"I spend nights stitching up the loose threads of my soul. In the morning I'm bulletproof." - Noah Kahan

That lyric perfectly describes life with chronic illness—and life when you know you need a change. For too long, I've listened to the soft voice of fear telling me to stay safe and comfortable, even if it meant being miserable.

Now, I'm finding the courage to face what can't be changed, and change what I can. It's scary, but staying stuck is scarier.

In a world where everyone tries to fit in, some of us can't help but stand out. From the unique name to the collage of colors in my hair, I was always easy to find on the "Guess Who" board. But as my life with MS has unfolded, my uniqueness has taken on new layers, from the cane I use to the strange medical symptoms that leave even specialists shrugging. It's an exhausting, and sometimes painful, kind of unique. Yet, I'm learning that my "weirdness" is also my superpower—not in spite of my struggles, but because of them. My experiences have taught me to see the world differently and to find the jewels hidden in the ash, helping me to connect with others who feel just as complicated and misunderstood as I do.

This Values Compass journey took an interesting turn when I realized I was late. Not just late with writing this post, but late to everything—work, appointments, and even to drop off my daughter at school.

"What is wrong with me?" I would ask myself. But this time, my brain had a new answer: "Well, you have MS for one."

For a long time, I've had a bad habit of letting "shoulds" run the show. I should have gotten that done sooner. I should be able to do it all. But what if we don't have to believe our own thoughts? What if we can choose grace instead of guilt?

My journey to accepting my diagnosis—and my new reality—led me to a deeper understanding of grace. It's a journey of learning to forgive myself, lower my expectations, and believe that my worth isn't tied to my productivity.

Read the full story and reflect on your own journey with grace on my blog.

What if not knowing the answer isn't a weakness, but a superpower? As kids, we're born with an insatiable curiosity—a drive to explore a world that feels limitless. But as we grow, that spark often fades, replaced by the fear of judgment and the pressure to have all the answers.

Join me on a journey to reclaim that lost sense of wonder. In this blog, I explore how curiosity can transform from a source of anxiety into a wellspring of connection and profound personal growth. Through stories of discovering silly laws, embracing vulnerability in my work as a counselor, and navigating life with an MS diagnosis, I'll share how learning to ask "what if?" has made my world bigger, richer, and more full of life.

"My Values Compass" is a project born from a place of feeling stuck and misunderstood. Instead of waiting for things to get better, I decided to take action, asking you—my community—to help me explore my own core values. Each week, we delve into a new value, reflecting on how it shapes our lives and helps us find clarity and direction.

This blog is a personal journey, but my hope is that it can be a shared one. My reflections on values like gratitude and openness are an invitation for you to explore your own. Together, we can find purpose in the most challenging moments and discover the powerful stories hidden within our own lives.

Apparently since I was a baby I didn’t like to be alone. I never thought I needed alone time, because I was so extraverted that people gave me all the energy and relaxation I needed. Now, with an empty house and a body that needs quiet, I'm finding a new kind of peace. It's a peace that has me re-examining everything—especially my values and self-care. It's a journey from feeling like a Sim, with pre-programmed likes and dislikes, to a self who can listen to my body and my heart. And as I explore this new reality, I'm creating a new compass to guide me: The Value Compass.