When I think of making room in my life, I imagine myself in Cape Coral, Florida, my favorite place, where my family vacations throughout the year. It is here, sipping my morning coffee while soaking up the warm sun, that I watch the waves gently roll onto shore.

As the sun touches my skin and palm trees slowly sway, I feel so relaxed and calm. I hear my kids playing in the pool as they watch for dolphins swimming by in the waves beyond.

Everything around me is perfect: the sights, the sounds, the smells. In this moment, my mind is clear. I’m enjoying this place, simply, in total and complete happiness.

I make room in my life on my family’s pier on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. It’s the ideal place to relax and unwind, catch up with family and friends, watch the boats go by, listen to the waves — or just do nothing.

Looking out from the pier keeps me in touch with the seasons, as the sun, wind, water, trees and bushes move through their cycles. It also provides the perfect perch for watching birds build their nests in the spring and prepare for the harsh months of winter. In the hustle-and-bustle of my city life, the family pier provides a refuge and a connection to nature that keeps me grounded and grateful for all I have.

My happy place is my kitchen, where I create virtually all of the food that nourishes my family. We recently renovated the space — a gift we gave ourselves to recognize the many years of hard work that my husband and I put into raising our two great kids.

In the fall, steaming pots of soups and stews that I make from scratch simmer on the stove, never following an exact recipe … much to the dismay of my daughter. Dim sum dumplings are a frequent weekend offering when my friends come over for wine and bites. The aroma of rib roast and Yorkshire pudding wafts through the house at Christmas, driving my two Cavaliers crazy!

No matter the time of year, cooking in the kitchen is how I express love for my family and circle of friends. Creating and sharing beautiful, delicious food is my passion and it never gets old.

Although it can only be used for about eight months out of the year, my favorite room is our screened porch.

Every spring, it transforms into a whole new living space as we remove covers from furniture, sweep the floor and get it ready for the warmer months. Sitting in the screened porch, I listen to the hypnotic sound of birds chirping outside and take in the fresh smell of evergreen trees.

Enormous 100-year-old oak trees lend a serene backdrop to the activities that take place inside this multifaceted space — it’s where the children play, where we gather to watch storms, host family dinners, and sip wine after the kids go down.

(Jean) Door County, Wisconsin, is our happy place. As I drive north and pass through Milwaukee, all of my worries wash away. Our home in Door County is the gathering place for family and friends. Looking out at the lake through the tall glass windows is at once breathtaking and calming.

This cottage is where grandchildren jump off the dock and make me plunge into the cold Lake Michigan water. In the spring, we watch loons and mergansers float by, followed by scores of white pelicans all summer. Memories spanning over 35 years make up a large picture wall in the library, where the only rule is that the photos must have been taken in Door County.

(Donna) The big stone fireplace in the great room and views of Lake Michigan greet me as I enter this cottage on the water and feel an immediate sense of relief wash over me. So many cherished memories are made here with family and friends, laughing and crying. Beyond the joy I feel, I am also warmed by the knowledge that this is a home that we’ll always have, passed on through our family’s generations.

I make room in my life for volunteering at the Garfield Park Conservatory, because giving back to one of Chicago’s greatest community resources is so important to me. And because it is simply one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever known . . . which is why my husband and I held our wedding in front of the Zellij Fountain, a gift from Chicago’s sister city of Casablanca. When I walk into the conservatory, I’m greeted by the Palm House with tall oversized leaves, low ground cover, and a tropical mist hanging in the air. On any given visit, I vary my path. And each time, I rediscover the Fern Room, the Show House, the Desert House and more.

Wherever you turn in this West Side oasis, there is something remarkable at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Something large, something small. Something old, something just beginning. When I'm there, I feel a sense of calm. The air is sweeter and the warmth of the sun shining through the glass feels like a hug. I’m constantly in awe of the number of different plant species found in this one special place.

Chicago’s lakefront calls me every morning to run its path, listen to its waves, capture its glorious sunrise and experience its morning breath. It serves as my treadmill, my yoga mat, my meditation room and my spiritual temple. The golden sand seamlessly kisses the aqua waters of Lake Michigan that embrace Chicago’s iconic skyline.

The lakefront offers me peace, a reprieve from the urban hustle, a space for my creative juices to flow and my most gracious side to shine. It is here that I am at my best and therefore able to best serve my family, friends, clients and community. This “room” is organic, all natural, free of charge and offers the greatest return on investment of any space I’ve come to know.

My office is my dedicated space for self-reflection and self-development. When I enter this room, I walk into a place full of opportunity. I feel productive, empowered and creative here.

Situated between my daughter’s bedroom and my own, my office is brightly lit and accented by neutral colors and minimalist decor. This aesthetic gives me clarity. A desk sits between two full bookcases across from a large window that lets in endless natural sunlight.

On nice, sunny mornings, I open the window to smell the freshness of the outdoors that mingles with the cup of coffee in my hand. As I take a seat, my first task is to look up at my whiteboard. It’s my measuring tool that allows me to track my performance and stay grounded and focused.

My office allows me to make room for all that the future holds for me. I step in as the person I want to become and step out as the person I know the world needs.