My Oscar Speech—we all have one

I have to confess something: I love working on my Oscar speech.

On long runs, music pumping, I imagine myself on stage. In my daydream, I’m married to Markie Mark (Matt knows), & I’m winning an Oscar for a movie I built entirely in my imagination – a retelling of Oliver Twist, based on a really weird dream I once had & can’t get out of my head.

I imagine using that platform for good. What would I say? How would I support others? Deep down, many of us have that “what if I were famous?” daydream. It’s fantasy—but it’s also a way to think about the kind of impact we want to make.

Now, here I am—less glamorous, but real. In magazines, on podcasts, giving speeches, meeting leaders, therapy centers, & fellow authors.

For something completely unexpected, I’m being recognized as a “star” for clouds, depression, & mental health awareness.

This project has given me a lot of self-belief, even when the industry signals I don’t fit. But it’s never been about awards. It’s about resonating with someone—anyone—who needs to hear they’re not alone.

Now, I get to give my version of Oscar speeches through my book, podcasts, & writing.

Mental Health Takeaway

Do what makes you happy, even if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. Your happiness doesn’t need validation. How you spend your time doesn’t need to be something tangible.

Maybe you don’t write Oscar speeches in your head—you just run in silence….that’s okay.

The act of doing something joyful, creative, or restorative is a form of self-care. It’s proof that even small, personal rituals can give you resilience, clarity, & a sense of purpose. The point isn’t productivity or recognition; it’s joy, restoration, & self-expression.

So go ahead: let your inner Oscar speechwriter, your musician, your artist, take the stage—your brain, heart, & mental health will thank you.

Dreams, Imagination, & Becoming

When we’re kids, we play pretend for glamorous things. Alma dreams of being a “doctor for animals- do NOT a vet”, “an astronaut”, or a “teacher who does hair”.

We all aspire to be something—& many of us chase those dreams.

Me? Often working as a contractor, I’ve changed careers more times than most.

My resume looks like a puzzle:

• Brief stint in medical school to be a coroner
• Student success coach
• Public health associate in nonprofit programming
• Work in homeless shelters
• School system admissions
• Intellectual disabilities admissions
• Social services for foster care

Through it all, my constant has been helping people: listening, problem-solving, & connecting them to the support they need.

I’ve embodied Macy’s Santa, all year long, because I love seeing what people need & helping them get it. That same joy & curiosity fuels my work now, through my book, podcasts, & writing—just on a grander scale.

Not just selling it, but sharing it with people who can use it to spark conversations, teach emotional regulation, & provide comfort.

Mental Health Takeaway

Life doesn’t have to follow a straight line to have meaning. You can change careers, explore new paths, & follow unexpected detours—& still carry the same core values forward.

My Author Speech—When I Hold the Book

“We so often hear how dreams float among the stars. We so often daydream among the clouds in sunlight.
Here I am holding a dream build from clouds into a star-filled moment.

I never expected to shine for something that once made me feel so broken. I’m setting aside imposter syndrome & feeling proud.

I’m grateful for everyone who believed in me & supported me. The warmth of my husband, friends, & chosen family. The sunshine Alma & Max create. & the help from organizations & resources who know ‘talking mental health is cool.”

Most of all, I’m grateful for the part of me that fights through the clouds. The part of my brain that pushes through all the cloudy moments.” TBD what’s next.

Supporting Cast resources to Share the Stage wtih

Book that should get an award! Help Me!: One Woman’s Quest to Find Out if Self-Help Really Can Change Her Life by Marianne Power—a book that explores various mental health resources through the author’s experiences, offering insight, humor, & reflection. It’s like a tour through what support can mean, & in a turn-you-didn’t-expect way, it invites you to consider what tools resonate for you.

SEL & Emotional Awareness for Families CASEL.org Tools & strategies for helping kids—& grown-ups—understand emotions, communicate, & build resilience.

My favorite Markie Mark movies

• Instant Family
• Happening
• Other Guys
• Notable Mention: Invincible

Current On Repeat Running Playlist

“False Confidence” – Noah Kahan

“Play for Keeps” – BOB

“Insane” – Black Gryphon