The Golden Thread: The Song That Found Me Again

8Yesterday, we wandered into the annual Fall Fair at Fletcher Park — our first time visiting — and were instantly surprised by the creative energy pulsing through it. Booth after booth was filled with handmade treasures, each crafted straight from the artist’s heart.

On stage, a duo performed something I’d never seen before: a man with a soulful, folky voice strumming guitar while beside him, a woman painted a forest scene in rhythm with the music. It was utterly mesmerizing — art flowing into sound, sound flowing into color.

But the real magic came a few stalls later.

We stopped in front of Just Genna Designs, a recycled artist whose paintings on reclaimed wood caught my eye. They were bursting with joy — bright colors, meaningful quotes, a deep sense of love for life. And then I saw it:

A lyric from James Taylor’s Carolina in My Mind.

In an instant, I was rooted to the spot. My body filled with that familiar ache — the one that’s part joy, part grief — and tears threatened to spill. I could hardly speak.

When I was little, my mum would play that song all the time. I’d tell her, “Mum, I should live in Carolina.”

It was a whimsical childhood dream only connected to my name. I don’t think that little girl ever expected to matter.

And yet, life took that tiny flicker of imagination and wove it into the most extraordinary journey: from Woy Woy, Australia, across oceans and continents, all the way to Raleigh, North Carolina — a place that felt like home the moment I arrived.

Standing there, reading that lyric, I felt the full weight and wonder of that miracle — and the sacrifice and struggle it took to get here. Just writing that now to you brings up all of that emotion again. with total awe and reverence towards life. (Can’t you feel that life shine?)

Then, like a whisper, I heard it: “You should get that.”

So, I did.

I told Genna’s husband why it meant so much to me, my voice catching as I spoke. Soon, that wooden piece will hang near the two maps in our home — one of Australia, one of North Carolina.

Every time I see it, I’ll remember the power of dreams — even the fleeting ones of a five-year-old girl. The way the universe conspires in its own mysterious timing. The magic and the miracles that guide us when we’re willing to follow the quiet pull of the heart.

And most of all, I’ll remember my mum — who opened so many doorways to my dreams without even realizing it. Who gave them oxygen and faith, even when it meant sacrifice.

She taught me that the greatest gift we can give our children is space —

Maybe all it takes is a song played on repeat, a line that lingers in the soul, waiting for the day it finds its way back to you.

Caroline

Thread to Reflect On

Have you ever had a song, scent, or phrase pull you right back to another time — and remind you how far you’ve come?

Sometimes the universe sends these echoes to show us the threads connecting our past and present. Evidence that our dreams were never forgotten, just quietly unfolding in the background. A reminder that magic and miracles are always here for you.

This week, pay attention to those moments of recognition.

✨ What memory or message is resurfacing for you right now?
✨ How might it be guiding you back to a piece of yourself you’ve outgrown but still need?

This Week’s Challenge:

As you move through the week, let this be your mantra:

Lean into nostalgia, trust your tears, and honor the dreams that once felt too whimsical to matter. They’re often the ones that carry your soul home.

This Week’s Challenge:

As you move through the week, let this be your mantra:

Lean into nostalgia, trust your tears, and honor the dreams that once felt too whimsical to matter. They’re often the ones that carry your soul home.

Other loves this week:

• Watching The Runarounds: Savannah and I loved this TV series about a rock band from Wilmington NC, their quest to make their dreams happen, and the heartwarming friendships they build along the way. They’re actually a real band and we’re planning to see them when they play in Raleigh in February. I love this shared passion we have for music. And Wilmington is now Kalyra’s home (And a favorite of ours) so love seeing it sparkle on TV.

• Listening: Brene Brown on the Steven Bartlett Podcast: We're in a Spiritual Crisis.

• Insight: “Open your magnet, which is your soul”

• Reading: The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower (a fascinating insight into the First Families and those how serve them)