Why Coaching Is My Calling
There’s a thread that has quietly run through every chapter of my life—a longing for meaning, connection, and the courage to live with heart. It wasn’t always visible to others. For a long time, it wasn’t even clear to me. But it was always there, whispering: there’s more.
I studied psychology in college, drawn to understanding the mind and the power of healing. Even then, I was interested in holistic well-being—body, mind, and spirit—though I hadn’t yet developed a spiritual practice of my own. Life, as it does, unfolded in ways I didn’t expect. I got married, then divorced. I felt adrift, unsure of who I was or what I wanted from my life. I discovered alcohol, and for a time, it quieted the ache I didn’t know how to name.
Then came the grief.
My mother, my anchor, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She fought for 26 months, and passed away on my 30th birthday. That moment shattered me. I spiraled deeper into addiction. I remarried and became a mother. I tried to manage it all—marriage, children, work, a household—and under the weight of it all, my disease progressed. In 2008, my beloved brother was killed in a ‘justifiable homicide’, and I sank even further. Yet even in those darkest moments, I held on to a stubborn flicker of belief: that life could be more than pain. That joy, adventure, and purpose were still possible.
Through recovery, I began to rebuild. I got sober. I sought therapy, traveled on retreats, worked with mentors and spiritual guides. I leaned into creative expression. I slowly, steadily, chose healing. And I started to notice something: whenever I created or shared experiences that sparked wonder—kayaking a wild river, riding through the Tetons on a Harley, whitewater rafting in Colorado, skydiving, or hiking the red-rocks of Sedona—I felt alive. I felt joy. Those moments taught me that we can write new stories—stories that aren’t defined by trauma, but by transformation.
In 2017, I discovered the science of positive psychology, and it all clicked. I had been living its principles—resilience, growth, strengths, intentional well- being—without even realizing it. Positive psychology wasn’t just theory to me. It was real. It was lived. And I knew I wanted to share it, but did not yet know how. In 2024, I had the privilege of co-developing a leadership program with Dr. Linda Travelute, a psychologist and executive coach with the John Maxwell Team. Her mentorship was a catalyst. I prayed—asking God to show me if coaching was truly the path. And in that quiet space, I heard ‘yes’. I believe God loves a co- creator, so I got into action. I researched and enrolled in the Coaching and Positive Psychology Institute, founded by Valorie Burton. Within weeks, I was in her intensive training, and I knew—this was my calling.
Now, as a certified personal development coach, I combine over 20 years of business leadership with a lifetime of lived experience. I coach high achievers—people like me—who have built successful lives, but still crave deeper alignment, purpose, and joy. Through the lens of positive psychology and often alongside nature, I help my clients:
-Reconnect with what truly matters
-Align success with their values
-Spark creativity and curiosity
-Experience fulfillment—not just accomplishment
This work isn’t just what I do. It’s who I am. Coaching is an honor. A sacred partnership. And a powerful way to help others shine—no matter what they’ve faced or where they’ve been.
Coaching is my calling because I’ve seen what’s possible when pain becomes purpose. Life’s hardships have refined me—not defined me—and I believe every challenge holds the potential to forge something strong, beautiful, and meaningful.