In this episode, I share how I’m taking a step back to reassess where my podcast is heading and what truly feels aligned for me. I’ve been struggling with promoting my own work, so I’m giving myself space to reflect, reevaluate, and honestly ask if this is still the direction I’m meant to follow.

I also open up about the challenges that come with changing traditions—especially after losing my sister, living with chronic illness, and seeing the holidays through a new lens after divorce. Christmas looks different for me now, and I’m learning to create meaning in ways that support who I am today.

And finally, I talk about my mirror work practice and how it has helped me push through self-doubt and see myself in a kinder, truer light. My hope is that this episode inspires you to pause, reflect, and discover something new within yourself too.

Living with chronic illness is challenging, especially when it comes to finding balance and understanding what your body is truly capable of. I’ve been slowly building my endurance—physically and mentally—so that movement can feel more like ease and grace rather than struggle.

During a recent walk, I had a vision that stayed with me. In that moment, I felt connected to something bigger than my limited beliefs. I began to uncover new layers of what my body and spirit can do. That realization fills me with joy, confidence, and a renewed sense of hope.

The genie in the bottle — what a powerful metaphor for how I’ve been living: trapped in my life and in my own body. Over the past few years, I’ve learned that I had to rub my own lamp to create the life I truly want. And in doing so, I finally set myself free — taking small steps toward the things I’ve always wanted to do, like throwing my very first Halloween party!

In this podcast, I share about feeling positive and uplifted. With a sense of hope and lightness, I’m learning to open up, welcome, and embrace the changes ahead.

Trigger Warning:
In this episode, I share moments when my anxiety and FND symptoms flare up. I’ll talk openly about what that experience is like for me, how I work through it, and the ways I try to recover while still finding Joy.

Trigger Warning

In this episode, I’ll be sharing my personal experience of living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). This is my journey—I don’t speak for everyone with FND, as each person’s journey is unique.

FND is still not widely known, and part of my goal here is to raise awareness and help shed light on what this condition can look like.

What is FND?

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a condition where people experience real neurological symptoms—such as weakness, movement disorders, sensory changes, or non-epileptic seizures—that cannot be explained by structural damage or disease in the nervous system. Instead, the issue lies in how the brain and body are functioning and communicating.

Some Common Symptoms of FND include:

• Non-epileptic seizures

• Limb weakness or paralysis

• Walking or balance difficulties (abnormal gait)

• Tremors or involuntary movements

• Speech or swallowing difficulties

• Chronic pain and fatigue

• Visual or sensory disturbances

• Cognitive challenges, often called “brain fog”

Song Highlight:
🎵 Invisible Fight (My FND Story) by Ryan Patrick
Listen here on Spotify

Resources to Learn More:

• Functional Neurological Disorder (FND): A Patient’s Guide

• FND Hope

• Stanford Medicine – Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

I created this podcast to share my life story with you-the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Life isn't always easy, and living with chronic illness adds its own set of challenges. But through it all, I've learned how to keep going, how to adapt, and most importantly, how to bounce back.

This podcast is my way of opening up about the real, raw moments that have shaped me. I want to show that it's possible to live a meaningful, fulfilling life-even when things don't go as planned. Whether you're dealing with chronic illness yourself or just navigating the ups and downs of life, I hope my journey helps you feel seen, inspired, and a little less alone.

I created this podcast to share my life story with you-the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Life isn't always easy, and living with chronic illness adds its own set of challenges. But through it all, I've learned how to keep going, how to adapt, and most importantly, how to bounce back.