Last week, I spent part of my day fixing a toilet. It’s not exactly how I expected to spend my time. By the end of the week, I’d also dealt with a flooring issue, a creaky window, and an issue with my car. None of these challenges had even been on my radar when the week began. And, I sure had no idea earlier how to solve any of these issues.

But that's often how life works.

Challenges rarely arrive with advance notice. They show up unexpectedly, interrupt our plans, demand our attention, and ask us to adapt in real time.

As I reflected on the week, it struck me how similar this is to leadership.

Today, I turn 50. And like many milestones, it has me reflecting—not just on where I’ve been, but on what it’s all meant. And then, where do I want to go from here?

The truth is, life hasn’t unfolded in a straight line. There have been moments of deep joy. And moments, I didn’t see coming - a life-changing brain injury that occurred back in 2012. And, the death of my amazing husband Jeff to esophageal cancer when I was 43 years old.

One thing is for sure: I don’t have everything figured out. But I do have perspective.

Today, as I celebrate the life I am blessed to have. I wanted to share with you 50 things I’ve learned along the way—through leadership, loss, resilience, reinvention, and everything in between.

Not as rules. But as truths I come back to.

50 Things I’ve Learned…