The Story Behind My Work : Loss, Resilience, and Finding My ShiNe

7/4/2024

You'll often hear people talk about a single moment that changed the entire trajectory of their life. I don't have one of those moments. My life has been anything but a neat, straight line. It has been messy, winding, and full of lessons I didn't always want to learn, along with secrets I felt I had to keep.

Like most people, I have faced my share of heartbreak and loss. Burying two husbands and my father, battling my own alcoholism, navigating Child Protective Services, and filing for bankruptcy — all while raising two daughters adopted out of the foster care system — pushed me to my limits more times than I can count. Throughout the years people have said to me, "Girl, I don't know how you do it," to which I always replied, "Well, the alternative doesn't sound like much fun."

No matter what was happening around me, there was always a small voice whispering:

"This isn't who you are, and this isn't where you're meant to stay."

That voice led me to a B.S. in Psychology, a license in alcohol and drug counseling (LADC), and a Master's Certification in Life Coaching — and I set out to make the world a better place..

It was rocky at first. Who was I to help people find their way when my own life was still tangling and knotting up? But then it hit me:

My struggles don't disqualify me — they make me real.

The things I thought made me "less than" are actually my greatest strengths. My imperfections don't make me unqualified — they make me relatable. My experiences have made me someone who understands grief, loss, addiction, resilience, and the long, non-linear road back to yourself.

I'm a little slow on the uptake, but once I catch on, I'm golden.  😁

I don't claim to have everything figured out. But I have learned how to keep going when things are hard — and how to help others do the same. This journey isn't about being perfect. It's about showing up for life rough, raw, and ready for whatever comes next.

That is the gift I am meant to share.

"May you Find Your ShiNe and spread your light wherever you go."