Community: The Family You Create

There's the family you're born into, yes. The one woven from shared blood and history. But then, oh then, there's the family you choose. The family you create. The souls who see you, not just through the lens of who you've been, the chapters already written… but for the radiant being you are right now, and the magnificent woman you are bravely becoming.

These are the ones who reach for your hand when your world feels like it's shattering, piece by painful piece. And they are the precious mirrors who reflect your own brilliant light back to you, especially on those days when the shadows try to convince you it's gone.

That, my loves, is community. And it is, I tell you, one of the most sacred, most vital parts of this tender, courageous healing journey we are all walking.

What I Know About Community… Deep in My Soul

As a proud Navy veteran, a chapter etched deeply in my heart, I learned early on the profound meaning of having someone watch your back. The unwavering reliance on the cohesiveness of a team, knowing that some tasks, the most important ones, can only be accomplished through the seamless cooperation of the whole. And oh, the forging of those brand new relationships on that very first assignment! Imagine, a tender 20-year-old, stepping away from the familiar embrace of childhood family and friends.

Then there are the bonds created thousands of miles away, during those long deployments, a unique kind of connection born from shared experience and a longing for home. My Navy family gifted me friendships that have weathered the storms of time and distance. We may not speak every single day, but when our voices finally meet again, it’s as if no time has passed at all. That's the enduring power of a shared foundation.

Then came motherhood, a love that expands your heart in ways you never imagined. As a mother, especially to three vibrant sons, my life was a beautiful whirlwind of sporting events and teacher meetings. And as a single mother, my community of dear friends became my anchors, my compass. They helped me navigate the beautiful chaos of trying to be in three places at once. My own incredible mother, a true matriarch, often led that charge, and somehow, we always figured it out. Especially during deployments or those late work nights. Their unwavering support allowed me to show up, even when exhaustion threatened to pull me under. That's the tangible grace of having your village.

And as a woman in transition – again and again, because life has a way of reshaping us – I learned, with a vulnerability that still touches me, that you simply don’t weather the storms alone. The devastating, unexpected loss of my own precious mother… it was an unbearable earthquake. And in its tremors, I sadly lost some friends too. Perhaps because I wasn't the consistently secure and happy person they once knew.

The rug had been pulled from beneath me, and I no longer felt grounded in the familiar.

But then, an amazing woman walked into my life, and she helped me see the new contours of myself, the strength that was still there, waiting to be rediscovered. She was instrumental in my survival, in my slow, deliberate rebuilding. And let me share this truth: during some truly challenging times at work, I was held up by a team of incredible sisters, women who spoke daily words of encouragement and belief into my spirit. And dare I say, after my son’s near-fatal car accident, I was surrounded by a fierce team of prayer warriors, their connection a lifeline of hope.

Community isn’t just about people who offer support. It's a sacred reciprocity, a dance of giving and receiving, of holding and being held.

It’s shared breath in moments of anxiety, shared tears in times of sorrow, shared unbridled joy in moments of triumph. It’s the conscious choice to truly witness each other, in all our messy, beautiful fullness.

The Healing Suite Was Built for This Sacred Connection

After the gentle closing of the Crystal Cafe, I allowed myself the gift of stillness, of quiet contemplation, wondering about the unfolding of my next chapter. I knew, deep in my bones, that something new was beginning. As 2025 dawned, bringing with it a new president and the subtle shifts that come with change, none of us could have truly foreseen the rapid pace of it all! Who could have imagined the price of a dozen eggs soaring to six dollars? And then the unexpected shifts in the professional landscape… I felt the shock resonate every time I heard someone utter those disbelieving words, "What do you mean… I'm fired? I've poured my entire adult life into this." Hearing stories of thousands of lives abruptly altered by circumstances beyond their control was deeply unsettling. Some of my own dear family members and closest friends were affected, now navigating their own "what's next," just like me. This was a clear sign, a gentle nudge from the universe, that it was time to fully embrace my next becoming.

And so, enter The Healing Suite. This space is intentionally designed for all women to gently open their minds and hearts, to delve into the profound question of their "why." I didn’t want to simply create a service; I yearned to cultivate a safe space – for women like me, and perhaps like you, who have carried strength for so long, sometimes at the expense of their own tenderness.

I envisioned women walking through those doors and finally, deeply, exhaling. To sip, to share their stories, and to weave those narratives into something sacred and understood.

One of the profound truths I’ve learned is that when you're in the midst of transition, the people closest to you, even those who love you fiercely, may not always grasp the intricate details of your unraveling and your becoming. And sometimes, we ourselves don’t even know how to fully decompress, how to articulate the shifts within. But your chosen family, your soulful community, they often do understand.

I wanted to create a haven where you could meet kindred spirits, women walking parallel journeys, offering unwavering support and genuine encouragement along the way. That, my dears, is the exquisite beauty of soulful community: You don’t need to explain every nuance of your story. You simply need to show up, with an open mind and an open heart, ready to explore new pathways to healing – and we, your circle, will hold the rest.

Your People Are Looking for You, Too

If you’ve ever felt caught in the swirling winds of change, the relentless pressure of needing to figure out your next pivot, The Healing Suite is for you. We wholeheartedly emphasize: you are not alone.

Even on those days when weariness settles deep in your bones, when the decisions ahead feel impossibly heavy, please let me lovingly tell you:

You are not alone.

You are simply waiting to be embraced by the right circle. The ones who don’t flinch when your vulnerability peeks through. The ones who gently remind you that your softness is sacred, a strength all its own. The ones who celebrate your becoming with the same radiant joy as their own triumphs.

Your people?

They’re not lingering behind you. They’re not waiting far ahead. They are walking right beside you, their footsteps echoing yours.

And they are waiting, with open arms and open hearts, for you to show up and claim your seat within the circle.

Come Find Your Circle. Come Home to Yourself.

Join me at The Healing Suite for a Sunday Soul Session — where strangers become sisters, and healing feels like coming home.

📍 National Harbor🗓️ Sunday, June 1st🕑 2 PM – 5 PM

This is your invitation to breathe. To belong. To believe again.