When I was born my parents had not settled on a name and, as I was born on February 14th, the nurses wrote on the hospital bassinet card “Baby Valentine” where my name should be written.
Every year for my birthday, my mother would make me a strawberry cake, with pink strawberry frosting, in a heart-shaped pan. My sons have continued this tradition to this day.
This year, as 29 candles will be put on my pink heart cake, (ok ok, perhaps I rounded it down a smidge) I’m thinking about passions that are written on my real heart. Inscribed on it are plans and ideas that I still want to accomplish in my lifetime. I envision that I have a bucket of hearts; similar to heart-shaped Post-It notes or like those little heart-shaped candies with all of my To-Dos printed on them. Some of these I am going to try my hardest to accomplish this year.
5 THINGS THAT ARE WRITTEN ON MY HEART
Write a book
Those that know me, know I have so much to say! Whether you really want to hear it, well, that is another story. But I do love to talk, I love to tell stories, and I love to give my opinions. Over the years I’ve often said things like ‘this is a life lesson from a chapter of my book titled “My Heart on My Sleeve and My Head Up My . . . ” or when I’ve really make a foolish decision, “Take My Advice, I’m Not Using It” I have said things like that so often, I had one of my dearest friends convinced that I was already writing a book. She had bragged to her other friends and family so proudly that she introduced me as her friend Katie, the author. I feel like I need to live up to that title. Dawn, I will not let you down!
Read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation
I have tried to do this many times over the years unsuccessfully. While I have joined in many Bible studies, memorized Bible verses and know the Gospel with my whole heart, I have never actually read it cover to cover or chronologically. I feel this will be life changing and also coincide with numbers 3 & 4 on my list. While there have been times in my life where I have made decisions that I am not proud of, and I have allowed my Bible to collect dust, (see title of books not yet written above in #1) I am always much happier, feel much more fulfilled and satisfied in my life when my days are started in the Word. At this moment, I can proudly say “take my advice, I am using it.
Learn a New Language
My childhood spin on pig Latin that my sister and I used to gossip about other family members growing up, does not count. When I was in school, we had to take a language course. I decided to try French. I had the sweetest, prettiest teacher, Miss Mott. I wanted to look and sound just like her. My family is more of German descent so let’s just say my voice is louder, more nasally and monotone, and that beautiful, rolling of the tongue doesn’t come natural to me. Miss Mott would stand over my shoulder and say in her lovely French accented voice, “just conjugate the verb Katrine, and roll your r’s”. I sat there with tears in my eyes, looked up at Miss Mott and cried, “I don’t even know what conjugate the verb means!” Back to English class I went. So here we are, the only French I know is fries and toast and now I decided that I want to learn one of the most difficult languages: Hebrew. However; it goes hand and hand with the next item on my heart. Leb = Heart in Hebrew
Travel to Israel
My goal when I was young had always been to go to Israel for my 40th birthday, but around that time, I was detoured by divorce. I am certain there is some dramatic irony in this. (Perhaps it was the lying about my age bit?) I certainly believe that God’s timing is everything and I will get to the Holy Land when the time is right. There are so many places I wish to see on this planet, but even just thinking about walking the same ground that Jesus walked on, makes my heart almost pound right out of my chest with excitement. Until then, I will do my best to prepare, study the land, the language, and shalu shalom yerushalayim – Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Start a Women in Finance Mentorship and Networking Group
I want to create a place, where women can come together be it virtual or physical. Where women can share ideas, experiences and offer career advice to one another. Empowering women in a male-dominated industry, such as financial advising, is crucial. Women helping women through mentorship and support can make a significant impact, especially in fields where women are often underrepresented. Together, people with good hearts and fine minds can move the world. I feel blessed to have had a few strong women that I could reach out to for support and a shoulder as I was getting started in the industry. I want to make sure that I am that woman for others, whether they are just starting out or have been in finance for years. Behind every successful woman, is another successful woman!
Looking at my bucket of heart-shaped dreams, I realize these aren't just items on a to-do list – they're pieces of who I am and who I want to become. From that unnamed Baby Valentine in the hospital bassinet to the woman I am today, my heart has grown to hold not just my own dreams, but the desire to help others achieve theirs too. So here's to making these heart-inscribed wishes come true, one pink-frosted birthday cake at a time. And who knows? Maybe by next Valentine's Day, I'll have a few chapters written, some Hebrew phrases mastered, and a growing circle of women supporting women in finance.