Introduction: Galaxy of Gratitude

Stories of Infinite Gratitude

In the quiet act of coiling my knot art, I find myself drifting among the stars, thinking of my experiences in the galaxy of gratitude. I am grateful for life—even in those moments when I’ve been launched into the exploration of difficult new realities.

The Galaxy Yarns About Life are an exploration of the light we carry within us—the small, steady sparks of gratitude that map our inner sky. They are a reflective meditation on the infinite expanse of light and positive energy.

I was brought up to believe that “things happen for a reason” and “for the best.” In my reality, difficult but honest exploration through change has led to my personal and professional growth. Although certain life changes were not welcomed at the time, they proved to be necessary and “for the best.” Transition Karma has been good to me.

Why This Is Important

In leadership and in life, we are often taught to “power through” change, but not to sit with it, name it, and learn from it. Gratitude, for me, is not a greeting‑card feeling; it is a disciplined way of seeing. It asks us to look at the whole arc of an experience—the wins, the losses, the detours—and ask, What did this make possible? Who did I become because of this?

The Galaxy series is my way of practicing that discipline in public. Each story is a small case study in reframing: taking what first felt like a "black hole" and tracing how it became fuel for growth, service, and joy. For leaders, creators, and anyone navigating transition, these yarns are an invitation to:

• pause long enough to notice the “starlight” inside hard moments,

• honor the people and places that shaped you, and

• lead yourself and others from a place of grounded gratitude.

This is the kind of inner work that quietly changes how we show up in rooms, on teams, and in our own lives.

A Journey through a Black Hole

For over four years, I had rocketed across Orlando at one of the largest hotel complexes in the world. The galaxy seemed infinite until I was “promoted” and launched into a general manager position in St. Louis. In less than 90 days, it became a bankrupted “death star” in my galaxy. Although I enjoyed the leaders and associates, I knew within two weeks of landing that my assignment was doomed and limited to de‑branding the hotel. Mine would be one of two leadership positions to be severed. What a crash.

I returned to my hometown and settled in, looking for my next quest. I earned Revenue Management certifications from eCornell and hunted for a job. Explaining a 90‑day general manager position on my résumé did not help navigate next steps.

My Galaxy Quest Leads Me to Dallas

Talk about a “Big Bang.” Nine months into my local search, I had settled in and had faith I would find a new position. Then the recruiter called and I was off to Dallas. Although I was settled and happy, I knew I was about to be launched into a new galaxy. In 5.5 years, I had been launched from Seattle, to Orlando, to St. Louis, to Detroit, and then on to Dallas.

Transition Karma told me that I must launch again. Unbeknownst to me, I would be launched into the Galaxy of Gratitude, the best journey of my professional life.

These yarns are a thank‑you for the people, moments, and lessons of Dallas—three years of visiting new heights of satisfaction and joy. Experiences that became my constellations, guiding me forward when I couldn’t see the whole view.

I’ve tried to capture that feeling of looking up at the night and realizing how much of our lives are held together by unseen gifts—stardust, grace, and the quiet practice of noticing what we’ve been given and accomplished. Dallas opened a galaxy of gratitude, and I realized that the black hole led me to where I belonged.