In the wake of a long-term relationship ending, I found myself looking in the mirror. I wanted to understand what had happened from my side, and what I actually needed to move forward.

What I saw was that my relationship with myself was broken. Caring for others always came easily to me. If someone needed something, I’d do my best to make it happen. But I felt guilty taking time, money, or space for myself. I was so busy taking care of everyone else that there was nothing left over for me.

What followed was a process of recognition. As I moved through the world, I started asking questions I’d never really asked. How did I relate to everything around me? How did I feel? How did I know what was real?

Slowly, I came to understand that the most important relationship in my life was the one with the person in that mirror.

I also saw that what I recognize and nurture in myself, I can recognize and nurture in others. And what I deny myself, I end up denying everyone else too.

Somewhere in that process I realized that what I was learning to practice was love.

I believe the people best equipped to guide others through something are usually the ones who’ve walked through it themselves. That’s why this work means so much to me.

I’ve spent my whole career working with people. My core value has always been the same: doing things that matter with people who care. I started as a community leader in my faith community. Then I moved into sales, which for me was always about adding real value to people’s lives. Later, in my corporate career at Adobe, I was invited into a special coaching program, where I trained in the Co-Active coaching approach.

Proud parent of two kids, and part owner in Gather Juice Co.