Closer to Fine

Hi Reader,

Last night, I stood in a sea of 50-somethings at Marymoor Park, dancing to the Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge under the shade of enormous trees as the sun slipped behind the stage. My friend Cindy (yes, two Cindys at an Indigo Girls concert—unapologetically perfect) and I had excellent seats, black outfits we didn’t overthink, snacks in our pockets, and zero desire to prove anything to anyone.

When the Indigo Girls stepped on stage, I felt a wave of rightness. Not nostalgia exactly—though I’ve seen them before several times, in younger versions of myself—but presence. At 56 (57 in September!), I wasn’t reaching backward to my 20s. I was honoring that person, sure—but I was fully rooted in the woman I’ve become.

And then we heard this from the stage: “We have to protect our friends—especially our queer, non-binary, and trans friends right now.”

The crowd roared. We stood. We screamed. It wasn’t performative. It was power—unified, raw, and real. There was no going back. We were moving forward together. When we work together, we can do the impossible. We can make it happen.

And then came the song “Closer to Fine:”

I’ve heard those lyrics for decades. But this time, they hit differently.

Because this time, I didn’t just hear them. I believed them.

The Old Map Isn’t Yours Anymore

There’s a version of me—of so many of us—who once believed we had to do it the hard way. Be busy. Be perfect. Be productive. Keep climbing. Keep proving. Keep collecting milestones like signposts to justify our path.

But last night reminded me: You don’t have to keep walking a path that was never meant for you. You don’t have to stay on a map someone else designed. And you absolutely don’t have to do it the hard way to earn the right to rest, to lead, to live.

My youth isn’t gone. She’s here, fully alive in me—but she’s not driving. Today, it’s the me of now who’s in charge.

What If Fine Isn’t a Finish Line?

What if “fine” isn’t some perfect version of you, waiting on the other side of burnout, overfunctioning, or endless performing?

What if closer to fine means:

• Letting go of what no longer serves you.
• Moving toward what’s aligned.
• Trusting yourself to define your own truth—on your own timeline.

Here’s a Way to Begin

Next time you feel the pull to prove, to push, to perfect—pause.

Pick one dragon part of yourself to listen to today:

• Your Head: What feels mentally clear—or what’s spinning?
• Your Heartfire: What lights you up, and what quietly drains you?
• Your Wings: Where are you ready to stretch or take up space?
• Your Scales: What boundary wants to be honored?
• Your Tail: What old pattern are you ready to steer away from?
• Your Spine: What truth are you standing in, no matter what?

You don’t need to answer all of them. Just pick one. Reflect. Gently. With care. Maybe in a journal. Maybe out loud with a trusted friend. Maybe with a coach.

If you’d like a deeper guide, I made this for you: Download the Leadership Culture Compass — it’s in my free Starter Kit.

It’s not a quiz. It’s a mirror.

You don’t need permission to lead differently. You don’t need to justify choosing ease, rest, or clarity. You’re already on your way.

I feel Closer to Fine – what about you?