I always felt like my potential was greater, but I was busy and distracted enough to ignore that inner knowing. I went along with ordinary life, doing what the world told me I should and could do. As the years passed and I “adulted” more and more, I felt more disappointed and uninspired by life. 

In 2018, my favorite person (my younger brother, Danny) passed away suddenly. He was really one-of-a-kind. Extremely friendly, fun-loving, genuine, and pure. Danny had autism and by the age of 18, his personality was much like Buddy The Elf. He didn’t filter himself- everything he said and did was what he truly wanted to say and do. He dreamed big, declaring he would be a music teacher (inspired from School of Rock- shoutout to Jack Black) and a rock star. He researched and insisted on singing and music lessons. He was determined to make his dreams a reality. He was going to break through any barriers in his way. He impacted me so much in his 18 years.

When he passed away, it made it impossible for me to ignore my questions about life and wth we’re doing here. I couldn’t ignore the fact that I wanted more from life. I took notes from Danny. He had it all figured out. He didn’t waste his precious time and energy on things he wasn’t “lit up” by. He didn’t push himself to do things he hated. He was completely true to himself and dedicated to his dreams.

Up until that point, I had been suffering with health issues like acne, constant exhaustion, mood swings, bloat and stomach aches, joint pain, PMS/cramps, and eventually big cysts that lasted months showing up on my body. When I could no longer ignore these issues around 2015, I started my healing journey. It was the first time I realized that I had any control over my health- I was clueless and seeked solutions from my doctors, who only provided quick fixes that allowed the root issues to worsen. I thankfully learned about holistic healing and eventually enrolled in The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I was able to heal ALL of these issues using a holistic, natural approach. I’ve been on a self-healing journey ever since (it’s been at least 9 years now!) and I spent a few of those years in restrictive-health-maniac mode (eating restrictive diets, not going out with friends, expensive supplements, spending all my free time learning more health info…) and I’m happy to tell you- that ain’t the answer!!! The most important health practices are actually pretty simple. Also, it’s not about doing all of the things (I know you’ve felt overwhelmed by all the contradicting advice on social media!), it's about doing what’s right for YOU. Healing doesn’t require restriction and suffering. I’ve felt my best while eating all types of food, going out and having fun, and living a balanced life. My healthy habits are streamlined into my life and I only do what I truly want to do for my health. It can all be simplified.

My healing journey wasn’t just about food and exercise, but also about how I lived life. Before Danny passed away, I was an autistic support teacher who was prioritizing other people’s needs and opinions while pouring from an empty cup. The way I approached school, work, relationships, tasks at home, and social gatherings felt draining. It was like I had normalized “pushing” myself to do things I didn’t want to do in ways I didn’t want to do them constantly. That needed to change in order for me to heal, feel happy, and be of my greatest service to others.

Since it became clear that societal norms were not serving me, I decided to live in my own way. Not only am I unique as an individual, but I’m a woman. Yes, I know women make up half of the population, but the majority of us have been living according to what makes sense for men. Not only have the majority of medical studies been completed on men, the average work day is catered to men, and the systems of our patriarchal society support the nature of men. Women have an additional ~28 day hormonal cycle that isn’t honored in the modern world/society. This cycle comes with advantages that can appear as disadvantages when we try to fit into society. Women have widely been misled about their innate power. I align my life and habits with my cycle to tap into my unique advantages and honor my unique needs. I also changed jobs- trying different things out, eventually working completely for myself. I took many trips, exploring and learning more about what I truly love. I continued to heal. I invested in coaching, courses, books, and experiences. I continually unlearned limiting beliefs that held me back and replaced them with new beliefs. I worked on reprogramming my subconscious mind and rewiring the neural pathways of my brain. Ultimately, I became more and more MYSELF. Free from the burden of health issues and jobs, responsibilities, relationships, habits, beliefs and things that just don’t feel good to me. And I’ve become empowered by a healthy body, an open mind, and a life that feels energizing and exciting to me. And now that I know how to keep my cup full, I’m here to help other women who know they’re meant for more to take control of their lives, heal their bodies, and create their own unique version of heaven on earth (because we’re here anyways, so why not?!) <3