Empowered to Connect

Welcome to My New Blog: Empowered to Connect

Hello there! I'm Leslie, an Intentional Living Coach & Community Mentor passionate about helping women, parents, and leaders cultivate meaningful relationships in all areas of life.

In this space, I’ll be sharing insights on self-care practices to help women reconnect with themselves, guidance for parents—especially mothers—on deepening their connection with their children, and mentorship for leaders and facilitators who wish to foster emotionally intelligent, harm-reducing communities.

Join me as we explore ways to empower ourselves and those around us by creating spaces that nurture healthy, authentic relationships.

The Connected Path

In this section, I’ll guide you through self-care practices and rituals that help you connect with your inner self. Grounding yourself in your values, needs, and priorities is essential for staying centered amidst life’s demands. Whether it’s developing morning routines that align with your energy or using journaling as a reflective practice, I’ll provide tips to create meaningful habits that nurture your well-being.

Tip 1: Start by dedicating 5-10 minutes each day for mindful breathing or meditation to center yourself.

Tip 2: Create a values-based checklist to ensure that your daily actions align with what matters most to you.

Tip 3: Develop a "check-in" ritual—pause midday to ask yourself how you’re feeling and what you need.

Nurturing Connections

As parents, it’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day tasks and miss out on deep, intentional connections with our children. In this section, I’ll share personal stories and offer practical advice on fostering relationships with children, from early childhood through young adulthood. Parenting is an evolving journey, and being present, attuned, and responsive to our children's emotional needs can create lasting bonds of trust and understanding.

Tip 1: Set aside 10-15 minutes of one-on-one time with each child daily, free from distractions, to actively listen and connect.

Tip 2: Practice reflective listening—repeat back what your child says to show you understand their emotions.

Tip 3: Create family rituals (like weekly check-ins or shared meals) that reinforce connection and communication.

Heart-Centered Community

For nearly 20 years, I’ve been leading and nurturing a local homeschool community, and I’ve learned that building a thriving, heart-centered group requires emotional intelligence, strong leadership, and a commitment to creating safe, inclusive spaces. In this section, I’ll discuss community dynamics, offer leadership tips, and share practical ways to ensure your group or community fosters healthy, authentic relationships. From conflict resolution to creating shared values, tending to community relationships takes care and attention.

Tip 1: Establish clear community values and revisit them regularly with your group.

Tip 2: When conflicts arise, lead with curiosity—ask questions to understand before reacting.

Tip 3: Create opportunities for group members to share their needs, ensuring everyone feels heard and supported.

I’d love to hear from you!

Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments—what resonates with you, what questions you have, or topics you'd like me to explore in future posts.

This space is meant to be a dialogue, where we learn and grow together. If you found these insights helpful, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any future content.

Let’s continue the conversation and support each other on this journey of connection—whether with ourselves, our children, or our communities.