This letter is part of a weekly series called Analog Connections. Each week I create and handwrite a letter to someone that is on my mind and post it here. I hope you enjoy getting to know some of the amazing humans in my life!
The minute I sat down in Savannah Mayfield’s office and felt her caring, calm presence, I knew I came to the right person. Her warm eyes and funky sense of style put me right at ease and—BONUS—she had wild curly, blonde hair! My favorite!
I came to Sav at a really dark time. I was at a job that was no longer fulfilling, my marriage was unravelling, my finances were shaky, and I had a young son. I felt hopeless. I was the primary breadwinner for the family and my job had become a slog. That seemed so wrong because I was working in International Education in a position that hundreds of people would clamor for. What was I complaining about? I got to travel the country and the world promoting study abroad. But, it was like I had someone else’s job. I was 46 years old and I couldn’t imagine the rest of my life on this hamster wheel.
I was also tired at home. As a child of divorce, I told myself I would never do that to my kid. But, I couldn’t imagine continuing my home life as it was—my husband and I tried couples counseling, but our connection was waning and my drinking was increasing. I was bored. We had just bought our first house, so changing jobs seemed out of the question.
I was stuck.
Over the course of a couple of years, Sav listened with an open-heart and provided me with tools and practices that helped me reframe my narrative that life was just a hamster wheel I was going to be on for the rest of my life. And my circumstances gradually changed. I even learned how to budget!
Eventually, I left International Education and went back to acting. I hobbled together acting-adjacent day jobs including walking tours and standardized patient gigs. I started auditioning again and I wrote a one-woman show, Sexology: The Musical! that I toured from Portland, OR to Portland, ME in 2018. I was finally back in a rhythm that felt authentic.
My husband and I did divorce, but we were careful and loving in the process. We were great co-parents and raised an amazing human together—he graduated Magna Kum Laude from UO in 2024 and is on his way to launching.
I also realized that monogamy didn’t really work for me, so I started my journey exploring polyamory. My kids dad, who is monogamous, remarried to an incredible woman who happens to be one of Sav’s good friends!
It is wild what life hands out sometimes. I am so glad Sav is part of my story!
It’s been a joy to be on the journey with you!
I am so glad that you worked so hard and took risks to find the path you are now on.