This past week felt particularly heavy, leaving me feeling drained. But today, I had a chance to recharge by spending a couple of hours with a dear friend and former classmate from my Master’s program at USF, Estie Briggs of Briggs Consulting. We met up at a co-working space, with no agenda other than to reconnect, share resources, and inspire one another with our latest creative ideas. Those couple of hours reminded me just how powerful connection and authentic conversation can be, especially during times when everything feels like a whirlwind.
When we allow ourselves the space to share openly with someone who truly understands the drive for continuous learning and meaningful connection, it can be incredibly grounding. Estie and I both bring a shared passion for knowledge-sharing and for developing real, people-centered skills, and it felt like a breath of fresh air to have a space to talk about our work, vent a bit, and laugh at the challenges we face. There’s something deeply healing and therapeutic in acknowledging the difficulties of our work and life, finding humor in the chaos, and discovering solutions together.
Connection, especially now, is more important than ever. Whether it’s in professional settings or personal life, conversations like these—where we can truly listen, support, and inspire one another—are essential to our well-being. If you’re interested in exploring more about emotional intelligence and how EQ can elevate both your work and your personal life, I’d highly recommend checking out Estie’s resources over at Briggs Performance Consulting.
Walking away, I felt lighter, more energized, and reminded of the power of just being real with someone. Conversations like this remind us that we don’t have to go it alone—sometimes, a simple laugh or shared experience is all it takes to lift us up. At Small Steps, these are the connections that truly matter. Small, intentional moments of connection make all the difference in building resilience for ourselves and our families.