Life has an interesting way of reminding us just how fragile and precious it is. On January 13th, I was involved in a serious car accident—one that could have had a much different outcome. In fact, the first responders who arrived after I was already in the ambulance assumed, based on the wreckage, that I hadn’t survived. That afternoon, the roads were slick with drifting snow as I headed to a routine dentist appointment. Without warning, I hit black ice, lost control, and spun into oncoming traffic, colliding with a bus and in an instant, everything changed.
I’ll admit, I’ve never felt more terrified than I did that day —not knowing how much damage my body may have after the impact. The inability to move any part of my body left me feeling completely helpless. I lost consciousness several times, but when I finally reached the emergency room, one question came into my mind: “What’s the lesson here?” The answer didn’t come to me right away, but I knew one thing for certain—I wouldn’t let victim mentality suck me in. That’s where we lose our power, and thankfully, I understood that.However, the following day it was discovered that my pelvis was fractured in in five places.
The beauty in this disaster was that I had a huge opportunity to apply the essential practices that guided me through my ostomy and Crohn’s healing journey. As someone who has always believed in and spoke heavily on nurturing the mind, body, and spirit, I found myself relying on these very principles more than ever before. From the initial shock of the accident to the ongoing, painful process of recovery, I have continuously drawn strength from within and from above. Breathwork, meditation, prayer, and intentional self-care have become more than just daily practices—they’ve become lifelines.
I won’t lie—healing is hard. I’ve faced moments of fear, frustration, and sadness. Another important lesson in healing is recognizing that it’s completely okay to feel those emotions and release them, so they don’t become trapped in our bodies, causing even more harm. What has guided me most through this journey is focusing on gratitude and embracing the lessons along the way. This experience has only strengthened my belief that holistic healing isn’t just practiced when life is going well; it’s even more important when life feels its heaviest.
We all face battles, sometimes daily, but know that you truly are stronger than you know. Healing comes with setbacks. What matters is that you continue to show up for yourself and keep hold of your power.
I hope my journey inspires you to embrace holistic healing in your own life, not just in extreme incidents like this example, but every day. Let's continue to uplift and support each other as we navigate the beautiful, unpredictable path of life together.