Lately, I realized that something was missing in my life.
On paper, everything looked fine. I’m relatively healthy. My bills are paid. I’m grateful to have food on the table and stability in my day-to-day. And yet, each morning felt heavier than it should. I’d wake up, look at my never-ending to-do list, and feel… empty. Unmotivated. Disconnected.
I wasn’t lacking things to do—I was lacking the kind of excitement that pulls you out of bed even when you’d rather stay there. The kind of motivation that absorbs you so fully, you lose track of time in the best way.
So I paused.
I gave myself space to reflect on what has always brought me joy—not what looks productive or impressive, but what genuinely lights me up.
Travel has always been one of those things. My friends joke that if a trip comes up in conversation, I’ll have it booked before we even leave the table. There’s something grounding about movement and new places—about stepping outside routine and remembering how big the world is.
Reading is another constant. It’s my quiet escape, the thing that slows my mind when life feels like it’s moving too fast. Books let me step out of the go-go-go pace and reconnect with myself in a way nothing else quite does.
Those joys weren’t new revelations. They’ve been with me for a long time—eventually taking shape as Tuliptree Book Co and Tuliptree Adventures.
What was new, though, was realizing how deeply I want to give back to the community around me.
Whether that’s through volunteering, showing up for the people I care about, or serving in leadership roles like my volunteer work with Phi Mu Fraternity as an Area Operations & Finance Director, providing value has become a non-negotiable part of my life. I want to help. I want to create joy. I want to share knowledge and experiences in ways that feel meaningful—to my friends, my family, my neighbors, and beyond.
And I need to pause here to say this clearly: none of this happens in isolation. I am incredibly grateful for my support circle—friends and family who encourage me, ground me, challenge me, and remind me who I am when I start to drift. Their support has been everything during this season of realignment.
Toward the end of 2025, I began taking an honest look at how I was living. I realized I had spent years focused on what was next—checking boxes, chasing milestones, measuring progress by productivity. In doing so, I had neglected something important: actually being present.
So I started practicing something simple, but surprisingly difficult—putting my phone down and giving 100% focus to whatever is in front of me. The work I’m doing. The conversation I’m having. The moment I’m in.
It’s easier said than done. Some days are still a struggle, trust me I know I have a lot of work ahead of me. But I see the difference already. My anxiety has dropped. My mind is quieter. I feel more at peace instead of constantly stuck in my head, rushing toward the next thing.
That shift—choosing presence over pressure—changed everything.
Tuliptree Book Co was born.
Tuliptree Adventures was reborn.
My days are now a blend of meaningful client work and building something that feels deeply mine. My time feels purposeful again. And I wouldn’t change it for the world—unless that change involved speeding time up just a little, so I could see firsthand the joy these projects bring to others.
This feels like the beginning of a new chapter. One rooted in intention, curiosity, community, and presence. I’m learning to build a life I don’t feel the need to always be five steps ahead in—and to savor it while I’m living it.
Stay with Me
If you’re in a season of questioning, realigning, or quietly starting over, I hope you’ll follow along. I’ll be sharing more about books, travel, personal growth, recipes, and the ongoing journey of Tuliptree Book Co’s launch and Tuliptree Adventures—one intentional step at a time.
With Love 🤍 Jacklyn