Even faraway, my heart is with Central Texas

One day at a time…

One moment is all you need…

One foot in front of the other…

We hear these words so often — maybe you’ve even heard me say them. But do we really live that way? Honestly, I don’t. At least, not always.

I just spent the past seven days in Costa Rica with my beau. After more than a year of dating, this might’ve been the first time we truly relaxed. I spent my days at the pool, caught my first wave while surfing, and tried a crow pose in yoga for the first time. My inner girl got to play, while my soul wandered. Every color seemed more vibrant. Every breath more intentional.

On July 4th, I woke up literally saying, “I love our life,” before turning to my phone for the news of the day. That’s when I saw it.

Just two hours from my home in Central Texas, tragedy had unfolded. Girls were missing. Families separated. Entire communities swept away. As of this writing, the Hill Country floods have claimed the lives of more than a hundred people — forever marking what’s usually a day of celebration with unspeakable loss.

The only way it could’ve hit closer to home was if it knocked on my own front door. My beau has two daughters— just 3 and 9 years old. My Facebook feed was filled with heartbreak: friends mourning sisters, cousins and fellow campers. One of my coworkers and his wife were among the dead, and two of their children are missing. Their third child, an 11 year old girl is the lone survivor. 

I thought about Alanis Morissette’s song “Ironic”: There I was living one of the most joyful, soul-nourishing weeks of my life while my fellow Texans were experiencing unimaginable loss.

What ‘Oneness’ Really Means

It made me stop. It made me feel. It brought me face to face with what I can only call oneness — a deep awareness that we are all connected in joy and sorrow, in celebration and grief.

If the term is new to you, here are a few ways to think about it:

  • Philosophically: The idea that all beings share the same essence or existence, even if our experiences appear different.
  • Emotionally or Relationally: A deep connection with others where ego fades and compassion expands — a moment of feeling seen, safe and intertwined.
  • Spiritually or Mindfully: A dissolving of the “I” into the now. No boundaries. No separation. Just presence.

And so here I am — holding both the saltwater joy of Costa Rica and the gut-punch of collective loss. That’s the truth of life, isn’t it? Joy and grief. Beauty and heartbreak. Side by side.

But between the two lies a choice: to stay awake. To show up. To love harder. To do something.

If you’re wondering what you can do, start here:

✅ Consider donating money, which allows for the most flexibility in meeting urgent and evolving needs. The organizations listed below are collecting funds that will go directly to the impacted areas.


 ⭐ Kerr County Flood Relief Fund at the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country
 ⭐ Wilco Cares Flood Relief Fund at the Central Texas Community Foundation
 ⭐ Burnet County Relief Fund at the Ark of the Highland Lakes

✅ Share verified information about ongoing needs to help spread the word.

 ✅ Stay engaged. Needs will evolve, and so will ways to help.

Even when the headlines fade, let’s not forget what matters: each other.

When Moments Become Movements

Tragedy has a way of crystallizing what matters most and calling us to action. In my years as a movement maker, I’ve seen how the most powerful change often emerges from the deepest pain.

The survivors of these floods—many of whom have lost everything—are about to embark on one of the most challenging journeys imaginable: rebuilding not just their homes, but their sense of safety, their communities, and their hope for the future. This is where movements are born.

Some survivors will become advocates for better flood management. Others will dedicate themselves to improving disaster response. Still others will focus on mental health resources for trauma survivors. The ripple effects of tragedy can spark decades of meaningful change when people channel their pain into purpose.

If you’re feeling called to do more in the aftermath of the Central Texas floods—whether that’s holding a fundraiser or getting more active in local or state government, I have a few resources that can help:

And, as always, I’m here to support you with info and inspiration. Because that’s what matters most, isn’t it? Our ties to each other.

 

Copyright (c) 2025 Movement Maker. All rights reserved.