The Story of a Badass Bunny

12 years ago, while going through a divorce after a 13 year marriage, I found myself feeling lost, vulnerable, raw and completely alone. At the time, I had no idea who I was or where I was going in life - I was completely and utterly at a loss for how to move forward. While on a walk with my dog Hobbes, I remember thinking, “I wish there was a community or resource that could guide me through this, I feel so lost and devastated.” On that walk, the first spark of Mindful Badass was formed: this could be an opportunity for me to offer support to others as they navigate through life’s transitions. To be able to provide a roadmap of sorts that delves into your authentic self, your values, your goals, your reality and finally your tools you may/may not have as you progress forward into a life you crave. Since that walk, I am grateful to have discovered others who have similar stories of reaching ‘the emotional bottom’ whose books, workshops and guidance have shaped my experience and enabled me to remember my own strength, as well as softness.

While I have been a lifelong 'grower' and constantly sought development within my character, I must admit I am a person who often changes at the speed of pain. Many times, my life has transitioned due to creative frustration, grief, addiction, heartache, job loss or desperation. Often, it is only when I reach those spaces of extreme discomfort, have I been truly willing to take the steps needed to begin soul growth. In each instance, once I recognized my discomfort had finally exceeded my comfort, only then was I able to find the embers of change which lead me to growth. Mindful Badass is a way of living and loving yourself through these times of growth, as well as provide suggestions of tools you will be able to use along the way to obtain the inner peace and serenity we all crave. What I have also discovered, is that as I gain awareness and clarity, I no longer have to wait for moments of pain to grow. As I tune into myself, I have developed the ability to hear those gentle nudges from the universe guiding my steps and encouraging me to grow…with less pain.

I wish I could say it was a smooth journey of discovery from 12 years ago to now…but I would be flat out lying if I did. My world has been messy, exciting, adventurous, vibrant, beautiful, dark and full of the most profoundly deep, and tediously mundane, experiences. And still I have grown. I have discovered at my core, I am a Mindful Badass who has the opportunity daily to create a life that fills my soul with contentment, peace and joy. Turns out, I am a beautiful blend of strong Badass who can do absolutely anything in life I want…and a calm Bunny who is able to serenely accept life on life’s terms. Mindful Badass is the blending of self-acceptance between these two spaces within myself as I have dug into my values, beliefs, truths and learned new tools to craft the life I’ve always craved. It is living a life balanced with meditation, yoga, spirituality, somatic healing…and clear, focused, vibrant action toward goals and dreams. And perhaps a little bit of just BEING thrown in there as well.

Similar to my own progressive journey of life, Mindful Badass has taken time to percolate, to set on a shelf, to be shared in workshops, to be tested and questioned…and finally is ready to be shared on a broader scale. During these past 12 years, I have focused my studies on self-compassion, authenticity/truth, communication, coaching, philosophy and experiential spirituality. I have learned the art of igniting and crafting a life that is well beyond anything I ever could have imagined, a life of contentment from within. Along with completing my Mindfulness Teaching Certifications, I continually participate in courses such as Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Nonviolent Communication (NVC), recovery modalities and psychoneuroimmunology. My evidence-based, trauma informed practices allow you the space to discover for yourself who you are at your core, how to realign your nervous system and develop pathways to create the life you crave.

A smidge of history…I was born in Colorado, raised in Illinois, started adulting in St. Louis and played for the past decade in California. In 2022, I returned to Colorado for a new adventure, and in 2023 journeyed into Washington state. Because each day…I have the honor of creating a life I love, and I don’t waste any moment along the way!