So here it is:

I am a deeply feeling soul who had felt kind of lost for most of my life. Like I was living the life of everyone else (or at least trying to), but never living my life for me. I went to school, got the jobs, did the things. But never really felt truly seen, heard or felt for the person I was, deep down.

I spent my teen years drinking most weekends, and my early twenties was a write off. I thought I’d naturally slow down in my 30’s and once I had kids, but kept that “I’m not a regular mom, I’m a cool mom!” vibe going way past its expiration date 🤦🏼‍♀️. Truth be told, I drank to fit in (which is different than belonging), ease my social anxiety, avoid grief, escape from the reality of painful relationships and cope with my high sensitivity. I knew my drinking habits were actually quite common AND I knew they weren’t healthy. Alcohol helped me cope with issues I didn’t want to address. And it worked really well - until it didn’t. When I mustered the courage to address my habits and then their underlying issues - my whole life shifted.

Skip ahead 4+ years later, and while I look the same on the outside, I’ve come home to myself on the inside. I no longer make decisions based on what other people think of me. I no longer self-sabotage when I have a goal in mind. I no longer de-prioritize myself. Instead, I take compassionate and unrelenting care of myself. And I teach others how to do the same, through physical and emotional sobriety and working to heal their mother wound.

✨ I value deep, meaningful connections - nothing will zap my battery faster than small talk.

🌲 Give me a walk in the woods over a walk through the mall any day of the week.

🛋 Cozy night in with soft lighting and a warm blanket? I’m there. Bustling night out on the town? Nope.

I deeply value integrity and have shifted my social connections over the years to surround myself with others who have this core value. I also acknowledge the bravery it takes for those of us who make active choices to truly work through our pains and hurts, learn and then apply that knowledge to move forward with our lives.

I believe there is a choice, always. And not making a choice, is also a choice.

But mostly? I believe we can only make true and lasting change within when we come from a place of self-compassion - tender and fierce self-compassion. Learning to become compassionate with myself, knowing that I am a worthy person who deserves good and true things has changed my inner world. And now I have the privilege and honour to help guide others to lovingly learn to prioritize their mental, emotional, spiritual and physical selves.

(And if you’re a qualifications type person, I’m a trained recovery coach from Connecticuit Community Addiction and Recovery and have my Master’s degree in Adult Education.) But that’s not what makes me who I am - because I, like you, am so much more than any title, qualification or label.