“It is never too late to be who you really are”

 I thought I had it all; married with two sons, two dogs and the proverbial white picket fence and that I coped pretty well with life. I’d had my share of common challenges - some bullying in late primary, early high school, not achieving desired school results, the divorce of my parents, chronic sleeping issues and workplace stress. 

I am naturally a positive person and whilst I struggled somewhat with these experiences, I always managed to look at the bright side, was very determined and worked through them. In hindsight I also pushed ‘things down” and accepted this was how I lived.

And then my world fell apart. In 2008 my husband Paul died after an 18 month illness with a brain tumour. I was well supported by family and friends, grief counselling, maintained that positive attitude, gratitude and continues to “pushed my way through” but it didn’t work. 

Two years after Paul died, the grief, loss, stressors and sheer level of expectations and burdens I put on myself led to an encephalitis like illness. For the following five plus years I suffered debilitating chronic fatigue and 24/7 migraines. 

Initially western medicine kept some of my symptoms at bay but I realised they were often ‘bandaid treatments’ at best. In some cases the medication was almost as bad as my issues. I wanted and needed new strategies that would heal me holistically - the mind, body and soul. My search for wellness and strategies for ongoing life challenges thus began. 

I knew I had to bring my stress, anxiety and expectations down. My fight or flight way of living wasn’t serving me, nor was it helping my young sons who were also struggling with grief and anxiety. It was vital for all of us for me to regain my health and happiness.

I came across CTC™ therapy and that marked a huge shift in mindset. The release of old baggage also enabled me to start pacing myself, find more self compassion, release unhelpful beliefs, and the grief, the burdens and emotions I had carried around for far too long. I was amazed at how quickly and how effectively the natural healing processes worked. Seeing successes not only with myself, but with my sons and my mother I realised it helped people of all ages and I was drawn to became a qualified practitioner. 

Meditation, Yin and Restorative Yoga also became part of my toolkit and I now teach them and hold regular workshops. I am intensely interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine and all my practices embody much of their principles. I added a Diploma of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy to my healing services and now am an assistant tutor with Body Intelligence Training.

My life plan is to be: 50 and fabulous, 60 and strong, 70 and supple, 80 and agile, 90 and naughty, 100 and healthy!