My Journey - How essential oils found me.

I was looking for a new way of life, functional nutrition, health coaching, and holistic health? 

Why...? One Word...Trauma, back to back to back traumatic life events and really poor coping mechanisms led to a path of self destruction. We resort to our default survival mode when life is challenging but when our eldest child became critically unwell, I realised how many unhealthy habits we had developed in our survival mode, and went on a journey to find a better way of life, little did I know, the chapter that we would embark on would change me in a profound way.

The picture on the left was taken nine years ago, at my 40th birthday. Just months before a terrible car accident that flipped life on its head, changing it forever. When this picture came up in my photo memories, it took my breath away, it took me back to the happiest, healthiest time of my life.

I was working, raising 3 small children, coaching, volunteering, living off of processed food, and feeling exhausted all the time. I was a people pleaser. I had the hardest time telling people “No,” so I never did. I was extremely hard on myself and felt like I had to do it all and do it perfectly all the time.

The car accident stopped me! Took away things that were important to me, me independence. It left me having to rely on others to do the most simple daily tasks for me. It left me with physical and emotional pain that I had never experienced. I was given multiple medications, from different Doctors and Specialists for the physical and emotional pain, and fell deeper and deeper despair, for I could no longer maintain the life I needed and wanted.

Over 100 appointments in the 3 months post accident, I was taking multiple scripted medications, for mind and body, as well as the maximum daily allowance of over the counter pain relievers like paracetamol and ibuprofen daily, and finishing off each day with a bottle of wine.  (Side-note...Paracetamol and ibuprofen consistently taken in large amounts are detrimental to your health...leaving ongoing health issues.)

This was my attempt to tame the pain... the daily headaches, migraines, the physical injuries and emotional pain, to somehow gather enough energy to get through each day. I was chronically anemic and constantly getting sick with everything from, yeast infections, sinus infections, strep, upper respiratory infections and skin disorders. My body was desperately trying to get my attention, but I ignored it and pushed through. 

The following year my brother in-law, the spiritual leader of our family after Dad's passing years earlier, contracted leukemia and passed away. He was our rock, our mentor our life guide… suddenly gone, leaving a huge hole in our world. Just months later our eldest child who has autism and an intellectual disability, fell critically ill, his only working kidney was failing and he would soon need life support to survive. After two years of dialysis we were blessed with the gift of a kidney donation from a stranger. A crazy life changing moment for your child to receive that gift of life.

The picture on the right was taken at our 2nd sons debutant ball last year. They look quite similar…celebrating a special time in our lives...yet so much trauma hidden in between.

These pictures represent that I have come full circle... 

Although they may look similar, they represent the life changes. Literally, making better food choices, removing toxins from our home, our personal care products, cleaning products, completely changed my career, and removed some toxic people from my life as well, sometimes we have to do what serves us best.

Was it always easy? No. 

Is it a work in progress? Yes.

Was it worth it? Hell Yes!

Working hard to lessen gluten, dairy, sugar, and grains from our eating habits. 

Eating at home more, eating a predominately a plant based diet, meditate, manage my stress, use essential oils daily, take high-quality supplements, and allow my body to rest when I need to. I listen to my body. I am now friends with my body. My mindset on life has transformed. 

From the outside, most of those battle scars are hidden, not visible to the naked eye and others certainly can't see them...but I know, and I see a huge difference between the person I am now and the person I was then. I am happy in my own skin. 

The healing journey continues  (cause life and happiness is a journey) but I can look back with gratitude in my heart for the progress made so far. I am healing, learning, and transforming.

Healing yourself from the inside out is not for the faint hearted, but if you agree to go on this quest, you will come out a different person. Celebrate your victories. You change your life one day at a time, one choice at a time. I’m sending you so much love and light along your healing journey because as you heal, the world heals, and the world could use more of that positive light and energy right now. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” It starts with you.

I can now offer that girl from nine years ago a lot of grace and compassion. If I could, I would give her a big bear hug, and let her know that everything is going to be okay.

Be gentle with yourself and love yourself back to health. I am so blessed that my work and passion now is to support people on their healing journey through essential oils, health coaching, functional nutrition, self-care, and self-love.

Do you need a little support, help, and guidance along your healing journey?  I've got you. 😉💕