Owning My Choices Changed Everything!

5 years ago I shared my story for the first time. I shared my story of being a mother who experienced teen substance abuse far beyond the level of experimentation. The drugs came into our home, and they never left. I shared how shame became my way of life, as I allowed my own story to keep me in a choke hold. As I continued to share from the stage, I felt a bizarre sense of healing take over me. It was a release I had never experienced before. Audience members approached me and said, “that’s my story and I have never told anyone before”. It was in that moment that I knew I wasn’t alone. I had no idea the impact that I could have, simply by speaking my truth. That impact became my fuel. I had a story, and it not only mattered, it gave others permission to heal, too.

That is where my life as a speaker started. I decided to share the lessons I learned on my journey as a way to help ease the pain for others.  I was tired of no one talking about the difficult stories in their lives.  It wasn't serving anyone and it made all of us feel even more alone than ever before.  We were all suffering in silence, praying no one would know what was going on, yet hoping that something would change. 

I decided to share the lessons from my journey with others, so that someone who never walked a day in my shoes, yet they understood the feelings of shame, embarrassment, fear of judgment of others, letting go and owning their own choices, would be able to relate to my story.  I found so many people who related to my experience and my emotions, that my coaching, speaking and writing business was born!