I've always loved the meaning of names. As a little girl, I found this obscure baby names book, and to my delight, I found my "double-l, i, e" name to be "illuminated one."

 

To be illuminated is to be lit up from within, radiant and enlightened. 

 

I tucked that beautiful word into my memory, claiming it as my own private christening. Then, in the midst of a subtle-quarter-life crisis, when I felt confronted by the subtle heartbreak of unmet expectations of how my story should unfold, this word resurfaced. In a season of feeling depleted, the moments that I felt most alive—most illuminated—were when I was deeply connecting with people, when I was going on adventures, and when I was creating. 

 

Releasing the narrative I hadn't even realized I was clinging to, I felt an invitation to begin again. Instinctively, I crafted a life that incorporated the things that brought vibrancy—writing, solitude, adventurous travel, and connecting with people. Saying yes to being more fully alive led to quitting my job as a third-grade teacher, traveling solo for nearly a year, launching a freelance writing career, and forming lifelong friendships around the globe. 

 

Now, fully living into my story looks like helping illuminate other brave individuals and awesome organizations. I intentionally create space for people like you to dream and dialog about their passions and how to help make the world a better place.

 

I listen well and reflect back to you and the world who you are, crafting words around the core of your purpose.