For 15 years, North Carolina Alpha Alicia Stephens worked in financial management for public sector entities on the East Coast. During the summer of 2015, when her husband was given a new opportunity with his accounting firm, they made a big decision to move their family to Houston, Texas. Luckily, Alicia was able to negotiate working remotely with her company.

But as the holiday season approached, Alicia realized she was so caught up in trying to make her remote work fit that she was not allowing herself to be present in her new city. Understanding that her husband’s job was a multi-year commitment for them, she was at a strange crossroads in her life. She could either continue to work as she had been or she could step away with the purposeful intent to create a new life for her family.

Alicia has become a big fan of the author Brene Brown, who has written several books about social connections and relationships. Brown talks about living an authentic life, which means being present and acting whole-heartedly. She also discusses the art of saying “no.” “I am approaching my sabbatical from the work force by focusing on things that provide me with connections to others, and things that allow me to feel like I am contributing to something greater than myself,” says Alicia.

This new stage of life has allowed Alicia the opportunity to be more visible and involved in her sons’ schools. At one of the schools, she has participated in an initiative to create stronger nutrition curriculum. At another school, Alicia has helped plan their annual fundraiser as well as many small family events throughout the year.

Even outside of her school service, Alicia pursues projects that are parent-focused and also collaborative. She does so in order to meet other people. Alicia first started with MeetUp groups, then local Mom’s groups and finally the Houston, Texas, Alumnae Club. About her different experiences, Alicia jokes, “It’s like throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks.”

So what advice does Alicia have for us? She recaps her experiences in three “lessons learned”:

1. The things I do should provide me with a connection to others and an avenue to make meaningful contributions to my community.
2. You have to be a risk-taker to forge a sense of place in a new city.
3. It’s a scary thing, but you have to be patient. Alicia thinks it took six months of “full court press” to make one authentic, meaningful connection.

Alicia reflects that through these opportunities, she has given herself to various organizations that bring meaning to her life. And that, well that is something truly rewarding indeed.