I am an enthusiastic, joyful person who enjoys dance, art, music, and nature.

My days are filled with river excursions, drawing, writing, and spending time with my neighbors and our dogs. Connecting with others means everything to me, and I cherish the time I get to spend in my community, whether it means doing dishes together or simply sitting in the grass.

My optimistic and peaceful outlook was hard-won, however.

As a teen military kid, I attended St. George’s School in Newport, Rhode Island—an Episcopal boarding school. I eagerly left my unstable home life for this school at age fourteen, but struggled immensely with mental health issues throughout my time there. This manifested in panic attacks, eating disorders, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and depressive episodes that left me bedridden when I wasn’t in class or sports. I found myself addicted to volatile relationships and bingeing television, amongst other destructive habits, to distract myself from the turmoil I felt.

This continued through college. By my final semester, I was on a cocktail of SSRIs and benzodiazepines, but none of them seemed to be doing me any good. I was hugely successful academically, but I had hit a “rock bottom” as far as my desire to live. Determined to get to the root of my internal agony, I set out on an intense journey of self-discovery and growth, changing almost every aspect of my life in search of what would make me happy.

A combination of plant medicines, self-reflection and meditation practices, dance, neurotype education, and therapy influenced my recovery. All of these practices, however, have been made sustainable by actively participating in and relying on my community. Our presence with and understanding for each other has transformed my inner landscape. I still have incredibly tough days, of course, and often feel as if I’m still learning skills I missed out on as a struggling child—such as keeping my room clean! But my addictions—which I define as “the aspects of control I need to make it through the day”—are far more sustainable for my body and mind than they once were. I have numerous healthy and productive outlets and coping mechanisms for residual self-destructive urges. My life feels fulfilling, with endless possibilities stretched out before me.

My dream is to help others find, cultivate, and maintain a similar peace in a sustainable way.