And as you might imagine, my health started to suffer. I had chronic migraines, unexplained health symptoms, daily fatigue, and severe anxiety. I also went through a divorce after suffering domestic abuse. That was another thing I pushed myself through.

Deep down, I knew that something had to change but I wasn’t sure what needed to change or even how.

Then two devastating events impacted my life. My Dad died from pancreatic cancer, and I suffered a serious hand injury that threatened to derail my playing career. After reconstructive hand surgery, my recovery was slow and painful, and my overall health continued to decline. I was in a dark place and felt very alone.

Years of perfectionism and over-achieving had caught up with me, and I realized this way of “being” was unsustainable or healthy. The final breaking point came when I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, most likely brought on by years of chronic stress and not addressing the underlying issues.