Upcoming Events

“Redefining Success” Sept 9, 2026

"Redefining Success" ~ WonderWomen gathering and discussion
Wed Sept 9, 6:30p-9p
3050 Whitaker Hill Lane
$70 - dinner, drinks

RSVP - please reach out to me to save your spot (ewkelly@gmail.com)
All interested women are welcome, feel free to share with others.

If you wish: Read or listen to The Second Mountain by David Brooks and From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks. No pressure or requirement to read either book before the evening!

Why "Redefining Success?"!!

When I asked for ideas for our fall gathering, so many of your responses centered around the same themes: purpose, meaning, connection, and mattering. Those common threads led me to discover a wonderful book that many of you have likely read: The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks. Brooks describes the first mountain of life as the climb toward achievement, success, independence, status, and building a career or identity. The second mountain, however, begins when we realize that a truly meaningful life is found not in what we accomplish for ourselves, but in the commitments we make—to our relationships, our families, our communities, our work, and causes greater than ourselves. One of Brooks' most compelling ideas is that the second chapter of life is often less about climbing higher and more about a release, a letting go, or even a fall. It invites us to release the definitions of success, identity, and accomplishment that may have served us well for years, making room for a life rooted more deeply in purpose, generosity, authenticity, and connection. It's not about abandoning excellence or ambition; it's about redefining what success means to you now.

In From Strength to Strength, Arthur Brooks explains that our intellectual abilities change as we age, rather than simply decline. Fluid intelligence—the ability to think quickly, solve novel problems, learn new things, and generate fresh ideas—tends to peak earlier in adulthood (in our 20s and 30s) and gradually decline with age. Crystallized intelligence, however, grows over time and is built from accumulated knowledge, experience, judgment, and wisdom. Brooks’ larger point is encouraging: as we move into our 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond, we may be less quick but can become deeper, wiser, and better at seeing patterns and connecting ideas. The goal is not to fight the natural decline of fluid intelligence, but to recognize and increasingly lean into the strengths of crystallized intelligence.

Rather than bringing in a speaker, this evening will be a guided conversation. Together, we'll reflect, listen, share, and learn from the remarkable wisdom in the room. My hope is that we’ll leave with more than just a fresh perspective on success—we’ll leave with curiosity and questions that invite us to keep wondering about what matters most in the next chapter of our lives.

Thanks for your continued support of this group. As always, I am beyond excited ....

💙💙💙

~libby