The other night, my husband asked what I was doing on my phone because tears were rolling down my face. I looked over and told him the truth: “I’m on Instagram watching videos of dogs—some have just 24 hours to be adopted or they’ll be euthanized.” 😭 Usually, when people think about “finding themselves,” they […]

In my last note, I shared how vision boards actually help us achieve our goals. But if today you’re feeling like me—overwhelmed by end-of-year tasks and not even wanting to THINK about new goals—today’s Tea Time isn’t about adding anything new to your to-do list. We’re talking about what can come off the list. Woo! December is already full by […]

So, what if the key to manifesting your next big life change is hidden in my Halloween party story? 2.5 years ago, before I even moved to Seattle, I predicted the night in the photo below. I’m sharing the full story with you because my process is your blueprint. This past Saturday I was at the annual […]

The scene: Woman behind me at the airport, struggling to scan her ticket to board the flight. Airport gate agent: Are you flying Aer Lingus? Woman: Yes Airport gate agent: This is the line for United. …Oh. We’d all been in line for over 20 minutes in Dublin at the flight gate heading to Chicago. […]

What if the things that make Disney magical are the same things proven to boost our physical and mental health—AND actually help us avoid the biggest regrets people have on their deathbeds? Today’s Tuesday Tea Time was inspired by this therapist who recommends Disneyland as a mental health strategy. 🎉 If you’ve been around me for a […]

Last week I was at a conference for entrepreneurs (look at this beautiful background!)… …and the topic of “balance” came up on the panel. One person said they prefer swapping in the word “harmony” instead of balance. This made me think of a symphony: some notes are louder or last longer; different instruments add their […]

Like it or not, you already have a personal brand. Maybe you’ve been intentional about shaping yours, or maybe it’s something you’ve never even thought about—but either way, people are making up their own story about who you are. (Today’s Tea Time was inspired by this article: “Having a Personal Brand at Work is Key for Introverts.” […]

I asked ChatGPT to write an obituary based on what it knows about me from our conversations. It’s long, but here’s exactly what it said: Nicole Bensen—beloved mother, devoted partner, cherished friend, and spirited mentor—left this world having lived it to the fullest. Known for her magnetic blend of warmth, humor, and grace, Nicole had […]

The woman sitting next to me at a networking event last week shared this story, and I can’t stop thinking about it. When someone died in ancient Egypt, their soul entered the Hall of Two Truths. There, they were asked two questions: That’s it. Not “Did you make your bed every day?” or “Did you hit […]

If you’ve seen my stories on Instagram the past few days, you know I’m in Vegas on a girls’ trip to see the Backstreet Boys at The Sphere. 🎉 (Raise your hand if you grew up in the boy band era!) So, while I’m OOO, I wanted to share something from my friend, Sam Sheppard. Sam’s mission is […]