HEATHER'S BLOG

I haven't written in a couple of weeks—not because I ran out of things to say, but because somewhere in the quiet, a much older thought crept back in: that my voice didn't matter. Early on as a dancer, I was taught that taking up less space was the price of being allowed in the room. But real patience looks like choosing the small things, sitting with the old feelings, and coming back around to the truth: I do matter. You have to see your whole self—all of it. Not the edited

I don’t care what you lose in this life—just don’t lose yourself. Grief and hard times can feel incredibly lonely, like being at a party holding a sad little plate of emotional snacks. But through everything, I’ve gained humility, self-compassion, and a deeper awareness of what truly matters. Your vulnerability can be your greatest strength. Breathe when you can, ask for help, and if all else fails? Cry in the shower. It’s free therapy with great water pressure. You’ve got th

This morning at the kitchen sink, one thought stopped me cold: How and why did this happen to me? For years I put everyone else first — I was the strong one, the capable one, the “good wife” and “good mother.” I practiced self-sacrifice without even realizing it… even while my own body was falling apart. My ex chose self-preservation. Why didn’t I? I should have. My mom always said, “Just because the doorbell rings doesn’t mean you have to answer it.” I wish I had listened so

Living with ataxia means some days your balance is off and stress takes over. But waiting for someone to fix it is a total disaster. True freedom comes when you stop waiting and start moving. Read on to see how I shifted my mindset around chronic illness, learned to embrace the challenges, and unlocked a tool that helps me heal.

You know that saying, “No one is coming to save you”? Softly, I remind myself that there is great power in deciding I can “save” myself. Living with ataxia taught me this the hard way. The real shift happened when I stopped waiting and started moving—one breath at a time. True freedom comes when you realize the medicine is you.

The Power of Bold Choices One of my mentors, as a young adult, once shared a profound insight: making bold choices is essential. This wisdom resonates with me deeply, and I carry it into my daily life. Along with many different traits, I strive to make bold choices. Sometimes they work out, and sometimes they don’t.

Developing an empowering mindset requires dedication, challenging old belief systems, and—above all—patience. When doctors told me my condition was "idiopathic," I only knew how to fight. True transformation came when I stopped trying to break through limits and learned to slow down, breathe, and remember that your heart makes you a champion, not your physical abilities.

I cried on my daughter's shoulder—I missed my dog, wanted to go to spin class, and couldn't walk. But it gets old playing the victim. It’s okay to have a day in bed crying, but you have to get up. My mantra is "I do hard things." I breathe softly, and I do them. Whatever you're going through, persistence breaks resistance—so keep going!

I was trying to find the word that describes adversity and struggle while maintaining a sense of humbleness and gratitude. The word that I came up with is GRACE.