Hey all, Not sure about all of you, but 2026 is off to a thrilling start as I share the news that I am officially a published author. My first book, JOYHeals, What if it Could be Easy? poured out of me last March and when it did I realized the book became the guide I needed to better help people navigate the workshops I have been leading for the past several years. I had been teaching this work in a more "meta" style at local public workshops, women's leadership retreats across the country,...
5 days ago • 2 min read
Happy December! Somehow, this time of year finds many of us somewhere between feeling the rush of a new year and all we dream for ourselves, amidst the utter exhaustion of surviving 2025 (only a few more days to go!). It feels like a season of doing and resting. Planning and reflecting. Socializing and hibernating. Does that resonate with any of you? I know it does for many of my clients, colleagues, and now, I'd love to hear from you too! How does closing out 2025 feel? Energizing! I am...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
October came in hot, and so did 58!! If you have spent any amount of time with me, you know I love to celebrate my birthday (October 11th!) and this year was no different. Despite having just moved into a new place on October 1st, I decided to host a little soiree for myself—complete with a raucous group of friends, fire pit, laughs, great food, twerking, and tequila shots (yes, even though I don't drink much anymore, I indulged too!). I think everyone ought to go all out on their birthday....
3 months ago • 1 min read
a view into my office | Garofalo LaRocca Lineage my parents It's June!!! Yesterday I was sitting outside on my back porch taking a break from preparing for a dinner party I hosted last evening and I clicked "new music mix" on Apple Music and the first song that came on was something new by Sheryl Crow and I was immediately drawn in. Soon I was sobbing. I never heard the song before yet I knew it was meant for me to hear, in that very moment because I knew it was meant to be shared with all of...
8 months ago • 3 min read
Mydral Church | Vik, Iceland Þingvellir National Park | Bláskógabyggð, Iceland Hello everyone, It’s been about a month since I last popped into your inbox, and life hasn’t slowed down a bit. I recently traveled to Iceland with my daughter to celebrate her 18th birthday and upcoming high school graduation. Iceland is truly magical—vast landscapes, the beautiful absence of advertising and screens, incredible culinary moments, and nature like you've never experienced. We saw the Northern Lights...
8 months ago • 2 min read
Robert Garofalo 01/26/1934 - 03/23/2025 Hi All, This is going to be a weird one. I have so many feelings and so much to share, so this email may feel like an overshare if you're new here—or even revelatory if you've been following along for a while. I certainly feel a sense of awe for all I’ve walked through in the past few weeks... because life sure is life-ing. I want to talk about three themes today: Staying present when sh*t hits the fan What it means to grieve Mental health and what we...
10 months ago • 4 min read
Hi, Friends! 🌸 It’s February, and I’ve heard a lot of people talking about how long January felt to them. With so much heartache in the world, war, the LA fires, new administration transition, it's been A LOT! The world seems more chaotic than ever, and here's what I want to share...Protect Your Peace. And let JOY be your guide. Hear me out. Most people postpone joy, and that included me until very recently. Many believe joy needs to be earned:“I’ll feel joy when I get through this...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Happy Saturday! 🌜 When we can show up vulnerably and in our connected humanity, everything is possible. 💖 Whether you celebrated a Merry Christmas 🎄, are amidst the celebration of Hanukkah 🕎, Kwanzaa, or if you celebrate nothing at all, I hope you are having an excellent week. ✨ Earlier today, I texted a friend the above Gabism in the context of songwriting and life. This is how these little sayings (now about 100 of them) come to me—in conversations with the people in my life. As I often do,...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read
Happy Hump Day Reader, There is nothing like the power of the pivot. Have you ever held on to something simply because you’ve invested so much time? A job, a relationship, a project? It’s easy to feel like walking away means failure. But here’s a hard truth: if it doesn’t feel good, it’s misaligned. Things change. We change. This is where the power of the pivot becomes essential. Flexibility isn’t just about bending without breaking. It’s about recognizing when to let go, when to evolve, and...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
Happy Weekend, Reader, Earlier this week, I was planning a festive and fun night out with some friends when one of them texted back that she wasn’t “up to celebrating” and just wanted to "make it" to the New Year. While she recently lost her mother—which I cannot begin to fathom—and I fully support her in knowing what’s best for her, it made me reflect on how we often rush through life to escape hard moments. It’s like we’re trying to push through the “something” to finally be in the present....
about 1 year ago • 2 min read