A little of my story…and a lot of gratitude for you.
A New Depth to Gratitude
Alongside learning how to move forward with fear, gratitude has been one of the practices that helped me navigate what has undeniably been one of the most challenging—and clarifying—years of my life.
Many of you have read pieces of my story on Instagram, on my website, or in previous newsletters. But as we enter this season of reflection, I want to share a bit more — not to focus on me, but to help you understand just how deeply grateful I am for you.
The Parts Beneath the Surface
Most of what I’ve shared publicly has centered around my health struggles—acne, gut issues, hormone challenges—the things that pushed me into the world of wellness. But another part of my story has shaped me just as profoundly: my years becoming an engineer and working in the corporate world.
Before the age of 28, I was laid off twice, once from the oil and gas industry and the second from the semiconductor industry. I learned what it felt like to be a young woman in a male-dominated field, and how real and damaging a toxic work environment can be on a young 22-year-old woman. I saw how these environments can unravel your confidence and distort your sense of self before you even understand who you are. I used to think people needed to “toughen’ up” because “it can’t actually be that bad”, but boy was I wrong.
I coped the only way I knew how at the time — I put my head down, worked harder, jumped through hoops, and fought for recognition. I told myself this was what success looked like. But the truth is, I was abandoning myself to fit someone else’s definition of success. I was trying to squeeze into a box that was never meant for me.
What was supposed to be a “successful” career left me feeling lost, burnt out, and disconnected from myself. The only thing that consistently pulled me back to center was my fascination with health and healing. Even when my body was struggling, it was the one area of my life where I felt deeply, intuitively connected.
Eventually, it became impossible to ignore that pull — so I took a leap of faith and started Made By Wellness.
When Life Pushes You Toward Yourself
I’m sharing this with you not because the story is about me, but because you are the reason this leap became possible. Every message, every session, every person who finds their way into this community — you are the reason I get to do this work. You are the reason this dream became real. And you are the constant reminder of why gratitude matters so much.
During the season when I was grieving, rebuilding, and redefining who I was, gratitude became the anchor that kept me steady. One of my greatest teachers told me something I return to often:
“You cannot be in gratitude and worry at the same time.”
I share that with you because as we move through this season of giving thanks, I hope gratitude can be a companion for you, too — not in the “just be positive” sense (that is not the message), but as a way to come back into your body, to quiet your mind, and to remember what is real and precious in your life.
The Gratitude I Feel For You
Life will always hold both the peaks and the valleys. Gratitude doesn’t erase the hard things, but it does illuminate the things worth holding close.
If you feel open to sharing, I would genuinely love to hear three things you’re grateful for this season. Your reflections make this community what it is.