One of the most inspiring things I learned a few years ago when I had just started the Youth Wellness Network and was working with youth across North America was the idea that, in order to empower anyone else, I needed to take responsibility for my OWN life first.  This realization not only changed the dynamic of every single relationship I had in my life, but it also created the very foundation for what my organization is now built on – leading by an authentic example.

There are dust bunnies. So many. They are under the bed and in me, scurrying across the wooden floors of my home and my heart. They are moving much too fast through the empty, bumping into toys and crayons and dried up play-doh, then coming to a weary stop. 

I sometimes find it challenging to honor my own feelings – especially if what I want or feel seems to be at odds with other people, or my emotions don’t seem to be “appropriate” to the situation.  While I’m not someone who tends to hold back sharing my honest opinions, desires, and feelings and, over the years, I’ve gotten quite a bit of feedback from people close to me about talking too much, dominating situations or conversations, and being selfish – underneath all of this is a deep fear that my feelings and desires aren’t as important as other people’s.

For years, I was walking around on auto-pilot, going to school, going to work, going to the gym, coming home, making dinner, watching movies, hanging with friends…

But something was missing.