A 4-word holiday miracle

and some news!

When the templates aren’t working

Last week, I sat across from a student at a worn-out office table, most likely donated to the school I work at by some parent whose office was undergoing a redesign. I was there in my role as a learning specialist, a job I have held for a long time now in different schools, but the purpose is always the same: to create safe passage for neurodiverse students through systems that weren't designed for their unique ways of processing new information and expressing themselves.

That afternoon, I worried as I watched the bright young man across the table retreat further into himself as I pulled out every conventional essay writing tool in my arsenal - mind maps, outline templates, sentence stems - trying to help him write a critical essay on ethics due at the end of the week. His shoulder-length brown hair crowded his face more with each failed attempt, and the hum of fluorescent lights grew excruciatingly loud in the silence that followed each of my attempts to get him talking.

The question that worked better than any template

Finally, out of options and almost out of time, I pushed all the templates aside and asked, "Is there anything that just makes you mad or sad about the world?"

Then, suddenly, a 4-word holiday miracle: "The dusky southern salamander."

What unfolded next wasn't just an essay topic - it was a reminder of something I've learned again and again in my two decades of work: The most powerful solutions emerge when we stop forcing ourselves into what "should" work and start trusting our natural ways of being. And most of the time, that starts as a question that sparks curiosity.

This student's passion for an endangered salamander led to insights about ecosystem balance, climate change, and how our survival is fundamentally linked to things we often overlook. His best work didn't come from following a template - it came (and quickly, too) from connecting with what truly mattered to him.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by those big prompts about purpose, intention, and passion that tend to pop up this time of year, here's a gentle truth: We can find more momentum from questions than definitive answers. It's not always a beam of bright inspiration that lights our way, but sometimes a small, cute salamander whose extinction prompts us to question why that makes us so sad.

Where this led me

And that's why I'm excited to share some news with you.

This publication is evolving into something new: Functional Magic.

For years, I've helped neurodivergent teens navigate systems that weren't built for them. But increasingly, I've noticed something: When I share these strategies, parents and educators pull me aside, whispering "Could this work for me, too?" They're not just looking for ways to help their kids - they're seeking permission to trust their own intuition that there must be a better way to keep up, manage overwhelm, and find peace than the conventional strategies for success they’ve been given.

Like that worn office table where breakthroughs and meaningful connections happen, Functional Magic is a space where evidence-based executive functioning science meets unconventional success strategies from soul-level wisdom. It's for all of us who sense that functioning alone isn't the point, who believe in one of the core FM principles: that the purpose of functioning is fulfillment.

Over the next few weeks, you'll notice some changes as we transition to this new chapter. What brought us together remains the same - finding authentic ways to thrive in a world of conventional systems that don't quite fit.

What's Coming Next:

• Weekly Wednesday posts, exploring unconventional success strategies for adults

• A blend of practical science and soulful wisdom

• Stories and insights about creating success that feels like coming home

• Our inaugural "No Goals January" - a gentle rebellion against the pressure to start your year with ambitious resolutions

Just like that student found his flow through an unexpected prompt, sometimes our best work comes when we dare to trust what doesn't quite fit about ourselves. That's what Functional Magic is all about - creating space for your unique magic to emerge.

If this new direction resonates with you, you don't need to do anything – you'll continue to receive these letters in your inbox. If it's not quite your thing, I completely understand. You can unsubscribe at any time (though I hope you'll stick around to see where this goes).

Here's to finding magic in the small unexpected places we've kept close deep underground. With love,

Tricia

P.S. What's a thing you care deeply about that drives you nuts when people overlook it? What's your dusky salamander? I'd love to hear it in the comments!