Leave the Baggage Behind
What would you feel if you stopped carrying the weight you don't need? For Michele, Amy's forgotten suitcase turned into a lesson about baggage of every kind.
In this Spark Short, Michele and Liz unpack their conversation with architect Amy Conner-Murphy of ACM Design. Liz shares what surprised her about how two architects approach a home, starting with the client's story and history. Michele tells the story of the seven-year-old who toured her parents' house and asked, "Is this the only house like this in the entire world?" Then Michele explains why Amy's decision to leave her bag in the car has stayed with her: sometimes the most freeing thing you can do is leave your baggage behind.
That idea takes them in some unexpected directions. Michele shares how she helped her empathetic son learn to give other people's monkeys back. Liz explains why she's leaving the year of the fire horse behind. They reflect on what Amy's story of Hurricane Helene says about how the worst of times bring out the best in people, and why, underneath it all, most of us are just trying to be good humans.
They also share how Spark Me has sparked real-life moments for them: a long-overdue reunion with past guest Nora Isaacs, a dinner with Peter Twohy, and discovering that friends and family are listening more than they knew. And they want to hear your stories too.
In this episode you'll learn:
- What leaving your baggage behind can open up for your future
- How to stay empathetic without carrying everyone else's problems
- Why the worst of times so often bring out the best in people
- What makes an architect-designed home feel so different when you walk in
- Why your home can be a sanctuary when the world feels like it's on fire
- How Amy earns the respect of the trades on her job sites
- Why women who own architecture firms are still so rare
Resources from this episode:
- Our full conversation with Amy Conner-Murphy
- ACM Design
- Episodes mentioned: Nora Isaacs, Beth Twohy and Barbara Cox
Keep sparking
If this conversation resonated with you:
- Follow Spark Me wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a Spark Short
- Share this episode with the friend who's carrying everyone else's monkeys
- Leave a rating or review. It helps other women in their second act discover the show.
- Has a Spark Me conversation sparked something in your life? A reunion, a health change, a new way of thinking? Tag us or send us a message. We'd love to share your stories at the end of the year.