I Stopped Saying “Someday”

For years, there were things I said I’d do “someday.” This summer, I started doing them.

I became a yoga teacher, turned my photography into a business, and started building a consulting practice around 15+ years of communications experience.

I’d been talking about becoming a yoga teacher for nearly eight years. I completed my 200-hour certification in July, and next month, I’ll teach my first public class.

I’m taking photography clients now, and this weekend I’ll be photographing a nonprofit event supporting Rukundo International.

And I’m finding new ways to put my communications experience to work — through consulting, fractional support, and focused projects for organizations that need clearer strategy, stronger systems, and better ways to connect with the people they’re trying to reach.

Over the past 15+ years, I’ve built communications teams and systems, grown global audiences, led major initiatives, and worked across strategy, brand, digital, media, content, partnerships, events, and organizational change.

I also reconnected with parts of my life outside of work. I spent more time with family and friends, traveled, went whale watching, and remembered how much it matters to make room for people and experiences that bring you joy.

When I first shared that I was figuring out what came next after nearly a decade in global health communications, I genuinely didn’t know what that would look like.

Now, “figuring it out” is starting to look a lot more like 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩.

And somewhere in the middle of all this, I built a new website that finally has room for it all.

𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙮. 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙮. 𝙔𝙤𝙜𝙖. 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮.

This season has been about challenging myself, returning to creativity, reconnecting with joy, rethinking impact, and finding new ways to use the experience I’ve built.

I’m also learning to stay open to possibilities wherever they come from.

Yesterday, I went to a job fair without expecting much. I left wondering whether it had been worth going.

Today, I have an interview because I went.

Things change quickly. So I’m going to keep showing up.

Apply for the job. Go to the job fair. Send the email. Make the website. Pick up the camera. Get on the boat. Teach the class. Pitch the project. Try the thing you aren’t sure will work.

I’m still here. I’m still building. And I’m excited about what’s taking shape.

To everyone who has reached out, made an introduction, shared an opportunity, offered advice, or checked in: thank you. It has meant more than you know.

If you’re working on something that needs clearer strategy, stronger storytelling, or more meaningful connection, I’d love to hear from you.

christinacherel.com

New chapter. Same me. Maybe just a little more of me this time. :)