Being Present

The other night, I was sitting with a group planning a trip. We were talking through the small but important details—airport transfers, getting from the terminal to the ship, how to make sure everyone felt comfortable and supported. Somewhere in that conversation, it hit me: I was finally living my dream.

I’ve spent most of my life helping people in small, everyday ways. Covering groceries when someone came up short. Offering blankets, food, or socks to people on the street—always wishing I could do more than my budget allowed. Supporting causes I care deeply about, stocking a food pantry at work, donating to schools because teachers shouldn’t have to do it alone.

But there’s something different about helping someone travel with dignity. Helping them feel seen. Helping them move through the world with confidence. That, I believe, is my purpose.

I never really knew my mother, but I hear often how caring she was—how she never turned someone away, no matter how little she had. Those stories feel familiar to me. I’m pretty sure those genes run deep.

I think about my uncle often, too. He lost his leg in a work accident back in the 1940s and never let it slow him down. He converted a small bus into a “people mover” so others with mobility challenges could attend Mass—and, just as importantly, bingo. He was loud, opinionated, and impossible to miss—but his sense of right and wrong was absolute. He taught me more through his actions than he ever could have with words.

Along the way, I’ve also learned that helping well means listening better. Not everyone needs the same pace, the same details, or the same kind of communication—and I’m still learning how to meet people where they are. Each experience has made me more thoughtful, more prepared, and more aware of what my clients may need before they have to ask.

That’s what I hope you take from this note. I’m truly here to help. This isn’t just what I do—it’s who I am. And whenever I’m part of someone’s journey, I do everything in my power to make sure they—and the people traveling with them—feel supported, respected, and confident every step of the way.

Warmly,Carole