Eventful Endeavors

You know what’s SO HARD?

Being heard when you can’t hear.

I’m hard of hearing.

Yes, I wear hearing aids.

And no…

That doesn’t magically mean I can hear you.

If I had a dollar for every time someone said, “Just put your hearing aids in. You’ll hear just fine,” I’d have more money than Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk combined. 😂

They’re called hearing aids for a reason.

They aid hearing.

They don’t restore it.

For me, hearing is like putting together a puzzle. I hear bits and pieces. I read lips. I watch facial expressions. I pay attention to tone. My brain works overtime trying to fill in the blanks.

It takes me a little longer.

Unfortunately, the world doesn’t slow down long enough to give me that little longer.

If you’ve ever had a conversation with me, you’ve probably heard me say…

“I’m sorry… what?”

Or…

“Could you slow down just a little?”

Most people do.

For about ten seconds.

Then they speed right back up.

So I ask again.

Then I ask a third time.

And somewhere around that third time, I can almost feel it.

The sigh.

The frustration.

The impatience.

So eventually…

I stop asking.

I smile.

I nod.

I pretend I understood.

Not because I did.

Because I don’t want to become a burden.

And that’s the part that hurts the most.

Not my hearing loss.

Feeling like I’m too much work.

Feeling like I’m the problem simply because I need another few seconds.

That can quietly chip away at a person’s confidence and self-esteem.

It makes you wonder if you should just stop asking.

Smile.

Nod.

Pretend you understood…

Just to make everyone else more comfortable.

I’ve done that.

More times than I’d like to admit.

But here’s what hearing loss has also taught me…

Life isn’t one emotion at a time.

It’s possible to be frustrated and grateful.

Embarrassed and confident.

Heartbroken and still find something to laugh about.

The hard moments don’t erase the beautiful ones.

And the beautiful ones don’t erase the hard ones.

They simply remind us that both can exist at the same time.

That’s life.

And in my case…

The humor has been pretty spectacular. 😂

For years, I thought Bush was singing “Listerine.”

Imagine my surprise when I found out the song was actually “Glycerine.”

You’re welcome. 😂

And Jessie J?

Apparently she doesn’t sing,

“She’s got a b***y like Delta Burke.”

Who knew?

Turns out it’s “Cadillac.”

Honestly…

I kind of like my version better. 😂

But airports?

They’re different.

Announcements echo.

They’re fast.

They’re muffled.

My gate changed four times on my last trip.

The intercom announced it.

I couldn’t understand a single word.

The only reason I made my flight was because I kept asking strangers what had been said.

That wasn’t embarrassing because I wasn’t paying attention.

It was frustrating because I was paying attention with everything I had… and it still wasn’t enough.

Here’s what I wish people knew.

Please don’t confuse my inability to hear with an inability to understand.

Those are two very different things.

I’m not ignoring you.

I’m not unintelligent.

I’m not distracted.

I’m trying harder than you probably realize.

Sometimes I just need another second.

Another sentence.

Another chance.

So if I ask you to repeat yourself…

Please don’t be offended.

I’m not ignoring you.

I promise I’m trying.

And if I answer the completely wrong question…

Congratulations.

You might accidentally become my next funny story. 😂

Or…

You might accidentally become friends with a retired German senator because you were kind enough to tell me what the overhead announcement said.

True story.

No matter how frustrating hearing loss can be…

It has also played a part in some of the greatest moments of my life.

It’s introduced me to incredible people.

Created unforgettable stories.

Reminded me that asking for help isn’t weakness.

And taught me that kindness is a language everyone understands.

Be patient with people.

Slow down.

Face us when you speak.

Give us an extra second.

You never know how much those small acts of kindness mean to someone who’s trying their hardest just to stay connected.

We are better together. 💛

Our community is stronger because of incredible women who lead with purpose, compassion, and vision.

Congratulations to all of the finalists for the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce’s Women Business Leader of the Year!

A special congratulations to my Executive Director, Jessica Ahrenholtz. I’ve had the privilege of seeing the lives she changes behind the scenes every single day, and this recognition is so well deserved.

Join me in celebrating these amazing leaders. Grab a ticket and help honor the women making a lasting impact in our community.

Congratulations to all of the finalists—and Jessica, I’ll be cheering extra loud for you! 💙

I Survived Saint Mark’s Square.

You know what’s SO HARD?

Trying to eat a pistachio cannoli in the middle of Saint Mark’s Square when a seagull decides it’s his cannoli too. 😂

And I don’t mean he swooped down and grabbed a crumb.

No.

This feathered criminal literally landed on my arm and hand, reached into my personal space, and stole my cannoli.

RIGHT.

OUT.

OF.

MY.

MOUTH. 😳😂

People screamed.

I screamed.

I’m pretty sure I yelled, “OH SH*T!” in front of a church.

Sorry, Venice. 😬😂

The seagull flew away victorious.

The evidence? He stole nearly two-thirds of the cannoli and left me with what can only be described as emotional damage and a very expensive snack. 😂

My husband got what was left.

And somehow we laughed until our stomachs hurt.

Life is funny like that.

Sometimes the best memories aren’t the perfect ones.

They’re the ridiculous ones you’ll be telling for years.

So if life is hard right now, hang in there.

You never know.

One day you might find yourself in Venice, eating a pistachio cannoli, getting mugged by a seagull, and laughing about it with the person you love most.

And trust me…

It’s worth the wait. 💛🇮🇹😂

We are better together.

— Shannon

Who knew a fundraiser would come with a VIP tour of a German fire station? 🚒🇩🇪

David and I had the chance to attend a fundraiser for a local volunteer fire department, meet the fire chief, and climb through every vehicle in the station. It was fascinating to see how differently communities prepare for emergencies.

🚒 Every emergency call automatically includes a gas truck because so much here operates on gas.
💧 Firefighters connect to underground water access points hidden beneath manhole covers—some just 1–2 meters deep, others 3–5 meters down.

And because it’s Germany, there was amazing food: pork neck, schnitzel, German potato salad, and bratwurst.

No matter the language, volunteers are the heartbeat of a community. ❤️

Thank you, Martin, for the special care, the incredible tour, and the firehouse swag. It was an honor to learn from you and your team and a great reminder that some of the best experiences happen when you simply say yes to something unexpected.

You know what’s SO HARD?

Being sick. 😂🤒

I don’t have a profound life lesson for you today.

No deep metaphor.
No inspirational quote.
No five-step plan to become your best self.

I’ve been sick.

I’ve been sleeping.
I’ve been drinking questionable amounts of tea.
I’ve been trying to remember what day it is and what country I’m in.

And honestly?

Sometimes that’s enough.

Sometimes surviving the day, resting when your body says rest, and giving yourself permission to not have it all together is the lesson.

So if you’re running on empty, feeling under the weather, overwhelmed, or just don’t have anything left to give…

Maybe today isn’t about productivity.

Maybe today is about pajamas, soup, naps, and not feeling guilty about it.

Take care of yourself.

The dishes can wait.

The emails can wait.

The world will keep spinning.

And tomorrow is a brand-new day.

We are better together. 💛

You know what’s SO HARD?

Trying to figure out what day it is when you’re in Germany and everyone you know is back in the United States. 😂

Sunday arrives here before it arrives there, and somewhere along the way I seem to have completely lost a day.

At this point, I have absolutely no idea what day it is.

The good news?

I haven’t gotten lost. Yet. 😂🇩🇪

Everyone here has been incredibly kind.

Today I met a wonderful woman who used to work in Los Angeles doing export and import. We spent nearly half an hour talking even though my German is limited and her English is limited. Somehow we figured it out anyway.

I’ve already met several business owners, been invited to a few local happenings, and even got to spend time with a beautiful brown Lab who apparently knew exactly where he was going, unlike me. 😂

And maybe that’s what I’m learning here.

For a long time, life was about surviving.

Navigating.

Analyzing.

Figuring out the next problem before it happened.

But Germany feels different.

I’m finding myself experiencing wonder.

Curiosity.

Connection.

Joy.

Not because life is perfect.

But because I’m allowing myself to be present in it.

I’ve learned that people don’t always need the same language to connect.

Sometimes all you need is kindness, a smile, and a willingness to try.

We’re all human beings.

We’re all made the same.

We’re just a little customized. 💛

So for now, I’m going to keep exploring, keep learning German, keep meeting people, and keep embracing this adventure.

And if I accidentally text you at 2:00 AM because I’ve forgotten what country I’m in…

Please forgive me. 😂

Wish me luck.

We are better together.

— Shannon 🇩🇪💛

Pleasing Everybody is SO HARD.

There’s something I need to tell you that might shock some people:

You cannot make everybody happy.

Not everyone is going to like what you do.Not everyone is going to like how you do it.

And if you spend your whole life trying to please everybody?

You will drive yourself absolutely crazy.

Someone will think it’s too much.

Someone else will think it’s not enough.

Too loud.Too quiet.Too bold.Too soft.

They’ll complain the font is too small.

Then someone else will complain it’s too big.

Too bright.Too dark.Too serious.Too funny.

And honestly?

If people want to find something wrong...

they will.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

When you’re surrounded by the wrong people, they’ll always search for flaws.

When you’re surrounded by the right people, they’ll help you grow without trying to make you feel small.

There’s a huge difference between constructive encouragement and constant criticism.

One says:

"You're amazing. Let's make this even better."

The other says:

"I'm uncomfortable with your sparkle, so let me dim it."

No thank you.

If you are doing what you do with a good heart...

that matters.

Not perfection.

Not pleasing everyone.

Not shrinking yourself so others feel comfortable.

A lot of people are fighting battles you know nothing about.

Healing from things they don’t talk about.

Trying to survive things that changed them forever.

Imagine how different the world would be if we approached people with grace instead of constant judgment.

What if instead of trying to tear each other apart, we actually communicated?

Worked together?

Assumed people were trying their best?

Wouldn’t that be something?

Listen...

I’m sure I’ll continue upsetting people simply by existing. 😂

Maybe I used the wrong font.

Maybe the wrong color.

Maybe the wrong joke.

Who knows.

But I refuse to spend my life apologizing for shining.

And neither should you.

The right people won’t ask you to become smaller.

They’ll help you become better.

There’s a difference.

We are better together.

And honestly?

People need to grow up. 😂💛