Nourishing The Sprouts From Fires
As my time in San Diego comes to an end, I find myself smiling and even laughing at how life works its magic. Just a few months ago, I stood in the same spot, filled with fear, curiosity, uncertainty, relief, and overwhelm. Today, I smile, breathe, and find humor in the journey.
In August, I sent out an email about ARFID (avoidant restrictive food intake disorder), a lesser-known category of eating disorders. Since then, we’ve been living in San Diego, attending an intensive outpatient program for our daughter.
Our daughter has stepped up to the challenge, showing incredible courage, grit, tenacity, and flexibility—qualities that will serve her well going forward. We are immensely proud of her. The path to recovery has not been a straight line; it rarely is. We’ve faced moments of hopelessness, fatigue, and even resistance to the process, but the growth that emerges from these struggles is unmatched and something we may not fully see for years to come.
Having navigated difficult phases in life, I’ve learned that approaching challenges with a belief in a higher purpose can lead to exponential growth. I wouldn’t trade any of my hard moments, as they have shaped who I am today. It’s not easy to watch someone you love suffer, but knowing that these experiences will serve her in the long run keeps me grounded in the belief that everything will be okay. This belief has been my guiding light throughout.
This is her journey, and we here to support her, not to “fix” her. She doesn’t need fixing; she is exactly where she’s meant to be. She needs love, reassurance, compassion, and the space to feel all her emotions without judgment, guilt, or blame. Difficult experiences shape us as humans, and this journey will mold her in the most beautiful ways.
This is how I see my clients as well, as humans that are right where they are supposed to be. Humans that have come to me to reflect back to them their own inner knowing. To help them see new perspectives, different paths and roadblocks they can go over, under or around.
As a family, I know we will reflect on this experience as a gift—an experience shared by few. We’ve deepened our relationships with one another and built wonderful new connections with other families we’ve met along the way. We’ve gained new perspectives, acceptance, and trust. We have learned to be present, focusing on one step and one day at a time. We’ve quieted the noise, prioritized what truly matters, and given little attention to what doesn’t. We’ve cultivated behaviors that serve us and released those that don’t.
Our journey isn’t over, but when we return home for Thanksgiving this year, being “thankful” will take on a whole new meaning. We continue to focus on what we can control: how we show up for each other—through our energy, love, and patience—and our deep belief that life happens for us, not to us. There will be setbacks and challenges ahead, but believing it’s all happening for a reason shapes positive outcomes and brings joy to our lives.
Not long ago, I learned about the Bakers globe mallow flower. This fascinating flower requires the heat of fire for its seeds to germinate. Some seeds can lay dormant for up to a hundred years, waiting for a fire to signal them to sprout in the freshly burned soil. This metaphor resonates deeply with me, and I look forward to watching not only our daughter continue to blossom but also our entire family. Personally, this experience will shape my work as it reinforces my belief that this industry needs support and innovation, and fuels my desire to fight for our teen girls.
Much gratitude, appreciation, and love to all of you who have supported us on this journey. May you each nourish the sprouts that emerge from the fires in your lives, no matter how big or small.