I have always had dreams. And, I want to clarify that. Not wishes, but dreams. I define a wish as something that you wait around and hope will happen, but a dream is something that you know in your heart you can take action toward and achieve.

At age 6, I had a mud doughnut shop in my back yard for the neighborhood kids, compete with fabric softener sprinkles for an extra 10 cents. (Luckily, I don’t think I poisoned anyone!). In middle and high school I achieved my dream of becoming an athlete competing on a national level. In college, I pursued acting and that dream led me to travel the world and eventually settle and raise a family in Southern California for many years, until our recent move to Michigan.

Several years after my husband and I moved to California, my dream changed.  I was in my late twenties and my body was, quite literally, falling apart.  I could not walk, sit, stand or even lay down with out pain.  By the time I was in my early thirties I had been through several back surgeries, a knee surgery, ankle injuries, and the list goes on.  What I dreamed of now, was health.  The only times by body did not feel horrible was when I exercised, hard, at least 4 days per week.  I learned much later, upon my oldest son being diagnosed with the same disability, that I had a  condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a collagen disorder that causes the tissues throughout my body, muscles, skin and organs to be hyper mobile - more like silly putty than a rubber band.  The only thing that kept it all together was having super strong, and at the same time flexible muscles and a clean healthy diet that agreed with my digestive system.  I had done this as a child athlete, and so I had no choice but to master my mindset and make it my work to keep myself healthy.  I studied to become a personal trainer and started a fitness and nutritional business.  I made my dream of health my work, and helped others who dreamed that dream as well.  

As will happen with that achieved, another dream took its place.  I became a mother.  In doing so, I dresperately wanted to be there for every moment, sharing in their joys, imparting my knowledge in them and raising my boys to be the best possible version of themselves I could.  I decided to stay home and do just that.  Somewhere along the way though, I lost part of, or dare I say, most of myself.  I was no longer the passionate, optimistic, outgoing person my friends knew and my husband once married.  I had become a shell, going through the motions of the day just to make it to the next. 

I remember vividly the day my husband sat me down and told me I needed a break or we would.  He sent me for a weekend at a dear friends house in Big Bear.  I spent the whole time sitting in the hot tub, staring at eagles soaring over the peaceful lake and journaling. I came away knowing that self care was what was missing from my life.  If that wasn’t priority number one, there would be nothing left to give my family.  

Out of that, a new dream and a new business evolved, one where I helped women to become more confident in their appearance and their abilities.  I created a team of women that I “trained”, not physically, but I trained their mindset, taught them new skills, business savvy and helped stretch their goals and grow their dreams. I came to know that for me, this is what life is all about.  It’s about lifting people up, filtering out the noise, finding balance, giving them the tools, the training and the encouragement to make their potential a reality, and achieve what they are called in their hearts to do.

That is my mission, to help each and every person that works with me to unleash their potential, achieve their goals and dreams; whether they are about health, wealth, self care, passion, purpose or anything under the sun.  I’d love to help now become your Time 2 Shine!