HEATHER'S BLOG

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”? I don’t know why, but as women, so many of us were taught that we needed saving. Softly, I remind myself that there is great power and acceptance in deciding once and for all that I can “save” myself. It may sound like a simple catchphrase, but it hits so much deeper than that.

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.

Embracing Change in My Journey My voice wasn’t just sound—it was my signature. That gritty, raspy tone carried me through every role, from the stage to Sisters to Beverly Hills, 90210. It was the spark in every conversation, the heart of every story I told. I was the ultimate Chatty Cathy, and I loved it. So when I learned that my voice—my essence—was being altered by a new symptom, my world tilted. Devastated doesn’t even cover it. It felt like losing a piece of my soul.

Morning Ritual: Fueling Your Day with Nutrient Power Smoothie with AVE Therapy Starting the day right with a nutrient-packed smoothie combined with Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE) therapy sets the tone for enhanced mental clarity and focus. This combination has become a cornerstone of my morning routine.

Understanding Ataxia and Its Impact Ataxia is a condition that affects coordination and balance. For those of us living with it, daily tasks can become daunting challenges. I remember the first time I noticed something was off. I was at a family gathering, trying to navigate through the crowd. Suddenly, my legs felt unsteady. It was as if the ground beneath me had shifted.

When I was going through a hard time, I went to a spin class. Little did I know, five years later, I still am showing up for myself on the bike and in life, too. It's not easy, but I want to prove to myself that I can do hard things. I still get scared, but that's part of it. It's not worth doing if you're not a little bit afraid, right?

In my personal journey of embracing and finding my beautiful self in times of challenges and adversity, Yin and Restorative Yoga have been instrumental in helping me reconnect with my inner beauty and resilience. These gentle and nurturing practices have provided me with a space to slow down, tune into my body, and cultivate a sense of deep relaxation and self-compassion.

What is Self-Care? Self-care is a deliberate and conscious effort to attend to your holistic well-being by nurturing your mind, body, and soul. It involves recognizing your needs, setting boundaries, and engaging in activities that replenish your energy and restore balance. Contrary to what some may think, self-care is not selfish but rather a fundamental aspect of maintaining a healthy and fulfilling life.

In a world inundated with quick fixes and instant solutions, mastering one's mindset may seem elusive and challenging. However, the truth is that developing an empowering mindset is a journey that requires dedication, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to personal growth. As the saying goes, the hack to mindset mastery is that there is no hack at all – it's about hard work, challenging old belief systems, and, above all, patience. Did I say patience?