Difficult Roads

This time last year, I went blind.

 I couldn’t see my son’s face.

I couldn’t read my own handwriting, let alone a book.  

And I definitely couldn’t drive.

My entire life turned upside down.

I was on medical leave for three months. I did a lot of yoga, a lot of soul searching, and a lot of grasping at straws with doctors who were mystified.

I was tested for everything under the sun, had every brain scan imaginable – all the while knowing in my gut exactly what was wrong: extreme stress.

I had been pushing myself past my limits, and my body finally said no.

Leading up to this meltdown, in addition to my full-time job, I had been building a passion project I hoped would become a second income stream. (Most families relate to feeling financially stretched… as a single mom, that pressure is even heavier). 

If I needed a second income stream, why not build something I loved – something I knew I’d be great at?  Better Way 360 was born.

My mission was to help women break away from restrictive diets while still pursuing intentional weight loss.

I spent nearly a year building Better Way 360 outside of my full-time job, running a successful pilot program and helping women see real results without losing their minds in the process. I’m proud of that work and the impact it had.

But adding another layer to an already full plate? Burnout was inevitable.

When I lost my vision, I found myself at a crossroads: how did I get here?

I took time to center myself.
I focused on my health.
I continued jumping through hoops with countless doctors.

I had no choice.

Eventually, I returned to work with a laundry list of accommodations – taking Ubers to and from the office and working on the most gigantic monitor on the planet.

Even though I couldn’t see the faces of my colleagues down the hall, I felt tremendous gratitude for the chance at some semblance of normalcy.

Today, I have more answers than I used to – but I still struggle with my vision. After years in fight-or-flight mode, recovery doesn’t happen overnight.

I’ve had to learn how to slow down.

I’ve had to learn how to do less, not more. 

Living through this experience changed how I see life.  I still love Better Way 360, but talking about mindset in relation to weight loss feels different now – because I’ve learned just how critical mindset is when it comes to actually surviving.

Over the past year, I’ve confronted painful realities and difficult lessons – one of the most important being this: physical appearance does not define me. And I don’t want you to let it define you, either.

Better Way 360 was crafted in response to what I needed at different times – and what I knew many women need. My hope was that it would be a lifeline for women fighting the same battles I fought – and that’s still what I want it to be. But I’m stepping back from framing it as a weight loss program, because I don’t want to be another voice telling you to change your body.

Living through unimaginable circumstances forced me to surrender. And now I feel compelled to say this: no matter what you’re going through, give yourself grace.  All we can do is our best. 

To the woman who obsesses over nutrition, exercise regimens, performance at work, parenting… to the woman proving to the world she can do it all while wearing a size 2 at any age… I see you.  I was you.  And I nearly lost everything because of it.

If you had lived through what I lived through, you would be asking the same question I had to face: At what cost?

What I sacrificed to meet my own expectations simply wasn’t worth it.

So, what’s next?

For Better Way 360, I no longer see a business. I see my heart.

I want it to be a conversation.
A community for women.
A place to talk honestly about real life.

I’m giving myself permission to let it be exactly that – pressure off.

As for me, I’m still committed to building financial flexibility as a single mom. But I’ve learned that I need to do it in a way that aligns with the rest of my life.

No more burnout.
No more meltdowns.

If you’ve been here from the beginning, thank you.

And if you’re navigating your own season of recalibration, you’re not alone.

They say “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations” – and I believe that’s true.

We don’t always choose the road, but we do get to choose who we become along the way.

No matter where you’re headed next, I hope you’ll always Keep Looking Up.