I'm writing to you from the Plantage neighborhood in Amsterdam where this lovely city full of canals, bicyclists, and parakeets is on the eve of celebrating their 750th anniversary during Summer Solstice.

That's not what brought us here, but it's fortuitous...

I've been inspired by the canals, the flowers everywhere, and mix of old and new -- everything -- art, architecture, fashions (I saw a women in 1940s garb and boys in 19th century wear).

Amsterdam is a city that has re-invented itself many times over its 750 years.

There seems to be an industrious optimism here -- as witnessed by my mother-in-law, who we're traveling with. She would know. She grew up here and was a small child during the horrendous WWII years.

She immigrated to the US in 1960 when she met my husband's father. And her story is one of reinvention too, now that I think about it.

I guess that's the theme for me that's been maturing all year -- reinvention.

I see it in my expansion into filmmaking -- we hope to have our short film done by the fall.

And I see it in my expansion into entrepreneurship training coming this fall for creative writing professionals.

Maybe it's not so much reinvention as it is expanding into a new version of myself and how I serve.

I like to think so, anyways!

What is this Solstice season bringing you?

Hit reply and let me know. I'd love to hear.

❤️