Happy October!

There are simply no words to adequately describe the vibrancy of fall here in Maine. I'm writing this on a Saturday afternoon, having just returned from a hike along the trails near my home. Several times, I found myself stopping in my tracks, mouth agape, taking in the brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows. The sunlight streaming through the trees, the crisp air. There is truly nothing quite like it.

And perhaps it's this time of year with our annual Cocktails and Connections event now in our rearview mirror that I start to ponder a topic that's incredibly meaningful to me…belonging.

I believe that as human beings, we have an innate desire to belong. To feel included, to be seen, and to know that we matter. As you, my regular newsletter readers, know, I grew up on a tiny island off the coast of Maine, with about 400 people. I graduated in a class of four. You might think that in a community so small everyone would always feel like they belonged. But I remember moments, especially in middle school, when I felt like I didn't. And boy, did that sting.

Recently, I found myself in a situation where someone made me question whether I belonged. And just like that, middle school came roaring back. It's crazy how quickly those feelings can return, no matter how old we are or how much we've accomplished. Remembering in that moment that you have a choice can sometimes feel nearly impossible. Especially as women, when we've spent so much of our lives trying to prove that we deserve a seat at the table. This time, I didn't shrink. I put my shoulders back, looked that person in the eye, and reminded myself that I was meant to be there. Because I was.

I've thought a lot about that moment since. About how much words matter. How easily we can make someone feel small, and how much it means when someone makes us feel seen, valued, and included.

Which brings me back to our annual AMAZING community celebration, Cocktails and Connections.

This was our sixth year bringing people together, and somehow each year gets better and better. I love seeing familiar faces, watching new friendships form, and introducing people who might never otherwise cross paths. More than anything, I want people to feel that they belong. Whether you've lived in Maine your entire life or just arrived, whether you know everyone in the room or not a single soul, I want you to feel welcome. To feel connected. To know that you matter. Because you do.

Some of the most meaningful things in life aren't about what we accomplish, but the relationships we build and how we make others feel along the way.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year's celebration. I'm so grateful for the friendships, the laughter, the conversations, and this wonderful community we continue to build together.

Here are a few highlights from the evening, including a pretty spectacular drone flyover! And my apologies to anyone whose napkin went flying or whose hair got blown in their face. We may have gotten a little carried away with that one!

We also took a moment to reflect on the people, places, and meaningful connections that made this past year so special. Watch our year in review here.