Kenya, Wine, and Living My Purpose

When you’re spending a day at the lake, it’s fine to take out your paddleboard or kayak and paddle aimlessly on the water. You can drift without a destination, taking in the scenery or heading to whichever nook or cranny catches your attention. But things change when you’re crossing an ocean. Without a clear sense of direction and the right equipment, you could end up lost, or traveling in circles, or capsized. The journey becomes unpleasant or sometimes terrifying. The same is true when navigating life without a clear purpose.

I acknowledge that not everyone is as purpose-centered as I am, but I have found—both through coaching others and working through my own “stuff”—that it is much easier to navigate the ocean of life when your personal compass is pointed in a clear direction. That isn’t to say you can’t spend some time exploring (taking out that kayak or paddleboard). Not every action has to connect to your life’s purpose. Additionally, you might find that a certain direction doesn’t suit you and decide to change your approach. That’s completely fine. 

The important thing, in my mind, is to let your passions and interests guide you—to discover the things in life that make you tick or that you care about deeply. Then, dare to follow through. It isn’t enough to dream about heading in a certain direction; you have to take the rudder and steer.

In my own life, I have been driven by a purpose-filled career (guiding others through coaching), but I have also zoomed out my lens and considered my life’s purpose from a different angle. I have pondered my role in the larger, global ecosystem, and have discovered that I am most passionate about supporting women and girls, and helping animals thrive. The goal to improve the lives of both women and animals is something that energizes me and gives me a clear direction. It has become a central focus of my life’s path, driving me to create impactful change by partnering with and contributing to relevant organizations. One of those organizations is Friends of Ngong Road.

Founded in 2006 by former corporate executive (and incredible human!) Paula Meyer, Friends of Ngong Road focuses on providing education and support to children living in poverty in Nairobi, Kenya. Partnering with staff and schools in Kenya, Friends of Ngong Road supports impoverished students in a wide variety of ways—paying for uniforms and tuition fees, covering bus fares, providing mentorship, and fostering a community that nurtures growth and development. 

I had the opportunity and privilege to travel to Nairobi this past year to meet the two girls (Nicole and Faith) I am currently sponsoring. Though these two young women live in the so-called “Dagoretti slums,” they did not let their circumstances define them or deter them from dreaming big. They were joyful and bright, full of life and excited about the opportunities ahead of them. When so many of their peers were unable to attend school, these girls were able to defy the odds and continue their education. Witnessing their resilience and determination further fueled my commitment to supporting such impactful causes. 

There is power in seeing your purpose in action. It is highly rewarding and motivating to witness the small impact I am making on the world, embodied by two promising young women. I do, however, want to add a word of caution: Not every nonprofit or charitable organization is created equally. Some are ineffective or inefficient with their dollars, and it’s immensely important to do your research before throwing your support behind an organization. Before I supported Friends of Ngong Road, I learned that this organization has an excellent (data-supported) track record, strong ethics, an efficient and dedicated board, and a commitment to transparency.

My mission is to run my own company, Blū Phoenix, with the same level of integrity, forthrightness, and altruism. For those who don’t know, I recently purchased a small vineyard in Argentina, and we are actively producing and working out the kinks importing high-quality wines (and exciting adventure, to be sure!). We also recently launched our website, so feel free to pay us a visit.  My goal is to have wine available for consumer purchase in 2025!

Through Blū Phoenix, I plan to live out my purpose to an even greater extent by giving back a large portion of the proceeds to charitable causes. My vision for the company extends beyond simply producing wines; it is about using our platform to make a tangible difference.

As I engage with these endeavors, I realize the profound impact of having a clear purpose and aligning one’s actions with that purpose. Purpose serves as a guiding force, propelling us through the vast (and sometimes intimidating) ocean of life. If you’ve been feeling lost lately, I encourage you to embrace the power of purpose. If you’d like, we can chat about it sometime over a glass of wine. :)