20/06/2026
Gratitude, Healing and Rising Again:
My Journey Back to Myself
There are many people who may not know this, but the past year has been one of the most challenging chapters of my life.
Last year, my health was tested in ways I never expected. I experienced plantar fasciitis, a lower back injury, nerve damage, an older rotator cuff injury, and ongoing neck issues. The pain was at times overwhelming.
There were moments where simply walking felt impossible, let alone standing on my feet, caring for my daughter, running my business, and managing everyday life.
For someone who has always been independent and used to pushing through, this season challenged me deeply.
I had to change the way I operated my business. I had to slow down, reassess, and truly listen to what my body was asking of me.
This is why this year looks a little different.
I have had to step back from my beautiful pop-up shops, something I genuinely love, while I focus on my recovery, my wellbeing, and rebuilding my strength.
But the challenges didn’t stop there.
During this same season, I lost my uncle, a beautiful man who was like a father figure to me. Twelve months earlier, I had also lost my father, who I had only just reconnected with.
Then, in the month of November alone, my car blew up, my fridge stopped working, my laptop died, my lawn mower decided it had reached the end of its journey, and Mareeba lost its after-school care service.
On top of all of this, I was living rurally with limited transport, a school bus service, and very little support nearby.
I cannot fully explain how challenging this time was. Running a business and maintaining work commitments became incredibly difficult. These experiences came on top of other personal challenges I was already navigating, and there were moments where I questioned how much more I could carry.
When my uncle passed away, my mum also experienced serious health challenges. It became clear that although I absolutely loved my beautiful nature stone cottage, surrounded by kookaburras, butterflies, and abundant trees, that chapter of my life was coming to an end.
It was time to return to Cairns.
It was time to move closer to family support for my daughter and myself, closer to opportunities, community, and connection.
But making that move was its own journey.
With the current rental crisis, finding a home was, and continues to be, incredibly challenging. There were moments of uncertainty and fear. I was leaving behind my safe place, my sanctuary, and the home where I had created so many beautiful memories.
There were stepping stones, temporary accommodation, and many experiences along the way. That story deserves its own chapter.
Throughout this process, I have been consciously working on understanding whether the choices I make come from a place of fear or from my heart space.
And sometimes, trusting your heart requires courage.
I had to trust.
And trust is often easier said than done.
I often say that sometimes the universe creates obstacles when we are being guided towards a different path. Sometimes the things we hold onto the tightest are the very things we are being asked to release.
I had to learn to ask for help, something I have always struggled with.
I have always been the person who supports others, who holds space for others, who finds a way.
This chapter humbled me and reminded me that receiving support is also part of healing, self-care, and connection.
Allowing people in.
Allowing myself to receive.
This journey has been anything but easy, but it has taught me the incredible power of hope, gratitude, and trust.
These are values I speak about often, and they are deeply woven into my own healing journey and the foundations of my healing program.
I have always considered myself a strong and resilient woman, but this season stretched me in ways I never imagined.
It challenged my strength, my patience, and my understanding of myself.
I navigated grief, financial pressure, difficult situations with people, complex systems, stepping away from facilitating Reiki for a period of time, and physically packing an entire home mostly by myself while injured.
It is a chapter I am grateful to have moved through, but one I will never forget.
I have learned to set boundaries with people who became comfortable disrespecting me. I have become more intentional with where I invest my energy.
I have learned that protecting my peace is not selfish. It is necessary.
But I have also learned something incredibly important.
I love who I am.
I love the person I have continued to become through these experiences.
I have learned how to move through grief, how to honour those I have lost, and how to find healthy ways to cope.
For me, that connection comes through knowing that although my loved ones are no longer physically here, their spirit, their love, and their guidance remain with me.
I created a self-care plan and committed to showing up for myself.
Through all of this, I have been reminded why I do what I do.
Why I am so passionate about healing, mental health, and supporting community.
Because when we move through our own storms, we gain a deeper understanding of how to hold space for others. The challenges we overcome can become the very experiences that allow us to offer compassion, empathy, and connection.
Everything I encourage others to practise, I have had to practise myself.
Self-care.
Self-love.
Healing.
Asking for help.
Creating healthy boundaries.
Choosing myself.
I have worked incredibly hard to rebuild a stable and loving next chapter for my daughter and myself.
I have prioritised my health because I know that when I care for myself, I create a stronger foundation for my family.
As parents, the healing work we do within ourselves creates ripples that can impact our children. When we choose growth, we create healthier pathways for the generations that come after us.
After months of struggling to walk and not being able to do the things I love, like exploring nature, going on hikes, and creating adventures with Serayah, I cannot put into words how grateful I feel to be returning to a healthier space.
To move again.
To stand again.
To run again.
To dance again.
To feel my body becoming stronger.
To feel my heart becoming lighter.
To reconnect with my mind, body, and soul.
I know my uncle is proud of me. I feel his presence and guidance, along with my dad watching over me and helping me navigate these challenges.
I am incredibly grateful for the beautiful souls who have stood beside me, supported me, and reminded me that I do not have to walk every path alone.
Deep in my heart, I know their love and support have been key parts of my growth.
Seeing Serayah shine brighter than ever and being able to spend more time with both my girls fills my soul cup in ways I cannot describe.
Every day, I try to find joy in the little things because life truly is about perspective.
I’m not saying this chapter has been perfect. It has been anything but.
I have had big emotions to process. I have cried, questioned, felt overwhelmed, and had moments where I wondered how things would unfold.
But through it all, I have continued to choose healing.
I have continued to choose my dreams and my goals.
This is why mental health support and healing are so important to me.
Because I know what it feels like to be stretched, to feel uncertain, and to have to rebuild.
Today, when I reflect on how far I have come, my soul feels like it is on fire.
I feel like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
Again.
Not because the journey was easy, but because every challenge taught me something. Every setback showed me strength I didn’t know I had. Every moment of uncertainty reminded me to trust.
I choose to see everything as a learning experience.
I don’t see failure.
I see lessons.
I step forward with gratitude for the lessons, love for the people who have supported me, and hope for the beautiful chapter that is unfolding.
My heart feels full.
My soul feels excited.
Healing is not always a straight path.
Sometimes it is messy.
Sometimes it is painful.
Sometimes it asks more from us than we think we can give.
But sometimes, in the process of rebuilding ourselves, we discover just how powerful we truly are.
For anyone navigating their own challenges or hurdles:
I see you.
Please know you are stronger than you give yourself credit for, and you deserve happiness, peace, and a life that feels aligned.
These moments are just that, moments.
Life can hold many emotions at once. We can feel love, exhaustion, grief, gratitude, fear, and hope all at the same time.
The hard seasons do not last forever.
Keep going. Keep trusting. Keep choosing yourself and please remember there are many different support services out there to help assist you along your journey.
Let there be love, light and healing
Rosie 🌺
