After serving in the U.S. Navy for 9.5 years, I returned to civilian life with no clear roadmap for what came next — only the knowing that I was beginning a deep journey of emotional healing to discover my new purpose and path.

Leaving military service can be a mix of emotions. For some, it brings relief and the excitement of starting a new chapter. For others — especially those involuntarily separated — it can be disorienting, stressful, and isolating.

My experience was the latter.

In 2011, I was informed that to fund expanded Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, the Navy would be releasing what it called its “most expensive asset” — its people. Along with 2,999 other sailors, I was separated from Active Duty with an honorable discharge and a severance package that would later be recouped when I qualified for VA disability benefits.

Adjusting to civilian life meant navigating new employment, unfamiliar systems, and the loss of a close-knit military community. More deeply, it meant confronting a loss of identity and purpose. The transition was not immediate — it took time to adjust, reflect, and redefine who I was becoming.

As I faced overwhelming emotions and the downward spiral of my health, I made a decision to meet my wellness head-on. I turned toward natural solutions for challenges that felt anything but natural. And as a mother, knowing my daughter would learn from how I navigated hardship, something shifted.

My heart became attached to a simple but powerful idea: healing matters — not just for individuals, but for families.

This journey reshaped how I understand wellness, motherhood, and purpose. It taught me that healing isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. And when a mother commits to her own healing, the impact reaches far beyond herself.

This understanding became the foundation for the work I do today — and the reason Wellness Mom Solutions exists.