Unexpectedly Exceptional

January 29, 2026

Today, I had an unexpectedly exceptional day.

Not because it was filled with sunshine and roses—

but because it was filled with the perfect mix of real life.

My days lately have been full of school board responsibilities, especially with the superintendent search and everything else unfolding at the same time. This morning, I headed to my favorite breakfast place with a very specific plan: sit down, open my laptop, and work through several tasks that require long, focused stretches of attention.

But almost immediately, the day had other ideas.

As soon as I walked in, I was met by familiar faces. One woman waved me over and told me how much she misses my dad. She and her husband were his neighbors for years, and talking with her—laughing a little, remembering him—I was reminded again of just how deeply loved he was. It was uplifting in the best way.

As I was about to settle into a free table, I struck up a conversation with a man who is a million dollars deep into a brand-new business venture. Driven. Courageous. Visionary.

His business is still a baby, and he’s in the thick of it. We’ve met before and had meaningful conversations about his entrepreneurial journey, and today was no different—except that it was completely unplanned.

I ended up sitting at his table, talking business. His current challenges. Opposition. Mindset. The will to succeed. Vision. All of it. I loved it. It took me right back to my leadership and business consulting days. I shared real experiences—being $2.5 million in debt with $70,000 in the bank, marketing and business development ideas, resilience, and the kind of hard-earned wisdom that only comes from living it.

When we finally wrapped up, he said, “Let’s do this more often. I appreciate you.”

I walked straight from that unplanned meeting into a scheduled one with a new entrepreneur who is just beginning to build his business. This time, I didn’t offer big-picture strategy or deep wisdom. Instead, we focused on his website—and completely revamped his homepage. It was focused, creative, and genuinely fun. Equally rewarding in a very different way.

And woven through all of this?

Messages from people who were incredibly unhappy with me.

One situation was entirely outside my control—a technical issue I genuinely hope gets resolved. I did my part and communicated as clearly and thoughtfully as I could. The other was harder. Someone called me a liar and challenged me to do better. I didn’t lie—but I understood the frustration underneath the accusation and responded the best way I knew how and privately acknowledged my never ending commitment to being better.

Finally, mid-afternoon, I returned to the work I had set out to do first thing that morning. Phone calls. Emails. Spreadsheets.

I’m happy to report: it’s all done. Finally.

Now I need to call my daughter back and help her set up electricity in her new place.

And then maybe—just maybe—I’ll have some dinner and crochet.

And honestly?

That feels like a pretty good ending to a very real day.