Change and life transitions
have been a big part of my life.

Change & Transition Synopsis

We moved quite a bit during my early years and I attended five different elementary schools through the 5th grade. Sometimes we changed schools at the end of the year, but most often it was in the middle of the school year and I found myself being the “new” kid more often than not. 

My parents divorced which brought about more change, but also stability as we settled into a small town in western Montana. A few years later, my mom re-married and our family of four (mom, sister, me, brother) became a family of seven (mom, step-dad, sister, step-sister, me, step-brother, brother). 

I couldn’t wait to graduate from high school and begin my life in a city. I moved to Seattle to attend college. During this time, I was reacquainted with my future husband during my junior year (he ended up being from my hometown). We married during winter break of my senior year. In the spring, I had back surgery (due to an injury while rowing on the crew team for SPU) followed by an appendectomy two days later. A few weeks after that, I walked with a straight spine, across the stage to receive my undergraduate degree in psychology. 

I began my work life in the non-profit world and then the traffic and commute got the better of me and I switched jobs so that I didn’t have to spend two and a half hours each day in the car. My perspective shifted on September 11, 2001, as it did for most Americans. Shortly after, I became pregnant with my first child. I quit my day job to become a mom and stayed home with my children for seven years and volunteering wherever and whenever I could.

I made my way back into the workforce taking several different part-time roles and trying to balance work and home life. My husband became seriously ill during this time and I spent a lot of time worrying and wondering how it was all going to work out. Fortunately for our family, we found some great alternative care practitioners and we worked together to change our lifestyle and eating to help him heal. 

During my husband’s illness, I started practicing yoga regularly and working at a yoga studio. Eventually, I decided to attend their yoga teacher training and became a yoga teacher. I started teaching yoga and meditation (adults, kids, workshops) at a studio and at the community YMCA.

An opportunity to work at a mental health facility presented itself and I transitioned back into full-time work as well as teaching yoga in my spare time. I spent a few years with that organization before making my way to a well-being company, which is where I currently spend my days. It was at this company where I began to see the impacts of coaching and experience them first-hand. 

I applied and was accepted into the Courageous Living Coach Certification and started this program in January of 2020. As we all know, the world shifted in 2020 and pandemic life ensued. There were many changes to our “normal” and adjusting to this new normal was quite a big transition for all of us. It was during this time that I began to actively pursuing creativity. Poems started finding their way to me and I couldn’t help but write them down. I discovered and am still discovering the creativity that is within me. 

All the while, my kids have been growing at a rate that seems way too fast and they are beginning their own transition into adulthood. My husband and I are contemplating what is next for us as we move into this next phase as empty nesters. 

My life has been full of change. I am grateful for each change and transition. Each one has challenged my thinking and perspectives. I have grown immensely as a result. There were times that I struggled to know which direction to go and to understand where the path might take me. Fortunately, I listened to the stirrings of my soul, got some great coaching and learned tools that helped to support me along the way. 

I would be honored to support you on your path
with change and transition in your own life.