Kendra Perry

Kendra Perry found me through a web of connections, and it’s a reminder that you never know who you’re going to reach. When she saw photos from an early participant, she reached out to join the project. At the time, I was living in Upstate New York and she was in Santa Barbara, so it wasn’t something we could do right away. Now that I'm in Los Angeles, we finally made it happen. I’m grateful she followed along and was patient as I got settled in a new space. It was worth the wait. Kendra is a true ray of sunshine, a life coach with a passion for bringing women together, and a traveler. She just returned from Morocco with our mutual friend and project alum, Jan McCarthy. I can’t wait to hear about their adventures. I have a strong feeling great things are ahead for Kendra, and I look forward to sharing more of her story.

What really matters to you?

What really matters to me is that people do not feel alone.I think the only worthwhile thing about suffering is the realization that everyone does it. That shared experience is what binds us. I often time my morning walk so I can watch people leaving an AA meeting nearby. Many of them are hugging, lingering, or staying a few extra moments just to talk. It’s a small, ordinary scene—and yet it says everything about how much we need one another.

There’s a quote I love: “I alone must do it, but I cannot do it alone.” I don’t know who said it, but it captures something essential. Personal responsibility matters—but so does the courage to lean into others. To be seen. To be held. To remember that none of us are meant to carry life by ourselves.

What brings you happiness?

What brings me happiness is being fully present—for my family, my friends, and the people I work with. I find real joy and meaning in listening, in creating space where people feel heard and understood.

I’ve been lucky enough to build a career around that instinct. Doing work that’s grounded in attention and connection has made happiness feel less like something I chase, and more like something I live—day by day, conversation by conversation.

What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced?

One of my greatest challenges has been learning to separate who I am from my ego—especially when that ego feels threatened.

For a long time, I let it sit in the driver’s seat, and it created a great deal of unnecessary anxiety. Building a healthier relationship with my ego hasn’t been easy, but it has been a true game changer. I’ve learned that the ego doesn’t need to disappear—it just needs guidance.

Making peace with it has required a very large and ever-growing toolbox: awareness, humility, boundaries, and compassion. It’s ongoing work, but it has given me more freedom, clarity, and calm than I ever expected.

"You are not a project to fix. You do not have to justify your existence. You are not a puppet of fate. You are creation itself. You are nature, aware and alive. You are the universe, peopling. You're an animal, alert and open to experience, intuition, and energy. There is no cage. There never was."

—Tom Asacker

What would you change if you could?

I would close the gap between thinking about life and actually living it.

What single word do you identify with?

RAD

Rad. To me, rad means unconventional. It’s the people who choose curiosity over conformity, courage over comfort. I’m endlessly inspired by rad people doing rad things—especially when those things look a little different from the norm.

It’s far easier to fit in than to be the fullest expression of yourself. I’m still working on that. Choosing rad is my reminder to keep going.

Thank you Kendra!

Kendra is a coach dedicated to helping women feel more connected, supported, and grounded in their lives. Her work centers around creating spaces where honest conversations can happen and where people feel seen, heard, and not alone. If her perspective resonates, you can learn more about her work and follow along here:
https://kendraperrycoaching.com