I just recently returned from the Bed and Breakfast Association conference in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where I received an award for the Innkeeper of the Year! For me, being an innkeeper means connecting with people, welcoming them to Charlottesville, and making their stay unique and comfortable.

As I talked to other innkeepers during the conference, I was struck by how each of us has a unique story, a story that often centers on the inns we run. Many of the people I met seemed amazed by the many things I juggle — or plates I spin — and encouraged me to write a blog about my crazy life.

Winning this award has made me reflect back on my own personal journey and the many plates I spin, often without even thinking about it–and perhaps not always balancing them…but sometimes the cracks and crashes become the most interesting stories…

For me, the most important plates I spin are family, friends, the Inn, Interior Design, antiques, and tennis. So how do I keep them all spinning instead of crashing, as so many people seem to ask me?

The simple answer: I love my life! I truly love what I do for a living and love my lifestyle! Pursuing my passion and creating a joyful lifestyle was something my parents ingrained in me from an early age. I watched my parents, also designers and antique dealers, working tremendously hard but loving every minute of it… well, maybe not every minute. But they were passionate about their careers.

And even more importantly, they were passionate about creating a lifestyle that allowed them to do what they loved and still spend time with their family and friends, old and new. They showed me that having a career and time for family and friends isn’t really a balancing act; it’s a way of life.

Making connections with people is what really matters, whether it is through my businesses or on the tennis court. I think that is why I have loved being an innkeeper for twenty three years — I can combine my love for people, historical buildings, interior design, antiques, and fine food all in one life!