Lifted, By My Girls! — The Archives — Formerly Vented Uplift

  I’m starting 2025 as a year without a category, chapter, identity, or whatever it is you want to call it… I’m walking around in the land of the unknown, yet everyone is sitting on the sidelines cheering me on, waiting for the announcement of my next chapter, my next big thing. So let me take this time to say that there is no grand plan, no calculated release, no new product; it's just the year of finding out who I am and what I want to be when I’m a grown-up at almost 53 years old. 2025 is the year that I’m leaning into my faith more and asking God what He wants me to do for Him, through Him, and with Him. It’s the year that I leave fear behind by classifying it as the devil. Have you ever tried calling out Satan when you think you can't do something, when you are overcome with doubt? I encourage you to try it next time you feel it building up inside. Scream, “Go away, Satan!” The devil just wants you to feel bad, blame others, and leave you trembling in doubt and immobilized...

My daughter has always said to me “ Mom, you just don't know how to really relax” all said while she’s in sweats, wrapped in a blanket like a burrito placed in the middle of her bed, surrounded by more blankest and pillows ever possibly needed with just her eyes and red curls sticking out. She knows how to relax. And, she was totally right about me. I never really knew how to get lost without thoughts and cares.  With a brain that is literally non-stop it’s always been hard for me. Being in design, retail and the service industry for 35 years I can’t help but make checklists I’m my head about ways that the environment I am in could be improved. But then, I was finally in a place that does what they do so well that the first barrier was broken. The Rock Spa at the Hard Rock AC do it right! Now the next barrier was me….what was holding me back? I had to get out of my own way and really be in the moment and let go and just relax. And really, who likes their children to be right? Am I ...

Dear Libby, Keep creating. It will lead you to pursue your love of the arts and study art history at New York University, where you’ll spend semesters in Paris and Rome. You'll graduate, step into a white-box gallery and realize it's not for you—but don't worry, it'll still inform what you do. Years later, you'll realize what you love about art is the power of an idea and making it reality. Later still, this will inspire you create your own company from something personal. But first, you'll spend over two decades working in fashion PR. Mere weeks into your first job, you'll be sent to Milan for your first runway show. Baptism by fire, as they say. You'll spend the majority of your first paychecks on anything lace—lace tops, lace bras—when you really should be saving up for rent. New York City isn't cheap! But you can't help it; you got your love of lace from mom. You’ll leave PR for a period to teach yourself how to play the electric guitar, writ...

When I get asked : Why Harvard at 49 years old, I laugh. After 28 rounds of chemo- too many-and 21 non-elective surgeries I laugh at the thought that I can not accomplish what I want. Since my cancer diagnosis, I have become a best-selling author, motivational speaker, sought after speaker in Florida prison system, Nationally recognized humanitarian, model, and so much more.  I, WE, can truly accomplish anything and any time of our lives. I graduated from Southern Me-thodist University over 25 years ago. Going back to get my masters degree in Creative Writing and Literature was just a step on the unstoppable road for me since my diagnosis.   When your faith is in the eternal, and you leave it up to Him, there is nothing that can stop me-US. My faith has stomped on my fears, my faith has triumphed over my illnesses, YES, many and I am the epitome of Faith over Fear.   Harvard was out of touch for too many years because I had no self esteem to try to go for it. Af...