After surviving a stroke and a catastrophic accident, I’ve had to rebuild not just my body—but my nervous system, my thoughts, and my sense of safety in the world. At the very least, I dedicate 10 minutes each morning to anchoring my body in safety. From there, I’ve developed a simple 3-step daily reset that helps me move through fear, regulate my thoughts, and gently rewire how I relate to uncertainty, pain, and hope. This is not about perfection. It’s about returning to yourself, over and over again, especially after trauma. 1. Morning Safety Anchor (2 minutes) I place my hand on my heart and breathe: inhale for 4, hold for 2, exhale for 6. I say: “In this moment, I am safe.” This helps ground my nervous system and even supports calming phantom pain when it shows up. 2. Midday Thought Flip (30 seconds at a time) When fear starts to spiral into “what if” scenarios, I pause. Instead of feeding the fear, I answer it gently: “And if it happens, I’ll handle it. What if it goes right inst...
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There was a time I silenced myself—
Not because I had nothing to say,
But because I thought nobody cared.
It all started when I became a photographer.
I spent years capturing other people’s stories—their moments, their milestones, their memories. I poured myself into their light while quietly fading into the background. No one ever really asked about my story.
Then I moved to a town where, oddly enough, that silence deepened. Coming from Orange County, I was used to people being curious—wanting to know me, connect with me. But after moving to Lake Elsinore, it felt like no one gave two shits about who I was or what I’d lived through. Even in my church community—despite showing up, attending events, trying to build relationships—no one asked. No one seemed to care.
So, over time, I just stopped sharing.
I stopped offering anything at all.
For years, I silenced myself.
Not because I had nothing to say—
But because nobody asked.
Then came the stroke.
Afterward, I stuttered and stumbled over words. In my mind, everything was crystal clear—but getting it out felt like a battle. I’d get flustered. Embarrassed. I was ashamed of how I sounded, how I struggled. I was afraid of looking stupid.
So again, I went quiet.
But the truth is… I’d been holding back long before the stroke.
I’d spent too many years believing I didn’t matter.
That my voice didn’t matter.
That I was easier to love when I was silent.
And somewhere along the way… I gave my power away.
But something changed after my near-death experience.
Something woke up inside me.
I made a decision:
If I’m still here, I’m going to live a life that matters.
Not just for me—
But for the people who feel disconnected.
The ones who feel like they’re too broken, too far gone, too stuck.
Because I’ve been there. I’ve lived that.
And now, even though I still trip over my words sometimes…
I speak.
Because the truth I carry in my heart is louder than my fear.
Yes, I may still feel nervous speaking in public.
But I’m more afraid of leaving this world with my story still inside me.
So I speak—shakily, slowly, imperfectly—
Because someone out there needs to hear it.
And if that someone is you, just know this:
Your voice matters.
Your story matters.
And it’s never too late to reconnect with your soul and start again.
✨
As a coach and energy healing practitioner, I now help others clear the blocks that hold them back—especially in the throat and heart chakras—so they can reclaim their voice, their truth, and their power.
If you've been silencing yourself out of fear, shame, or past trauma... I want to help you get your voice back.
I offer one-on-one coaching and energetic throat clearing sessions to support those who are ready to speak up, stand tall, and live fully expressed.
🔗 You can learn more or reach out to me directly through my website: Artful Living Coaching
Let’s begin the journey back to your voice—together.
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