Finding My Lane: Knowing Where I’ve Been and Learning How to Move Forward

For most of my life, I have been navigating survival—pushing through pain, overcoming obstacles, and fighting for a sense of self in a world that seemed determined to break me. From childhood abuse to domestic violence, from a near-fatal strangulation to the lasting effects of trauma on my body and brain, my journey has been anything but easy. For years, I sought healing in places that often led to more harm, including a medical system that failed me and patterns of addiction that masked my pain rather than healed it.

But today, I can finally say: I have found my lane.

Owning My Story, Owning My Future

For decades, I was simply surviving. My life was dictated by the wounds of my past, the dysfunction I was raised in, and the belief systems that were ingrained in me. My trauma shaped my view of the world, of people, and—most painfully—of myself. I chased validation in work, relationships, and overcommitment, believing that if I just did enough, I could escape the weight of my past.

But true healing isn’t found in running—it’s found in understanding, acknowledging, and rewriting the narrative of our lives. That’s exactly what I’m doing now. Through my podcast, The Courageous Survivor: Breaking the Chains and Redesigning Me, I’m unpacking my past, not just to reflect on where I’ve been, but to understand how it has shaped me and what I need to do to move forward.

Healing Isn’t Just Looking Back—It’s Looking Ahead

Trauma doesn’t just live in the mind; it rewires the body and the brain. For me, the impacts of a traumatic/anoxic brain injury have been a daily battle—one that I am committed to fighting. Healing isn’t just about emotional work; it’s about physically repairing what trauma has damaged. I’m learning what it takes to keep my brain healthy, to step out of survival mode, and to reclaim my ability to truly live—not just exist in a constant state of fight-or-flight.

Holistic and functional medicine have played a critical role in my journey. After years of feeling betrayed by traditional healthcare, I’ve found healing in unexpected places—approaches that don’t just treat symptoms but actually seek to restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit. This journey is still unfolding, and I’m sharing it in real-time, not as someone who has it all figured out, but as someone determined to keep learning.

Challenging My Beliefs and Redefining Myself

One of the most unexpected parts of this journey has been challenging the belief systems I was raised with. As I’ve traveled for speaking engagements and connected with diverse people, I’ve been forced to look inward—to question, to unlearn, and to seek out what I truly believe, not just what I was conditioned to accept. This has led to deep soul-searching, and it’s pushing me to build a life based on my own truth—not one dictated by my past.

A Voice for Survivors, A Call for Change

Finding my lane isn’t just about personal healing—it’s about using my voice to create change. Survivors need more than just hope; they need action. Systems that serve survivors—medical, legal, advocacy—must stop working in silos and start collaborating. Brain injury and trauma must be addressed together, because for so many of us, they are deeply intertwined.

I refuse to stay silent. My journey is not just about healing myself—it’s about pushing for real conversations, real awareness, and real solutions.

This is Who I Am. This is Where I’m Going.

For the first time in my life, I know exactly where I am headed. My podcast, my platform, my speaking, and my advocacy work are all coming together to create something bigger than just my own healing. I am no longer running from my past—I am using it as fuel to create something meaningful.

I invite you to join me on this journey. Whether you are a survivor, an advocate, or simply someone seeking to understand trauma and healing on a deeper level, you are welcome here.

Together, we are breaking the chains and redesigning our lives.

👉 Follow my podcast, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and stay connected as I share the real, raw, and unfiltered path forward.