Funderful Experiences

10/16/2026

I've been thinking a lot lately about the friendships that come and go throughout our lives. ❤️

Some friends have been with us for decades. They've seen us through different chapters, celebrated our happiest moments and probably know a few stories we'd prefer they keep to themselves. 😊

Others were part of our lives for a shorter time, but that doesn't make them any less special.

Maybe you had a friend who helped you through a difficult period, someone you shared wonderful adventures with or someone who made an ordinary chapter of your life a whole lot more fun.

And then, for one reason or another, the friendship faded.

Have you ever talked yourself out of doing something you actually wanted to do?

I have. And I can be VERY convincing when I'm selling myself on an excuse. 😂

Maybe you'd love to feel more connected and meet new people, but you turn down an invitation because you won't know anyone there. Or perhaps you've had something important to say to someone you care about, but you've already imagined the conversation going badly, so you decide not to bring it up.

Here's something interesting about that. When we avoid something uncomfortable, we often feel immediate relief. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘸! 𝘋𝘰𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦.

But that relief comes with a catch.

Think about that invitation you turned down. You avoided the discomfort of walking into a room where you wouldn't know anyone, but you also missed the chance to discover whether you might have met someone you really clicked with.

And the next time an invitation comes along? You still don't know anyone, you're still uncomfortable with the idea of going alone and you may be even more convinced that these situations aren't for you.

Sometimes the very thing that makes us feel better in the moment keeps us from having something we genuinely want.

The same thing can happen when we avoid an important conversation. We escape the possibility of an uncomfortable exchange, but we also lose the opportunity to clear up a misunderstanding, express a need or strengthen a relationship.

Of course, I'm not suggesting we ignore our instincts. Sometimes we have very good reasons to hesitate. But there's a difference between responding to something we know and reacting to something we're imagining.

So the next time you catch yourself coming up with reasons not to do something you actually want, consider what avoiding it might be costing you. Not just today, but over time.

You might decide the risk isn't worth taking. Or you might realize that the possibility of something wonderful is worth a little discomfort.

I'm curious. Have you ever almost talked yourself out of something, taken the chance anyway and been really glad you did?

I'd love to hear your story!

10/11/2026

Mahjong. Mimosas. The Connection Factor. 🀄🥂

Ever shared something with someone and wondered if they were actually listening?

Or walked away from a conversation feeling like someone really got you?

What makes the difference?

Why do some conversations leave us feeling heard and understood, while others leave us wondering if we might as well have been talking to ourselves? 😂

That's what we're going to have some fun exploring on Saturday, October 24 at Mahjong Republic!

I'll lead a 45-minute interactive experience filled with fresh insights, plenty of laughs and practical skills for helping people feel heard, connecting on a deeper level and building stronger relationships.

And if you joined us for Better Conversations in September, we're exploring something entirely new this time! New ideas, new skills and more opportunities to put them into practice.

Then we'll put the talking aside and play Mahjong for an hour. 😊

📅 Saturday, Oct. 24 | 10am–12pm

📍 Mahjong Republic, Carlsbad

Already know how to play Mahjong? Come join us!

Mimosas and light snacks included.

Registration required, no walk-ins

👉 Register here:

Beyond the Tiles: Mahjong, Mimosas + The Connection Factor – Mahjong Republic 2045 Corte Del Nogal, Carlsbad, Multiple dates and times - Introducing the Beyond the Tiles Series - an event series that explores what is possible beyond the tiles Mahjong, Mimosas + The Connection Factor Ever walked aw...

10/08/2026

I've been thinking a lot lately about the friendships that come and go throughout our lives. ❤️

Some friends have been with us for decades. They've seen us through different chapters, celebrated our happiest moments and probably know a few stories we'd prefer they keep to themselves. 😊

Others were part of our lives for a shorter time, but that doesn't make them any less special.

Maybe you had a friend who helped you through a difficult period, someone you shared wonderful adventures with or someone who made an ordinary chapter of your life a whole lot more fun.

And then, for one reason or another, the friendship faded.

Sometimes that's painful. Sometimes it's simply what happens as our lives evolve. And sometimes we look back with a smile and feel grateful that person was part of our story.

Of course, there are friendships worth nurturing, repairing and holding onto. And sometimes a friendship that has faded can find its way back.

But I also believe a friendship doesn't have to last forever to have been meaningful.

We can miss someone, appreciate what we shared and still accept that our lives have taken different paths.

I'm curious: Have you had a friendship that didn't last, but that you'll always be grateful for? I'd love to hear about it.

09/30/2026

A little peek at what happened when Mahjong, Mimosas and Better Conversations came together this past Saturday! 🀄🥂❤️

We kicked off our Beyond the Tiles series with Mahjong Republic, exploring how a few simple shifts can turn everyday conversations into opportunities to really get to know people.

There were some great conversations, plenty of laughter and, of course, Mahjong!

And the best part? Everyone wanted to do it again. So we are! 🎉

SAVE THE DATE: October 24

Our next experience, Mahjong, Mimosas + The Art of Connection, will introduce a whole new set of practical relationship-building skills. So if you joined us Saturday, there's plenty more to discover. And if you missed it, this is your chance to get in on the fun!

We're not quite ready to open registration, but if you'd like to be among the first to hear when we do, DM me “MAHJONG” and I'll add you to the interest list.

A big thank you to Kari and Mahjong Republic for partnering with Funderful Experiences to bring this series to life! ❤️

09/18/2026

My birthday is coming up on Saturday, and it’s got me thinking.

Not about how old I am now and why gravity suddenly seems so personally invested in my face and body (𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘺,) but about something else: What makes me feel most alive?

It’s laughing until I have tears coming out of my eyes. Singing. Dancing. Playing with my fur child, Wrigley. Gardening. A deep conversation. Watching people connect during something I’m facilitating or hosting. Getting so absorbed in a project that I lose track of time. Being completely free to be my silliest self.

Those are the moments when I’m fully engaged, energized, and completely myself.

So as another birthday rolls around, I’m less interested in how much I can fit into the next year and more interested in: What do I want to make more room for?

I think I know.

More of those moments. (𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮)

How about you?

09/13/2026

Mahjong + mimosas + better conversations? Yes, please. 🀄🥂😊
I’m excited to be teaming up with Mahjong Republic for this fun morning. If you already know how to play Mahjong, come join us! Details below. 👇

09/10/2026

How much of your life are you actively choosing?

I’ve been wondering how many things we actually choose, and how many have apparently been automatically renewed without our consent.

The restaurant we keep going to because that's where we've always gone. The tradition nobody really enjoys anymore. The organization we joined years ago. The standing plan we keep because...well, we always have.

There’s nothing wrong with familiarity. But there’s a difference between something being familiar and something still fitting.

So here's a question: If you were choosing this for the first time today, would you still choose it?

No need to blow up your life by dinner. Just get curious. If the answer is yes, wonderful.

And if it’s more like hmmm...maybe not...

What might fit you better now?

09/02/2026

Do the people you love know what you love about them?

I’ve been thinking about how many lovely things we say about people when they’re not in the room.

“She’s such a good friend.”

“He has the biggest heart.”

“She always knows how to make me laugh.”

We tell our spouse. Another friend. The person sitting next to us.

And it occurred to me: Are we as good at saying these things when the person is actually in the room?

Apparently, we’re perfectly comfortable giving someone a five-star review to everyone except the person being reviewed. 😂

Of course, “I love you” and “I appreciate you” matter. But there’s something different about hearing: “You always know how to make me laugh when I’m taking myself too seriously.”

“I love how you make people feel included.”

“You’re the person I can call without having to explain the whole backstory.”

That doesn’t just say I care about you. It says I see you. I notice who you are. And this particular thing about you matters to me.

So here’s a little challenge: Think of someone you care about and one specific thing you appreciate about them.

Then tell them. Text it. Call them. Say it over coffee. Tell your partner tonight. No birthday, anniversary, or Hallmark card required.

The people we love shouldn’t have to guess what they mean to us.

What’s something someone once said about you that you’ve never forgotten?

08/29/2026

I've been thinking about how often we talk about wanting more connection without really thinking about what kind of connection we're actually looking for.

I've realized that I don't have a ton of free time for socializing, and I also need a fair amount of downtime. I love people, but I equally love being home in my comfy clothes with nowhere I have to be. 😊

So when I do choose to spend my time socially, I'm pretty selective. I'd rather spend time with people I can have a really good conversation with, or connect over something we both genuinely enjoy doing, than have a calendar full of social plans just for the sake of being busy.

But that's me.

I know people who are happiest with a packed social calendar, lots of activities, different groups of people, casual get-togethers, and always something coming up. They genuinely get energy from that.

I know others who would happily spend most of their free time alone and have no desire for a huge social circle. But give them one person they really enjoy and a couple of uninterrupted hours together, and they're perfectly happy.

Some people love connecting through shared interests like hiking, mahjong, pickleball, books, volunteering, whatever it might be. Others care less about what they're doing and more about who they're doing it with.

Some want a handful of very close relationships. Others enjoy having lots of different people in their lives.

And, of course, most of us probably aren't entirely one thing or another.

None of these is better. But I do think it's useful to know which one is you.

Because if what you really want is a few close relationships, adding more and more casual social plans probably isn't going to leave you feeling satisfied.

And if you love variety, activity, and meeting new people, trying to force yourself into a tiny social circle may not feel like enough.

Sometimes the question isn't “Do I have enough people in my life?”
Maybe it's “Am I spending my social time in ways that actually feel good to me?”

I'm curious, what have you figured out about yourself? What kind of social life feels best to you?

08/27/2026

Are you easy to get to know?

I’ve been thinking about this question lately, and it’s a little more uncomfortable than asking whether other people are friendly, interesting, or good at conversation.

Because you can be warm, friendly, and genuinely interested in other people...and still be surprisingly hard to know.

Someone asks, “How was your weekend?”

“Good! How was yours?”

“Good!”

Well, we certainly learned a lot about each other. 😂

Here’s what I’ve realized: Being curious about other people is only half of connection. We also have to give people something to get curious about.

An opinion. A story. Something you’re excited about. Something that made you laugh. One little detail instead of the automatic answer.

Think of those details as threads. When you offer one, you give the other person something to pick up. And when someone offers you one? Pick it up. Ask another question. See where it goes.

You don’t have to overshare. You don’t have to become more outgoing. And every conversation certainly doesn’t need to become profound.

Just make yourself a little easier to know. Because genuine connection isn’t something another person creates for us.

We create it together.

So I’m curious: Do you think you’re easy to get to know?