It’s wonderful to see you here! I’m a school leader, adult educator, special education teacher, meditation teacher, mindfulness coach, social-emotional learning specialist, reiki master, yoga teacher, and a passionate advocate for emotional and mental health. My purpose is rooted in guiding others towards their best lives—lives that are mindful, conscious, aware, and peaceful.
My journey to mindfulness didn’t begin early in my life. In fact, it unfolded in my late teens and most of my 20s—a profound personal exploration that continues to shape my growth each day. This journey has been a source of healing, particularly from toxic and narcissistic relationships, both within my family and romantic connections.
As a recent cancer survivor, I’ve intimately experienced the transformative impact of mindfulness on mental and emotional health. Throughout a challenging year of chemotherapy and surgery, these practices became the pillars supporting my resilience and well-being, contributing significantly to my healing process.
Scroll down to discover the condensed version of my mindfulness journey—a journey marked not only by personal growth but also by healing from challenging relationships.
Let’s embark together on a path of mindful living and healing!
A Snapshot of my Journey
WHO I WAS
HOW I CHANGED
WHO I AM
If you were to meet me today, it may come as a shock to you that I was a completely different person from who I was. I was irrational, stubborn, and impulsive. I didn’t know how to control the reactions to my emotions and I didn’t know how to think objectively and critically about myself, others, and the world we live in. I thought everyone was out to get me and I had the biggest case of victim mentality. Without a doubt, this was the darkest time of my life.
When faced with deep personal and family struggles, I quickly realized that I was unequipped to handle any mental or emotional curveballs that were thrown my way. Interestingly enough, I thought the best way to deal with this was to drop of out college and move from New York to Michigan with nothing but a full tank a gas, a packed up car, and $100 in my pocket (I wish I was kidding). When I was struggling to make ends meet as a waitress and bartender, I realized that something needed to change. I needed to change – luckily, on the other side of dark is light.
I started to journal, meditate, and pay attention to my emotions. I was able to learn about myself by analyzing the way I was feeling and understanding why I was feeling that way. I made some key mindset and habit changes, too. I researched the most balanced, successful, and happy people, and took notes on what exactly made them that way. I spent every free second I had watching videos, listening to audiobooks and podcasts, reading up on the latest journals for mindfulness, wellness, and spirituality, and meditating and going within. All of this was so I could learn more about myself and how to finally feel good. At that point, I knew precisely what I wanted and I was ready to put the work in to get it.
Along my journey, I earned a college degree and two master’s degrees. I became a special education teacher because I wanted to help others. But, I quickly became dissatisfied (okay, enraged) by the educational system – it does not provide tools necessary to teach the whole child! And that was what I wanted to do, to find a way to teacher the whole child!
Today, I live a more happy, healthy, balanced, and peaceful life. I’m able to think objectively and critically about situations and make healthy decisions. I have a completely different perspective on life and why we are here (which is to learn, grow, heal, create, and experience all that life has to offer). I understand that the way we respond to others is a direct reflection of who and where we are in life. And it’s not that others are “better” or “worse,” we’re all just different from one another – and, that’s okay. We’re all on our own path and can accept and honor each others differences.
As I’ve taught my amazing students over the years, I’ve been so blessed and honored to be able to work with such magical, curious, and genuine human beings. It’s been truly remarkable to watch them grow. It’s really no surprise that as we teach to the whole child, that they not only improve academically, but emotionally, mentally, and physically, too. I’m eager to hear how, with the tools provided here, your magical children thrive and grow, too.