As I turn 29 tomorrow, I’m reflecting on what I know for sure, what it means about belonging, and what I want to do with this.

**Trigger warning: post contains mild descriptions of peril and trauma**
A voice comes over the PA, and I hear what I hoped I wouldn't hear in my first year in NYC: "Ladies and gentleman, Uptown E trains are delayed because a passenger has been hit by a train."

"How" and "why" people are both necessary for the health of an organization, just as our "how's" and "why's" are essential in reaching our personal goals. The magic happens when we put in the work to build bridges between these different ways of looking at the world with our colleagues and partners and to develop these seemingly opposed skills in ourselves.

I write this update from the 38 degrees and sunny mountains of Durango, Colorado where I’ve spent the last few days with my two brothers and close friends (though, mostly falling on my face as I've finally been learning how to ski!). It’s been too long since I updated this blog, and it was about time to send my annual end-of-year email to my friends, mentors, and colleagues, near and far.

Here’s a quick reflection on 2017 - a year of big changes, indeed - and some looking ahead into 2018.

One of the most important lessons I've learned in the past five years since graduating college is to have the self-confidence to listen to my gut. This wasn't always the case, though.