In the Belly of a Beast

Recently, I’ve found myself becoming a bridge between families and the larger forces that shape long-term care. I never planned on that, but it feels like important work. When I launched Maine Aging Partners, I thought I’d spend my days sitting down with families, helping them make clear decisions in a hands-on way. Instead, I’ve become part of bigger conversations — about communication, policy, and the systems that influence care across our state and country.

I remember when I ran sales for a retirement community. It was never clear to me that the system really acknowledged how families approached care. In many ways, I don’t think it ever did. So to now be the person helping families and influential organizations see this differently is something I don’t take lightly. It’s challenging, yes, but it’s also really meaningful.

The other day, someone from my former BNI chapter asked me, “Are you doing okay?” My instinct was to smile and say yes. But the fuller truth is more complicated. Some days it feels like I’m in the belly of a beast — facing pressures from political parties, or sensing the push and pull between state and federal government. Those are big arenas, and I didn’t exactly choose to step into them.

No one has given me a playbook. I don’t claim to know exactly what’s being reshaped. What I do know is that through all the pokes and prods, I’ve gained an education: in diplomacy, in navigating difficult circumstances, in public policy, and in holding steady when the ground shifts under my feet.

Do I love it? Not always. But I respect it. And I’m proud of it. Because this work isn’t just about me — it’s about changing a conversation that desperately needed to change.

So if you ask me if I’m okay: I am. I’m steady, I’m learning, and I’m leading in a way I never expected.