As we look ahead to Thanksgiving, there will be empty chairs at the table, both literally and figuratively. With that in mind, I find myself even more grateful for relationships this year than in years past. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and, if I might add, more grateful.
My Oma moved to Heaven this year. Her grit and grace are woven into the very fabric of my being and the texture of my days. Without question, I sometimes open my mouth and hear her words in my own voice. Possessions weren’t part of the legacy she left me. Instead, she gifted me with an example of determination and perseverance lived out rather than simply recited. She walked the talk, if ever anyone did!
My Oma and Dolly Parton’s mother had a lot in common. Dolly often shared stories of her upbringing, including this reflection: “We were rich, as my Momma has said, in the things that matter in kindness and love and understanding. So, it just depends on what you call wealth and success.”
If you’ve spent even a little time around me, you know my hero is Dolly Parton. I say “is” because so much of Dolly’s grit and grace remains with us. I’m grateful for all that has been recorded, written, and remembered about Dolly. What a legacy she has given us!
I see that same grit and grace in our MedicareMisty and MedicareMisty Partners team. Today, our team spans 45 states, with more than 55 agents who have served over 6,000 clients. It’s almost hard to believe that I started alone in an office more than 20 years ago. Back then, my Oma encouraged me when all she had was a vision for me, even though there was little visible evidence of success yet. As I reached each milestone and embraced new opportunities, she was always there cheering me on.
My Oma taught me to remain open to opportunities and to be proud of where I’ve been and where I’m going, even through struggles and the doubts that often accompany them. She was one of my first clients and my biggest fan. She knew I had been selected as a 2026 Woman of Distinction. In November, she’ll be looking on from Heaven as I attend the award luncheon, watching from the “best seat in the house.”
Indeed, my Oma was rich in kindness, love, and understanding. That is the kind of wealth and success I’m most grateful for this year.