Introducing Tammy's Story

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Today is different . Today I'm sharing the story of my sister-in-law . I don't have a regular episode this week , because I knew this day was coming . I also knew I wouldn't be ready for it . What I could prepare is this episode , this chance to tell you not only about my grief and my love for her , but also my conscious choices when it came to my coaching practice . I can share how , as an entrepreneur and leader in my space , I work to balance work and grief , with no permission required

Who Tammy Was To Me

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. But first let's talk about Tammy .

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I've known Tammy for nearly 40 years . She and my brother started dating while I was still in high school . I will often say , and will continue to say , that she has been my sister-in-law so long that the in-law part fell off . She's just my sister now . She's been important in my life in many ways . When I was in those late teenage years , she was a confidant and an advisor . She could call me out without making me feel bad about myself . I have to laugh because I know I wasn't the only one . She was also able to pull that off with my dad and my grandfather . Let me tell you , both men were not likely to take feedback , with all due respect , especially from a woman . Tammy could stand loving and strong and tell us how we could be better . I appreciate that she would care enough to say what she wanted to say . As we got older , our lives were quite different . That was never a problem for us . It always seemed like we could have a conversation with a look , then laugh . She taught me how to have play as a part of my life . Card games would happen , and one fateful night playing the Wii . No , I'm not telling that story , just know that it happened . And if you know , you know .

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Then came 2025 . In February of this year she was diagnosed with uterine cancer Tests , scary surgery , a round of chemo and then a very difficult determination to stop

Cancer Diagnosis and Business Adjustments

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treatment . Meanwhile , on the business end of things , I'm blessed to have a reasonably flexible schedule . My clients are flexible and supportive . I traveled to St Paul , minnesota , when she was in hospital . I stayed at the farm where they live to support the transition there and that was the post-surgery , and then again after the episode that led to no further treatment . You see , I don't live nearby , but I needed to be there for that .

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I made the time and stopped some business activities so I could do what was most important to me . Most , if not all , of my clients were aware that she was sick . They would ask me about her in coaching sessions and I had to push it back to redirect to them . I appreciated that they cared for me and her by extension . And yet that time was for them and I would often explain to them . It was for me too , because I could think about them and stop

Sharing Life With Professional Community

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whining about me .

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I chose to share my life with those in my professional realm , not to explain or excuse my absence . I chose to share it because there's a relationship there and I wanted them to know my experience . It's real life . We need to make adjustments and work to accommodate life . Life is going to get lifing sometimes and it needs our attention . No permission was required to take that time . I do know some don't have my flexibility of schedule , but the need still asks to be met . It can be said if I don't hunt , I don't eat , meaning if I don't work , the revenue can stop . For you don't be shy asking for those personal needs to be met . I know because Tammy and my brother told me that time with them was appreciated more than I could know . I don't know , but I believe them .

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Now Tammy's gone from our physical lives . Her presence , though , will never leave me . She's in my heart with all the others I've lost . I promised her that my husband and I would look after her people once she's gone . She smiled through her tears . You see , it went without saying when you love someone

Honoring Her Memory Moving Forward

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, you look out for each other . She was one of the people who taught me that . It's only one of the many lessons she's left me holding as I'm recording this episode . Now there's a piece I don't know , and that is how long it will take me to come back . I know it'll be a short hiatus , if I have one , but I wanted my listeners to know , just like I wanted my professional community to know , you're my people too . I wanted to take care of you , and I wanted you to know that you can still expect me to come back . It's just I may need to take some extra time for grieving .