February, Lately
Every month I find myself coming back here, opening this space and settling into the story I’ve been living, Lately.
This morning, that looks like a corner table at Architect Coffee & Co., familiar faces moving in and out, quick conversations between meetings, laptops opening and closing as people pass through. It’s the kind of place where you can sit for an hour and feel like half of Springfield, Missouri has come through the door, people stopping in between appointments, mid-meeting, or on their way to the next thing. There’s a steady, focused energy here, the quiet hum of a city at work, even on a cold winter morning.
Reflection, Lately.
January felt transitional.
No matter how much preparation went into the start of the year, it asked for more adjustment than expected. Winter arrived fully, snow slowing routines, plans shifting, and days unfolding differently than anticipated. At the same time, the year moved forward quickly, demanding attention before there was time to settle into it.
There was a noticeable tension between readiness and reality. Between planning ahead and responding in real time. January didn’t allow for easing in. It required presence, flexibility, and the willingness to recalibrate on the fly.
Looking back, that feels fitting. Some months don’t offer clarity upfront. They ask you to adjust first, to stay engaged even when things feel unsettled, and to trust that momentum will organize itself in time.
Real Estate, Lately.
Leading into January, the market carried hesitation.
Interest was there, buyers and sellers watching closely, conversations happening, but urgency was slower to arrive through the winter. January shifted that. Clients who had been waiting began taking action, and the month quickly became buyer-heavy, with many navigating contingent paths as they worked to sell and purchase in tandem.
It meant managing a lot at once: timelines, expectations, sequencing next steps, and helping people move forward with confidence rather than pressure. It’s demanding work, but it’s also the part I find most meaningful. Meeting people exactly where they are, and helping them get where they want to be, is both rewarding and grounding, especially in a market that’s actively moving.
Community, Lately.
January marked the official start of my role as President of the Associate Board at Isabel’s House Crisis Nursery. Stepping into leadership brought pressure, especially as we continue planning for our first-ever Isabel’s House 5K in May. First-year events come with unknowns, and nonprofit work rarely follows a straight line. When things felt heavy, I returned to the mission, preventing child abuse and neglect, and focused on staying action-oriented.
I’m energized by the opportunity to help build something new: a new annual event, a new donor pool, and deeper community engagement for an organization that matters deeply to this city.
2026 Associate Board touring our facility.
Local, lately.
January had me downtown more than usual.
Sometimes for lunch, sometimes just to pass time between meetings. More than once for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the same week. Downtown Springfield felt especially cozy this month, an easy place to land during winter days when staying close to familiar places felt comforting.
I kept finding my way back to Bruno’s Italian Restaurant. A Dirty Martini. Carbonara. The kind of meal that feels earned after braving the cold. There’s something reassuring about having go-to places that feel steady, especially when winter slows everything else down.
Next, Lately.
February has always felt like the real first month of the year.
No matter how much preparation goes into January, it tends to arrive with more demand than expected. This year was no different. As February begins, I’m ready to take the transitional energy of January and turn it into action, using what’s already in motion to step fully into 2026.
It feels less like starting over, and more like settling into stride.
