Growing up, life felt like an emotional roller coaster. There were many things I didn’t understand about my family dynamics and normal for me was feeling angry and frustrated most of the time. I loved my family, but being so young I didn’t understand what was going on around me.
But – despite the challenges in my home life, I did feel hopeful. A part of me dreamed of something better.
I felt hopeful enough to think of starting a business. I believed that having money would help me escape from my problems. So from ages 11-16 I ran a cleaning business every spring to open cottages at a nearby campground.
I also secured the activity co-ordinator position at the local campground while I was 13 and 14.
Regardless of the problems at home I was motivated to create a good life for myself.
I was trying to find my own way out!
But then my life got worse… The money I worked hard to earn began disappearing. This shook me up, and eventually, I lost my ambition and sunk into a hopeless depression…
I was filled with shame.
I lost interest in the things I was good at –
I started going through my life on autopilot, just trying to cope…
School was the only safe place for me…
I liked going to school where I could pretend my problems didn’t exist.
But school was also where I found trouble – I was smoking and drinking and then also developed an eating disorder.
This had a huge impact on me as I had always been super athletic. Now I had to give it up as my health was at risk.
Life became about just surviving.
Nothing more –
I was numb, disconnected
Drinking, abusing drugs and not caring for myself or anyone
I was completely unconscious about how my behavior affected those around me –
I believed that this would be the case for the rest of my life…
Eventually a health crisis was my wake-up call.
I believe this was directly correlated to the stress I was constantly experiencing along with my lifestyle choices.
It was exactly the awake shaking that I needed.
I realized that something needed to change…
Despite being unhealthy – it felt familiar and safe –
So making the decision to get away from it, took everything in me.
What eventually inspired me to begin transforming my life was my introduction to a horse called Chip. A horse my Mom bought for me.
Chip was not an agreeable horse and he struggled with connection.
He needed a lot of work and attention.
It was clear, his life previous to our meeting had not been easy.
He needed compassion.
He needed patience.
He needed me. And little did I know… I needed him.
It was his need for me that made me recognize my own selfishness.
Working with this horse lifted me out of my depression and reignited my spirit.
I rediscovered my passion for horses.
You see… horses have been a part of my life since I was a little girl. When I need to talk or have my spirits lifted – you could find me with horses.
And by rediscovering this passion – I also rediscovered some missing aspects of myself.
It was then I started to work with standardbreds.
By chance, I met a veterinarian from Australia who invited me to come work with him and learn about breeding.
In my first great act of bravery –
I agreed – and decided to leave in two weeks so that I didn’t miss the breeding season.
This was the first time I had ever done anything purely for myself, by myself.
It was also – now I have realized – the beginning of me separating myself from my story and taking ownership of my own life!
My time in Australia taught me a lot more about horses. It also allowed me to expand my mind and recognize the unlimited possibilities that existed in life.
Following my education in horse breeding, I stayed in Australia and traveled for 5 months by myself.
For the first time ever I felt –
Inspired
Empowered
Renewed
And Free
The limiting beliefs that I once had about myself were beginning to shift.
My experiences in Australia had renewed my spirit and left me with a sense of capability. I believed anything was possible for me – and that “my life” was truly my own. I was not limited to following the same path as my parents.
The biggest realization was that I was fully responsible for myself!
Only I could create the life that I wanted.
With this renewed spirit I returned back home and worked as a vet assistant. I stayed focused with one clear goal in mind.
I was going to buy a farm and work with horses.
You may be amazed to hear, but before I was 30 I did purchase a farm, independently – with my own money – and determination. I built it from my passion and love of horses but not without a lot of blood, sweat and tears.
This made me feel triumphant, I had achieved my first big goal! In hindsight, I didn’t consciously know that I was doing this.
Slowly but surely a new vision began to merge – I decided to begin boarding horses. In 2009 I started with 9 horses, and by 2013 I had over 45 horses under my care.
I built the business as a breeding facility from its inception and it still operates as that today.
Not to say this was easy…
But with a clear goal
And a true passion
Getting up each day, working hard
and fighting for “my dream”
allowed me to maintain a zest for life in general.
As one by one, I saw my dreams realized, the old me grew further and further away.
But this was not the end of my journey!
I had became one of the youngest, most successful female breeders, building my farm from the ground up, turning it into a beautiful boarding facility… it fueled me, but I knew there was more.
And I still love this business.
The feeling is so overpowering when the babies are born. I get to witness their first breath, the first blink of an eye and how they bond with their mothers. The love and satisfaction are indescribable.
What I know now is that I built a business that created life. And like life, it was about rebirth and growth.
These values are still at my core. They power me.
When I first recognized the unique and outstanding nature of my own life transformation, I began to look for ways to help other people do the same.
This curiosity about transformation led me down a path of self-exploration and ignited in me a new interest in self-healing.
I discovered Reiki and EFT and mastered them for myself.
Then I began studying them so that I could use them as tools to help others. I also became certified in Equine Assisted Learning.
It was then that I made a decision that I wanted to help people. When I starting making connections and applying my credentials and experiences, seeing the transformations confirmed for me that this new journey was the right one for me.
Just like my horse Chip, who needed compassion and connection – I realized that there were women out there who I could now help in a similar way.
This is when Transformational Life Coaching came into the picture!
The next step on my journey was to be a guide for others who also – so badly – wish to leave behind the patterns of their lives and finally be free.
I launched my coaching practice as well as Equine services in 2015 and have been working with women, on their personal transformations ever since.
My qualifications now include:
- EAL (Equine Assisted Learning) Certified Facilitator
- Certified Emotional Success Coach
- Certified & Accredited Emotional Freedom Techniques Practitioner
- Usui Shiki Ryoho 2nd Degree Reiki Practitioner
Transform with JLS has become my passion venture – and I truly believe – that after everything I have been through, what I have overcome and realized – that I am on my true life path – where I can bring the most value to the world and feel fulfilled and alive myself.