I grew up in Montana and was raised by a single mother – she was my guiding light through a difficult youth. I ventured out into the world at a young age and I’ve travelled all over the world, self-studied religion and spirituality and am intensely interested in the human spirit and what makes us thrive and have true meaning in our lives.

When I was just out of college I began to help those around me find their own voice, direction and meaning in their lives because it helped me find mine.I found myself always helping others find their way.

I counseled at-risk youth in my twenties. Then in my thirties in high and bio tech I often took my staff under my wing to help them have a meaningful life beyond corporate America. At one point I noticed one of my key staff was not okay and found out she had a secret dream. So, despite my need for her to stay on staff, I counseled her to follow her dream and join the Peace Corps – I became her official sponsor. She is a dear and loyal friend to this day. Through many of my friends and associates trials and tribulations I have made it my business to be there with quiet guidance, a big ear and some insight and wisdom.

I am no stranger to facing amazing challenges from being in a single parent home as a child with its inherent challenges to becoming an executive in Silicon Valley with no degree in the field to working for the World Bank to owning my own, successful adventure travel company and seeing the world in the process – 52 countries. I have always followed my heart and inner voice. Having myself is the biggest gift I continue o give myself. I feel good about the meaning I have created in my own life.

But I am no stranger to pain and five years ago I found myself having to take my own advice as I climbed out of the darkest place I ever was in when I lost of my husband, son, home and business all in one fell swoop. Suddenly I had to live my age old motto “Embrace what life gives you.” Sometimes I thought I would never make it. But through the most breathe-stopping pain I took it upon myself to reach deep inside and look far outside to find a way, any way to make my pain my teacher and let it inform my new life. It was that or give up. It was the hardest thing I have ever done.

But I have come out stronger and more directed with new found grounding, compassion and wisdom. I am surprised to hear myself say this, but I would not change what happened. Pain is an amazing teacher.

As is the case with many life coaches, I am not a trained psychologist or psychiatrist. Along my path I have been informally helping people with their lives whether they have suffer a loss of a loved one, a break-up of a marriage or just need to take a new look at where they are going so they can know their life has meaning for them. After years of helping those around me, and my coming out of a horrible tragedy and amazing loss myself, I was strongly urged to take up formal life coaching. And so with an addition of a name, an account and some more mindful attention to what it is I do offer I am doing what I have always done; what I have always been called to do – help and guide. With the recent pursuit of becoming a Zen Lay Teacher I feel truly equipped to provide real direction, useful help and a means for you to find your heart, your life’s meaning and a path that works for you.