When people ask what inspired me to start Monadnock Creative Co., I could point to my years in marketing, my love of storytelling, or my work with small businesses and nonprofits. But there’s another part of the story that’s just as essential, though quieter and harder to put into words.
I’ve trained and volunteered with hospice in the Monadnock Region. I sit beside people at the end of their lives, offering what they need most: presence. Not advice. Not solutions. Just someone to be there. To witness. To hold space.
It’s a sacred kind of work, and one that has shaped me deeply, both personally and professionally.
The Kind of Listening That Changes You
In hospice, you learn quickly that listening isn’t passive. It’s active, embodied, intentional. People speak in many ways – through memories, gestures, and even through silence. Sometimes the most profound moments happen when no one is speaking at all.
Hospice taught me that real communication isn’t always about the words. It’s about attention. It’s about creating space for someone to feel seen, safe, and understood.
That kind of listening has changed how I approach everything, from client conversations to brand messaging to the way I show up in the world.
Storytelling with Dignity and Depth
People in their final days often share stories – not about awards or accomplishments, but about relationships, moments, regrets, beauty. They talk about what mattered most. And through those stories, they reclaim their voice.
That’s the heart of what I do now with Monadnock Creative Co.
Every organization has a story to tell. My work is to uncover that story and help express it with honesty, clarity, and care. Not to dress it up in jargon. Not to overcomplicate it. But to find the truth of it and tell it in a way that resonates.
Hospice reminds me that all storytelling is legacy work. And that’s how I treat every brand, every campaign, every client I work with.
Grounding Marketing in Empathy and Presence
There’s a kind of stillness that hospice teaches you. A slowing down. A recalibration of what’s urgent versus what’s important.
That mindset lives at the core of Monadnock Creative Co. I don’t believe in shouting louder or chasing trends for the sake of it. I believe in intentional marketing rooted in empathy, aligned with purpose, and led by values.
It’s not about spinning a narrative. It’s about honoring the one that already exists.
Building Something That Feels True
Monadnock Creative Co. is a reflection of what I’ve learned about people, presence, and communication. It’s built on the belief that every voice deserves to be heard clearly. That clarity is an act of care. And that the best marketing doesn’t manipulate; it connects.
Whether I’m helping a nonprofit shape their message, working with a small business to refine their website, or writing a community campaign, I bring the same spirit that hospice instilled in me: respect, attention, and compassion.
Because at the end of the day, what we say and how we say it matters deeply.
Ready to Tell Your Story with Clarity and Heart?
If you’re looking for thoughtful, values-driven marketing support that centers your story, I’d love to connect.
Monadnock Creative Co. 
Leave a comment