Welcome! My name is Natasha, and I’m delighted to share this space with you.
Since the day I learned to read, stories have been a powerful force in my life. My mom often used to say that the house could burn down around me when I was reading a book and I wouldn’t notice.
Growing up on a farm in North Dakota, I had an idyllic setting for playing out scenes from the pages of the Laura Ingalls Wilder series, The Boxcar Children, Goosebumps, and The Babysitter’s Club.
In high school, I found a practical application for channeling my imagination and became an award-winning competitive public speaker. My best category? Storytelling.
My soft spot for the elderly led me to pursue my undergraduate degree in social work with a concentration in gerontology, and I spent my early career at the Alzheimer’s Association and later practicing as a licensed social worker at a nursing home.
When I moved to Cleveland in 2006, that passion carried forward in my role at a healthcare consulting firm, where I worked with low-income seniors and began to develop and hone my leadership skills. After several years in that space, I ultimately transitioned to a multi-billion dollar healthcare organization as an operations executive.
No matter the setting, my zest for a good story has not faded with time, and I still find myself getting lost in the colorful worlds created by a well-woven tale. Now, the characters who capture my fascination are in everyday life:
What put the daydreamy smile on the face of the woman ahead of me at the grocery store? Why is the guy snoring next to me on the plane so exhausted? Is that couple two tables over on their first date or their hundredth?
Whether the answer to those questions is rooted in boundless joy, aching sadness, or playful humor, there is this universal truth around stories: we all have one.
In my 30-some years on this earth, it has become clear to me that meaningful connections are the real stuff of life. Nothing brings more soul-abiding joy than knowing that we matter, that our love is fully and gratefully received for the beautiful gift that it is.
As for my own story, when I don’t have my nose in a book, you’re likely to find me getting lost in the woods somewhere (usually figuratively, sometimes literally), looking at the moon, correcting someone's grammar, furthering my yoga and meditation practices, and finding new ways to be a better human.
I’m an old soul, an introvert, a word fiend, and a lover of all things blueberry.
Want to chat? I’d love to connect with you!
Email: natasha@natashazimmerman.com
Facebook: natasha.zimmerman.7
Instagram: @nrzintheworld
Twitter: @nrzintheworld