applied this same logic to my parenting. I thought if I could just do more for my family—plan better vacations, cook more elaborate Sunday dinners, or facilitate more "deep" talks—we would be more connected.

But here is the hard truth I’ve learned: you can do everything for your family and still be completely absent from them.

Happy Women's History Month! Every March, the world celebrates the "strong woman," but we often only see the finished product—the statue or the headline. We rarely see the "everyday drudgery" or the "unassuming audacity" that actually built those legacies.

Today I’d like to explore the lives of three women who excelled as master "Relational Architects," using their vocations and faith as a means of transformation. The 2026 Women’s History Month theme is "Leading the Change," and these women didn't just survive the 20th century—they sanctified it. We are looking at a radical journalist, a political trailblazer, and a civil rights witness.

We talk a lot about the Sandwich Generation—that compressed season where you’re squeezed between the needs of aging parents and the needs of your growing children. It is a period of intense pressure, love, and exhaustion. But as intense as it is, it's a phase that, by its nature, is contained by two slices of bread: the generations above and below you.

But what happens when the top slice is gone?

I’m often asked why I focus so much on the "small stuff" of family life—the 30-second hugs, the carpool prayers, and the intentional texts to kids across the country.

The truth is, those small moments aren’t just "nice to have." They are the building blocks of a long, healthy, and meaningful life. Recently, I’ve been diving into a fascinating book called The Good Life by Robert Waldinger, MD, and Marc Schulz, PhD. It details the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest scientific study on happiness ever conducted (over 80 years!).

We’ve bought into the myth that true connection only happens during the big, perfect moments: the fancy Sunday brunch, the elaborate 'Family Fun Night,' or the annual unplugged vacation. We wait for these "Big Moments" to appear, and while we’re waiting, we’re missing the 1,000 tiny opportunities for connection right in front of us.

The truth is, connection isn't a destination we reach once we finish our endless To-Do list. If you're like me—juggling a career, writing, and raising kids—that list never ends. If we wait for "Quality Time" to happen, we’re essentially telling our families, "I’ll be fully yours once the world stops spinning." But the world doesn't stop.

We’ve all been there: the moving truck pulls away, the airport goodbye lingers a bit too long, or you realize it’s been three months since you had a conversation that wasn't interrupted by a weak Wi-Fi signal. In the "faith and family" world, we talk a lot about the "empty nest" or "leaving and cleaving," but we don't always talk about the emotional maintenance required when your support system is three time zones away.

Living far apart is a logistical challenge, but it’s often the "emotional drift" that scares us most. Here is how to keep the heart strings taut even when the miles are long. And my video on this topic is at the bottom of the page!

If you’re like me, you’re obsessed with productivity. You have the deadlines, the to-do list, and the laser-focus needed to "move the needle" in your professional life. And if you’re really like me, you’ve learned that the single biggest perceived "threat" to that productivity is often the people you love the most.

It’s the phone call from your kid right when you finally found your writing flow. It’s the unexpected FaceTime request from a sibling while you’re staring at a complex data set. It’s the "Hey, do you have a sec?" that we all know is never just a second.

It is dangerously easy to view these moments as annoyances—little roadblocks standing between you and your goals. But in the final installment of The Connection Experiment, I am flipping the script to tackle the heart of the matter: Availability.

Are you tired of the narrative that your phone is the "great divider" of your modern family? We've all seen—or been part of—that scene: the dinner table where everyone is staring at a glowing rectangle instead of each other. It’s easy to feel like our phones are noisy roommates, constantly clamoring for attention and stealing our presence.

But here’s the truth: for families scattered across time zones, the phone is more than a distraction—it's a lifeline.

If you're anything like me, your day begins with a silent pact: coffee first, conversation much, much later. I'm a firm believer in the sanctity of the pre-7:00 AM quiet, and my family knows to tread lightly.

But this personal rhythm creates a major problem when your loved ones live far away. I live with the constant struggle of trying to keep up with kids and other family members in different time zones, each with our own busy schedules. By the time I’m fully caffeinated and ready to connect, everyone in my family is already deep into their own days. It’s like we are playing entirely different songs at the same time—a frustrating situation I call the "Out of Sync" Syndrome.

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder. But let’s be honest—distance can also make the heart feel a little bit... lonely. Whether your kids just moved out, your grandkids live three states away, or your best friend is across the country, staying connected takes more than just a 'like' on a photo.

If you’re struggling to maintain solid, ongoing relationships with your distant loved ones, you are not alone. As someone who has lived in three different countries and is now watching her older children start their own adult lives, I know the struggle is real. The problem isn't a lack of love; it’s a lack of time.

But Margit Slachta spent her whole life proving that theory wrong. She was a consecrated religious sister AND the first woman in the Hungarian Parliament. She was a woman of prayer AND a woman of the public square.

Her feast day, January 6th, marks the anniversary of her passing right here in the U.S. In a world that tells us to pick a side—professional or spiritual—Margit shows us a better way.

It’s the last time this year for me to report on how I’ve been doing on the 2025 goals I shared back in January. I have to say, I have no sense of time anymore. This year has FLOWN by and at the same time, I feel like we live in dog years anymore and at least 7 years of activities and events have happened in these 12 months. Maybe the sheer volume of “stuff” makes me a big believer in the mantra “progress, not perfection,” and there was a lot of progress in 2025! Here’s a quick rundown of the goals I’ve been reporting on and a few other memorable moments. 

The season of Advent is always one of reflection for me. Certainly the timing at the end of the calendar year helps, but it’s also a period that marks some important events in my life. Put these together and it makes it a natural time to take stock and reflect. 

Advent is a season of waiting and hopeful anticipation, and the greatest hope we can hold is an experience of God’s love. Taking stock means recognizing that this love is the foundation, not the reward. It’s about letting the peace of His coming settle, knowing that our worth is already secured.

This has always been my favorite time of year, ever since I was a child! I love seeing houses and shops decked out in holiday lights and Christmas trees. I love Christmas carols, parties and gifts, both giving and receiving. But I have to admit that this year, the holiday season has had me on the struggle sleigh a LOT. I feel worn out coming to the end of this very packed year, and capping it off with the busiest time of year - well, sometimes it can be a lot. 

But the calendar isn’t the only culprit in this holiday chaos. I have to be honest - the truth is I’m doing this to myself. 

Finding connections that truly last—the ones that weather any storm—requires an intentional, multi-pronged approach. It's definitely not a 'one and done' scenario! I recently learned this lesson while trying to set up a new outdoor nativity scene.

After a few shopping mishaps (including a first set with a St. Joseph that looked better suited for a bank heist than a stable), I finally got a pretty set from my local Home Depot. I was thrilled! That is, until I quickly realized the figures were so lightweight a small breeze could send them tumbling, turning Bethlehem into a demolition derby!

Image credit: Catholic News Archive

Do you ever feel like you're “too far gone” for a real life change? Like your past mistakes, your current habits, or your general wild-card status make you ineligible for serious spiritual growth?

Well, if you need a dose of grace, grit, and pure, unapologetic conviction, let me introduce you to Dorothy Day, whose feast day just passed on November 29. 

She’s the first woman featured in my book, Important Catholic Women of the 20th Century, and honestly, her story is the definition of a radical, life-altering transformation. If Dorothy Day—with a past that included bohemian living, intense political activism, an abortion, and a non-sacramental marriage—could become one of the most dedicated and influential American Catholics of her time, then truly, anyone can.

Earlier this week, I dove into one of those projects that seems like a brilliant idea at the start, feels like a TERRIBLE idea halfway through, and yet turns out great in the end: I made apple butter. From scratch.

It was an effort to convert the small mountain of apples from our weekly food box into one of my favorite comfort foods. As I peeled my 30th apple with what felt like 500 more to go, I couldn’t help but ask, “WHY ON EARTH did I think this was a good idea!?”