The Tragedy of the Unopened Gift

“To sinful patterns of behavior that never get confronted and changed,
abilities and gifts that never get cultivated and deployed—
until weeks become months and months turn into years,
and one day you’re looking back on a life of deep, intimate, gut-wrenchingly honest conversations you never had;
great bold prayers you never prayed,
exhilarating risks you never took,
sacrificial gifts you never offered,
lives you never touched,
and you’re sitting in a recliner with a shriveled soul, and forgotten dreams,
and you realize there was a world of desperate need, and a great God calling you to be part of something bigger than yourself—
you see the person you could have become but did not;
You never followed your calling.
You never got out of the boat.”

—Gregg Levoy, The Tragedy of the Unopened Gift

When I First Read These Words

The first time I read Gregg Levoy’s words, they stopped me in my tracks. They echoed the ache I had once carried quietly inside — the ache of knowing there was more within me that I had not yet lived out.

For years, I had done everything that was supposed to lead to fulfillment: worked hard, achieved career success, had a beautiful family, and checked all the boxes. Yet, beneath it all, I felt a growing restlessness — a sense that I had left something essential unopened inside me.

I recognized myself in Levoy’s description: the forgotten dreams, the shrinking soul, the gifts that never got cultivated. I knew what it felt like to live a story that no longer fit, to sense God calling me out of the boat, yet to still feel afraid of the waves.

That moment — the realization that I was living below my divine design — became the seed for ReAuthor Your Story.

The Birth of ReAuthor Your Story

I created ReAuthor Your Story out of a deep desire to help others avoid what I almost lived — the tragedy of the unopened gift.

Through my own transition from corporate life to the world of therapy and coaching, I discovered the courage it takes to rewrite your life. I learned that you don’t have to settle for a storyline of burnout, perfectionism, or quiet discontent. You can co-author a new chapter — one aligned with your God-given purpose, your authentic voice, and your deepest values.

ReAuthor Your Story was never just about achievement or personal development; it was (and is) about spiritual realignment — about helping people rediscover peace, presence, and purpose in the midst of busy, high-performing lives.

The Redesigned Life Studio: A Space for Renewal

As ReAuthor Your Story grew, I began to see a theme emerge among my clients: so many were caught in what I call The Off-Key Life — that season when everything looks fine on the outside but feels out of tune on the inside.

Out of this realization came The Redesigned Life Studio — a space where individuals can slow down, recalibrate, and intentionally design lives that align with who they’re becoming. It’s about reimagining midlife not as a crisis, but as an invitation to purpose — to open the gift that’s been waiting inside you all along.

This Studio offers a guided path toward what I call The Harmony Life — where your faith, purpose, relationships, and daily rhythms finally find their rhythm again.

The Relationship Studio: Because Love Is a Story Too

But our lives are not written in isolation. Our relationships are the chapters that give meaning to the whole story.

That’s why I created The Relationship Studio — to help couples and individuals strengthen the bonds that shape their emotional and spiritual lives. Whether through retreats, coaching, or marriage groups, this studio is about helping couples rediscover connection, rebuild trust, and learn to communicate with compassion. It’s a reminder that God’s design for love is redemptive, restorative, and resilient — even after years of wear and tear.

Opening the Gift Within You

Each of these creations — ReAuthor Your Story, The Redesigned Life Studio, and The Relationship Studio — are expressions of the same calling: to help high achieving purpose-driven individuals live boldly, courageously, and awaken to the sacred story unfolding through their lives.

Because I’ve seen what happens when we don’t.

I’ve sat with too many clients, friends, and even my own reflection in the mirror, whispering, “There has to be more than this.”

And there is.

The tragedy is not in failure. The tragedy is in never trying.
So if you’ve been feeling that nudge — that quiet invitation to open your gift — this is your moment.

Live boldly. Step out of the boat. ReAuthor your story.

Closing Reflection

“Great opportunities await us regardless of age or stage of life. What will we choose?”

Today, may you choose courage over comfort. May you open the gift that is your life — and discover the harmony waiting inside your story.

Open The Gift Waiting Within You

I've created a free reflection guide to help you go deeper. Inspired by "The Tragedy of the Unopened Gift" by Gregg Levoy, this reflection guide invites you to pause, listen, and reconnect with your purpose.

Inside you'll:

- Identify the gifts you've left unopened

- Rewrite the stories that keep you playing small

- Realign your life with God's purpose for you

- Take one bold step toward your next chapter

Because your story isn't over - it's just being rewritten.

Download your free ReAuthor Your Story Reflection Guide and begin rediscovering your divine design today.