How I Got Here
Welcome to JBG leadership blog posts. Here we go! It is surreal to launch this website today! I am excited to share it with you!
After years of teaching and leading I really thought I was retired! For the past several years I have enjoyed this space of retirement, the opportunity to engage more deeply with family and ministry. I enjoy being a Wela (short adaptation of Abuela)! The most interesting thing has happened not once but frequently over the last several years. Colleagues, family, and friends often ask, “are you still teaching?, “working with school leaders?”, “Have you written your book?” Although I smile, laugh, and most often answer, “I am retired now!”, the reality was - YES! In unofficial and random ways, I continued to teach, mentor and serve. And if I put all my Facebook posts about leadership and inspiration together- I think I may have 2 books!
Fast forward to December 2022, I was invited to speak at a women’s ministry meeting.. It was impactful for me to share my testimony of faith and some of the pivotal moments of my life and career which I will include in future posts.
How did I get here? By the grace of God! I don’t take it lightly that I have been gifted and blessed to have an amazing career. To retire and continue to do this work with the same level of passion and commitment is also a gift. Following that December women’s meeting, I received a call from someone who inspires me -saying, “are you ready for the doors to open? Doors that you haven’t even knocked on?” Not one hour later I received a call to be the Keynote at a conference hosting over 300 people! I quickly realized it’s time to start formally offering the mentoring, consulting, and speaking I have done over the years to people and churches.
I have a new perspective on retirement. Instead of saying, “I’m so grateful for this time because I can do what I want to do”, I am saying, “I’m so grateful that I now have time to do what God has called me to do!” I look forward to those opportunities to offer my time to lead and coach and guide others so that they too can fulfill their vision and their purpose. Today, I choose joy, joy in the new season, in the work ahead and in sharing it with you!
