ABOUT ME
My relationship with mindfulness began at a young age. Growing up in the country in Texas meant I had access to endless miles of nature right outside my door.
With the forest as my playground, my imagination roamed free. I was regularly in a state of deep curiosity and reflection.
There was a comfort and connection I felt in nature that I didn’t feel anywhere else. It was the only time I was able to quiet the chatter in my mind and truly be at peace.
The bright green color of the trees, the smell of pine, the feel of dried leaves crunching under my feet when I ventured off the trail, the sound of the lone hawk soaring above…
all lovingly invited my attention to them and brought my awareness to the present moment.
Of course I didn’t understand it as such at the time, but I knew I loved the feeling.
While my childhood was incredible, I struggled a great deal with anxiety and depression. I often felt I was different and that something was wrong with me. It seemed like I was on the outside looking in on a world where I just didn’t belong.
The lack of love and acceptance I had for myself was overwhelming.
Prior to college, I became a licensed massage therapist. This is where my interest in mindfulness developed into an actual practice. Meditation became part of my daily life as it provided me with the foundation to be fully of service to my clients. As I dove deeper into studying the body and mind for the sake of helping others, my own personal path to healing began as well. When I worked with clients who’d experienced trauma or loss, I felt an overwhelming sense of compassion for them. There was no judgment on my end, only unconditional acceptance.
having a protected space to connect so closely with strangers was life changing.
I’d spent my life up until that point turning away from connection. Turning away from love. I’d put up walls in an attempt to protect myself from rejection and pain.
But in those moments where it was just me and that one other person, the walls would come down. An energetic exchange would take place. A conversation with no words.
The human connection was undeniable.
I was given the rare opportunity to truly experience people. To see past the exterior. Past their story. I worked with clients from all walks of life and despite their perceived differences, there was a noticeable similarity in their pain, their joy, their worry, their stress, their peace.
The sameness couldn’t be ignored.
I saw myself in them and vice versa. I no longer felt so different. I no longer felt like an outsider.
It seemed the more love and acceptance I found for them, the more I found for myself.
In college, I majored in corporate communication and minored in philosophy. My philosophy classes stretched my mind more than I ever imagined they could. I was forced to analyze my thoughts and explain them using actual reasoning rather than relying solely on intuition or opinion. In doing so, I became an active observer of my thoughts. There was an incredibly powerful growth that took place as I learned to slow down and respond skillfully and logically with others rather than react instinctively and emotionally. I had a special interest in metaphysics, philosophy of mind and philosophy of religion. Examining some of life’s greatest questions took me further into the depths of my mind. I was left with a deeper understanding of my own existence – one that only strengthened my connection to the world around me.
my quest for truth then led me to explore and experience new places.
Not long after graduating, I left Texas and moved to Los Angeles starting what would become a decade-long adventure living and working all over the country.
I’m proud to say I’ve managed teams of 100+, overseen the build out and opening of a retail store in Manhattan, audited classes at Harvard Business School, been part of a startup, been a franchise owner and coached countless talented business owners and people managers on how to become better leaders… all while living for the most part out of two suitcases.
I’ve learned there’s a freedom that comes with traveling light and not being attached to the things that once gave me the illusion of safety and comfort. I live for life’s simple moments, which I’ve found to be the most meaningful.
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With love,
