I was in my mid-twenties when I committed to my soul's path which led me on a journey of radical transformation. Everything in my life changed after that. Of course, the impetus to do so was only after many years of higher education burnout, chasing some typical version of success that society deemed appropriate, and dating people who were emotionally unavailable (and with whom I repeated the same old toxic patterns that naturally arise between hurting people). So much of what I struggled with was the result of developmental trauma and shame-based C-PTSD. I wasn't self-referenced. I was boundariless. I was a shoppoholic, struggled to find a healthy relationship with food, and fawned my way through relationships. I was living in a metropolitan city at the time, working a 9-5 job,  bartending in the evenings, and fitness competing as a hobby. I was miserable and finally hit rock bottom.  I remember how anxious I used to feel, how addicted I was to the highs and lows, the constant feeling of not being or having enough, and the feeling of insecurity that plagued me.  I remember the ways I used to perform confidence as a means to feel validated and yet how willing I was to compromise my truth and the things I valued to please others, how I kept myself small so as to not take up too much space. In so doing, I abandoned my true self, neglected my desires, suppressed my authentic expression and presented a lifeless version of myself. I gave away my creative power not because I wanted to, but because this is what I learned. I didn't know my inherent value and because of that I attracted oppressive life circumstances that would exhaust and deplete me. One day I recall looking at myself in the mirror unable to recognize who I was anymore. My face was covered in makeup (I could barely look at myself without it on). I was exhausted and dis-enchanted by the daily grind. My external life no longer reflected the internal beauty and complexity of my inner life. My relationships took on a monotonous tone, my lifestyle didn't reflect the richness of my value system and nor did either fulfill my soul's longing.  I felt deep sadness when I realized that I had compromised myself out of fear, and that I was living a status quo life simply because it was familiar, and yet this moment of realization was a wakeup call. It motivated me to go after the life that I knew I was deserving of and that reflected the richness and beauty of my truest self. It was time to take back my power. I came to the conclusion that I had to leave the environment I was in and it had to happen as soon as possible. I knew in my heart that another life was waiting for me. Something had to change and only I could make it happen.  That’s when I decided to travel (which my privilege afforded me). At the time I only had $2000 in my bank account and didn't have a plan. I gave myself to the wind without a clue of where it would lead me. I learned to pay attention to my curiosities and to the things that made me come alive. I learned to trust myself as I surrendered to the flow of life.  I was no longer willing to settle for a life that wasn't mine and challenged all of the parts within me that felt comfortable with a status quo life. I committed to investing my time and energy into discovering my true self, the things I love and considered most sacred. I began to create a life of my choosing, one that nourished my soul, though one that was deeply aligned to my values of justice and liberation. This led me back to nature where I fell in love with a woman and became re-enchanted with life. I moved through many soul initiations that challenged me to claim my truth and to live it boldly, despite the disbelief and confusion it brought up for many loved ones. This meant confronting all of my limiting beliefs, inner self critics, feelings of failure and all of my fears surrounding unworthiness. I had to look at all of the ways I was conditioned to seek approval from others as a source of validation, and how it kept me small. Coming out and claiming a same-sex relationship brought to the surface the trauma I endured under the violent repression of the church and I had to move through and integrate layers of shame, guilt, repression, denial and other intergenerational wounds.  Returning to earth was absolutely fundamental in my transformational journey. Earth as guardian and teacher. Earth as playmate and lover. Earth as nurturer and caretaker. I continue to integrate, evolve and become more of who I am  through this deepening love affair with the living Land, Waters, and the spirit of place. It is from this very personal and immersive relationship to the living world that my work unfolds and the lens through which I support others in my coaching practice.