Cathy Goddard: Just Being Lily

06/16/2026

As a teenager, Billy Joel’s Vienna was one of my favourite songs……and it still is.

It spoke to me during some tumultuous years. I was troubled but hopeful. Restless and unwilling to settle. Always looking for what might be around the next corner.

It also planted a seed. Travel wasn’t part of my childhood, but by my late teens I had discovered a longing to see the world. At 19, I boarded a cruise ship by myself. Looking back, I have to laugh and wonder: What was I thinking?

Well……I was thinking, this is my dream. To see the world because it was so much bigger than what I knew.

I’ve never cared for bucket lists, but because of that song, Vienna became a place I knew I would visit someday. The fact that I travelled so much of the world before getting here never worried me. I knew it would happen when it should.

And now, here I am.

Walking through Vienna today with Billy Joel blasting in my AirPods and a few happy tears in my eyes felt monumental. I am beyond grateful to my guy for helping make yet another dream come true.

“You’ve got your passion, you’ve got your pride
But don’t you know that only fools are satisfied?
Dream on but don’t imagine they’ll all come true, ooh
When will you realize Vienna waits for you?”

Turns out Vienna really was waiting for me. ❤️🇦🇹🎶

06/14/2026

Prague and Amsterdam feel so long ago. That’s what happens when you travel. Time stretches as you soak up the newness: new places, new people, new cultures.

We left Germany last night and loved every place we visited in that delightful country.

Austria, you’re up next. Show us what ya got. 🇦🇹

06/11/2026

A visit to Nuremberg was a profound experience today. Standing in the rally grounds, exploring a brand new museum dedicated to World War II and walking through the Palace of Justice where the Nuremberg Trials were held was a powerful reminder that acknowledging the past is not about living in it. It’s about learning from it and building a more peaceful future because of it.

I was struck by Germany’s willingness to confront this heartbreaking chapter of its history with honesty and transparency. Most of all, I was impressed by its commitment to ensuring these sites are preserved to educate and encourage reflection, rather than fulfill the vision of the Third Reich. It is a powerful example of remembering the past while choosing a different path forward.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” — George Santayana

The lesson of Nuremberg is not just to remember war, but to understand why peace is worth protecting.

06/09/2026

From canals to castles, cathedrals to medieval villages, we’ve been soaking up every moment of this river cruise adventure. The spectacular scenery and the history around every corner have all been fascinating. And the sausages and beer have certainly lived up to their reputation. Even watching our ship rise and fall through the river locks is a remarkable reminder of the ingenuity and engineering that make journeys like this possible.

And it’s the people who leave the loveliest impression. Every shared story, every small act of kindness reminds us how much there is to learn from one another - and how much good there is in the world.

Prague to Amsterdam and through Germany has been an incredible adventure so far. Feeling grateful and excited for whatever waits around the next bend in the river.

06/03/2026

What a coincidence that this came up in my memories today.

I’ve heard the term “side hustle” a couple of times recently after not hearing it for years. Of course, it reminded me of an article I wrote for Pique Newsmagazine a few years back.

I had so much fun interviewing and writing about women entrepreneurs who dared to pursue their dreams and build incredible businesses. Truth be told, I saw a little of myself in them. Looking back, their stories are just as inspiring today as they were then.

Remember this Lydia Lee Kara Mcmaster Amy Fast

I wanted to share a collage of photos from my feature story in Pique Newsmagazine We are lucky to have easy access to news online but I truly hope we never lose paper. The power of storytelling is in the print publication for sure! Thank you to those I interviewed for sharing their incredible photos for this piece: Lydia Lee, Kara Mcmaster, Amy Fast and Melanie Victoria And yup....you can read it here ;) http://ow.ly/6fJs30kiKZm

05/25/2026

Thank you for these words Suleika Jaouad. A beautiful reminder that connection still matters most.

"We spend so much of our lives now adjacent to other people—scrolling past their thoughts, their work, their faces—that it can begin to feel as though proximity is the same thing as connection. But sometimes the most meaningful thing we can do is far simpler and more vulnerable: reach out. Not strategically. Not performatively. Just to say: your work moved me. I’m glad you exist in the world."

As I’ve entered a new era of life, I find myself thinking more about whether my work mattered. Whether it made a difference in someone else’s life. And yes, I know it did, because my purpose at its core was always to support, encourage, or impact another person in some meaningful way.

I don’t post this for praise - just for contemplation as I explore continuing living with purpose at this stage of life. It looks different now, but I still want it to feel meaninful.
And on the flip side, I want to be sure the people who made a difference to me know it too. To take the time and have the presence of mind to simply reach out and simply say …..thank you. 🙏

Photo Credit: Hannah Olinger - Unsplash

05/23/2026

What if balance was never meant to mean doing everything perfectly at once?

Years ago, I shared a simple metaphor at an event: some of the things we juggle in life are rubber balls - if dropped, they bounce. Others are glass - they require our care and attention.

Over time, I’ve come to believe balance isn’t really about equal distribution at all. It’s about life blending. Discernment. Priorities. Grace. And recognizing that sometimes frozen pizza, missed workouts, unanswered texts and unfinished to-do lists are simply part of being human.

In this new era of my life, I’ve also been learning something else: I don’t have to take everything on. I don’t always need to be the organizer, the fixer, the problem solver or the one making sure everything works for everyone else. Stepping back from those roles can feel uncomfortable, but also incredibly freeing.

Maybe balance is less about holding everything together and more about learning what truly deserves our energy.

I wrote about all of this in my latest Substack piece, Rubber Balls and Glass Ones.
Read the full piece with link in bio or here it is: https://cathygoddard.substack.com/p/rubber-balls-and-glass-ones

05/23/2026

Ohhhhh….this is lovely. ♥️

The Head Plan

05/19/2026

A Ripple of Kindness

Take a moment.
Smile at the random stranger.
You never know what they’re carrying through their day.
A small, everyday courtesy
can spark something.

Take it further.
A simple hello.
Or further still –
“Beautiful day, isn’t it?”
Such little effort,
but it opens a door.
A brief connection.
A shared moment.

And maybe it looks like you’re doing it for them –
but it doesn’t stop there.
It moves.
From one person
to another
and another.
Kindness has a way of traveling like that.

A ripple.
Passed along
without announcement.
Leaving something behind in others.

And do it for yourself.
Because offering warmth
does something quietly
inside you.

So while it feels like it’s for others,
in the end,
it comes back to you –
and stays with you.

That’s the ripple.

CG – April 2026

Photo Credit: Laura Mann on Unsplash

05/15/2026

Toxic positivity is what happens when difficult emotions get dismissed instead of acknowledged. And while usually well-intentioned, it can leave people feeling misunderstood or alone in what they’re going through.
I wrote about what toxic positivity actually is, why it shows up, and how to handle it - both when you’re receiving it and when you catch yourself doing it.
If you’ve ever felt guilty for not “bouncing back” quickly enough, this might resonate.
👉 Read..... link in bio or cut/paste this -
https://cathygoddard.substack.com/p/what-is-toxic-positivity