I’ve been a daughter, niece, wife, second-wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, caregiver, friend, mentor, nurse, teacher, and coach. I’ve led large volunteer organizations within school and church settings, and developed and run intensive out-patient and partial hospital mental health programs. I created and continue to run a private coaching practice that thrives.

But I’ve also been afraid, hopeless, bullied, shamed, used, criticized, excluded, abused, and taken advantage of. I’ve experienced depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and anorexia. I’ve made mistakes, experienced profound regret, grief, shame, loneliness, body image concerns, ageism, emotional abuse, invalidation, and exclusion.