Support the New Chapter of Healing Journey

Dear Friends and Chosen Family,

You are the witnesses of my evolutionary wild healing journey over the last 24 years,

I am practicing loving myself and unapologetically living my life in alignment with my soul's purpose. I grew up to be who I wanted to be. As many of you know, San Francisco has stolen my heart, and it is finally time for me to plant my professional roots in this place that is aching for healing.

Last Sunday, I was chosen to be the sole tenant renter of a stunning new office space on the 15th floor of a building in Union Square that offers sweeping city views. I invite you to celebrate with me and witness this momentous event.

Last weekend, despite my intense excitement, I was incredibly anxious about meeting the psychiatrist and former professor (UC Berkeley and USF) to look at the space of my dreams. My old insecurities were like dark clouds in my mind, looming towards me. That afternoon, I took the bus from Pacific Heights to Union Square for our 5:00 meeting. I sat in the middle of the bench seat in the back, trying to keep my mind present. During the ride, I listened to Mary J. Blige's "Love Yourself," a song about perseverance and commitment to greatness. As she sang the lyrics "please hold on..." in my ears, the bus's sign flashed the exact same words instructing passengers to do the same! This synchronicity created a rush of surrealism, knowing that I was where I was supposed to be.

Switching to a positive meditation, I reminded myself that I could do this, that I was worth it, and that I was fulfilling my destiny. I mustered all my strength and courage, believing in myself as I approached the building. Nervousness washed over me as I walked into the lobby and pressed the button for the elevator to the 15th floor. I hadn't felt this nervous in a long time, flooded with the fear of messing up. Yet, I held my head high, walked into the office, and knew it was already mine.

Now, I am getting ready to settle into my new space and design the decor of my new office. I realized that we all need comfort, myself included. A therapist's couch is one of great importance. It is a space holder for a client in pain who needs comfort, and it feels like a boat of safety and an ocean of storms. It's where I can sit, look out the window, dream, and rest into the accomplishment of getting an office on the 15th floor in San Francisco. This request is more than just collecting funds for a new couch. It represents the community support that has lifted me to a higher level (literally!). Go-fund-me has helped me send Lucy to camp, buy me a car in Montana after a year of biking in the snow, and funded a trip for me to Nashville so that I could start the business model of Jonah's Initiative, which is now finally coming into the works and will be implemented in San Francisco. Because I am a single parent, I've dealt with most of what has gotten me here through fierce independence, tireless sacrificial work, and a lot of pain. The comfort of friends and chosen family contributing to this couch feels like being witnessed in my journey and can be a part of my landing in this new sacred San Francisco space. It is a kind of "office warming gift." It represents the fact that I am not alone; I am seen, and I can ask and receive. Knowing that I didn't do this latest step in development entirely by myself is always an essential aspect of my gratitude. Thank you for being with me in this experience.