staceybooks

I stood on the purple carpet, dressed in emerald green, surrounded by women whose stories could fill volumes, women who had endured, overcome, and rebuilt. And somehow, I was among them. One of Nexstar’s 2025 Remarkable Women. Even now, I still sit with the weight of those words. Remarkable. It’s a powerful label. One I…

Every April, the nation turns its attention to Second Chance Month, a time to recognize the over 600,000 people who return to our communities from prisons and jails each year. But while society gives a polite nod to the idea of redemption, many returning citizens, especially those with lengthy sentences, quietly face another kind of…

April is Second Chance Month, a time to shine a light on redemption, renewal, and the idea that no one should be forever defined by their worst mistake. For those of us who have walked through fire and made it to the other side, this month means more than a calendar reminder. It’s personal. It’s…

Remember being a kid in the sandbox? The unspoken rules were simple: share your toys, don’t throw sand, and if you knock over someone’s castle, you help rebuild it. Somewhere between childhood and our careers, we’ve traded shovels for spreadsheets—but those same sandbox rules still apply. Or at least, they should. Playing fair in the…

April is Second Chance Month, a time to acknowledge, uplift, and restore those who have paid their dues and are seeking to rebuild their lives. But today, I want to make it personal. I want to ask you something that might make you uncomfortable. What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done? Don’t rush past it.…

There’s something powerful about a second chance, not the kind wrapped in a bow, but the kind that’s fought for, cried over, prayed into existence, and slowly earned back with every hard step forward. I’ve walked through fire. Not just once…but again and again. I’ve worn the labels, felt the weight of shame, and believed…

There I was. Sleeping like a rock. Dreaming of something peaceful…probably a beach or a world where calories don’t count. And then…BAM. Eyes open. 2:32 AM. What in the full REM-cycle betrayal is this? I didn’t hear a noise. No storm. No dog barking. Not even a ghost (which honestly would’ve been more considerate, at…

Let’s talk about something we don’t say out loud enough—being “peopled out.” You know the feeling. You’re surrounded by name badges, lanyards, coffee stations, and a never-ending sea of introductions. You’ve smiled, nodded, networked, and answered the “So what do you do?” question more times than you can count. And while you might genuinely love…

Growth is one of those things we all say we want, but the path to it is often messy, uncomfortable, and unpredictable. It doesn’t always arrive wrapped in clarity or confidence. Sometimes, it shows up disguised as discomfort, transition, or even failure. But the willingness to stay open—to lean into growth both personally and professionally—can…

There’s a quiet struggle taking place in workplaces everywhere—a struggle that rarely makes its way into board meetings or HR memos. It hides behind perfect attendance records, forced smiles, short fuses, missed deadlines, and sudden resignations. This hidden struggle is trauma. Trauma doesn’t wait at the door when someone comes to work. It shows up…