I bought my Compass bracelet for myself at the Salt Lake City airport after a really intense season of life.
I had just come off a five day work trip where I was leading a huge project, producing, directing, filming, and managing everything. The week before that, I had been in court for a really heavy family situation, and I was completely overwhelmed, exhausted, and questioning what really matters in life.
At the beginning of the trip, I honestly did not feel capable. I was in a new place, driving a car I did not know how to handle, feeling anxious and stretched too thin. But as the week went on, I surprised myself. I showed up, I led, I adapted, and I made it through something that felt really overwhelming.
On my last day, instead of going straight home, I chose to go on a small adventure. I woke up early and went searching for a bird I have always wanted to see, the roseate spoonbill. I spent hours walking through marshlands, not finding anything at first, feeling tired and discouraged. But along the way, I had really meaningful interactions with strangers.
One woman shared how birdwatching helped her through anxiety. Another man told me about his wife leaving a successful career to live a life more aligned with her values. And in those moments, I felt reminded of what really matters, connection, presence, and living intentionally.
Eventually, I found the spoonbills. I climbed up to the top of a lookout tower, and two other women came up there as well. The three of us stood there together, watching the spoonbills in the distance, spotting a lone flamingo, and just sharing that moment of awe. We were laughing, pointing things out, and connecting over something so simple and beautiful, even though we were complete strangers.
Standing there after everything I had been through that week, I realized that choosing to seek out beauty and connection, even when life feels overwhelming, is what makes life meaningful.
To me, spreading kindness is important because small moments, conversations, encouragement, shared experiences, are what mean the most to me. I experienced that firsthand with people I had never met before.
My Compass bracelet is a reminder to live that way. To slow down. To connect with people and the world around me. To listen to others’ stories, and to create my own.
It reminds me to choose what really matters, and to always go find the spoonbills.
