In 2018, I was at a point in life where I was simply existing. I had convinced myself that my purpose was to survive and care for my son, guiding him through the system and making sure he would be successful in ways I hadn’t been. I was working as an executive assistant for an organization that was involved in the community by volunteering at homeless shelters and organizing fundraisers once a year for organizations that provide education regarding teen suicide prevention, Parkinson’s, and MS.

What I learned during this time was that I enjoyed working with people, and people gravitated towards me. They would have conversations and share things with me that they wouldn’t share with just anyone. At the time, I had no clue about the gift I possessed. I was always able to hold space for those people; however, I didn’t have the capability to do it for myself. I worked long hours, and when work was over, I would rush to pick up my son from after-school care, and it was time for mom duties. Eventually, I became stressed and emotionally exhausted.

A close friend of mine had told me about Dr. Renée McSwain at Sagelight Integrative Wellness Center. She let me know that they offered massage and acupuncture. I decided to treat myself to a massage. When I went on to the website to book my appointment with Dr. McSwain, I saw that she was an acupuncturist. I had never had acupuncture, and I thought it was just used to treat pain, but at that point, I figured, why not give it a try.

That experience led me on my journey to healing. The session was so much more than just treating physical pain. It helped me feel alive, like I mattered, and not just surviving. It treated my emotional pain. I felt heard. I had given up on finding a therapist. For years, I had been in search of a therapist to help me navigate my life, to figure out why I felt the way I did, and why I continued to do the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.

I began treatment regularly, and the answers became more clear. I found the root of some of the sadness I had felt for years. I learned a lot about myself and the role I played. I had always been able to analyze the situation and saw the patterns; however, therapy never guided me to the next step, and I was stagnant. As I began to heal, I also began to understand what it meant to be an Empath. I always had the ability to sense others' emotions and energy, but I never realized it was a gift.

During this time, I began to learn about spirituality and tools used, such as meditation, connecting with nature, and crystals. On one occasion, I went to a crystal store with a friend. I had heard that crystals could be used to protect you from negative energy. I went in with the intention to buy a crystal to protect myself and my son. As I was walking around, my friend had picked up a crystal and told me that she felt it vibrating in her hand. I was a bit skeptical. Regardless, I picked out a couple of crystals and took them home. At the store, I had seen a lot of different pendants and beaded bracelets. I went home and remembered that I had a collection of beads and supplies my mom had left me when she passed away. I pulled out the beads and recalled some of the names. I had Lápiz, Malachite, onyx, hematite, rose quartz, and a few more. I began to look up their healing properties. Then I saw a purple bead, and I wasn't sure if it was real.

I remembered my friend saying the crystal was vibrating.

So I decided to Google how to tell if a crystal is real. It led me to a video that walked me through how to recognize a real stone from a fake one.

As I held the beads, they began to get warm and then hot. I felt it in the center of my palm and I put them down. Even after putting them down, I still felt warmth in my hand. I then decided to put another bead on my hand. This time I closed my eyes and slowly began to drift off. All of a sudden, I opened my eyes and gasped for air. The crystal had taken me into a deep meditative state, something I had never experienced before. At that moment, I felt a deep connection to the beads and crystals. I began to make bracelets and collect crystals to help me. I gifted a few bracelets to friends with crystals I felt would aid them emotionally while going through challenges.

I started to read more about the different crystals and then started to create crystal resin pendants. I would pair crystals and copper wire. Each pendant would be made with the intention to assist someone on their journey. Some were for self-love, communication, harmony, confidence. Each pendant or bracelet was a spiritual healing aid.

I started to talk to people and provide comfort, support, and understanding. I held space for them, and it made me feel good. I recognized others' emotions and held space for them. I would share my experience and lessons and offer a different perspective to what they were dealing with. By the end of the conversation, they would feel better.

I realized that through my healing, I was able to assist others in seeing a different perspective.