My Why

Let me start here.

Like a lot of people, I didn’t grow up planning to do this work. I didn’t wake up one day and decide I’d talk openly about grief, mental health, or the moments in life when things fall apart. This path found me the same way it finds most of us—through lived experience.

For a long time, I did what many of us do. I kept moving. I showed up. I handled my responsibilities. And when things got hard, I told myself I’d deal with it later. Because that’s what we’re taught, isn’t it? Keep going. Don’t slow down. Don’t let people see the cracks.

But life has a way of reminding us that we’re human.

In 2022, I lost my mother, Clara Bushyhead, to cancer. Anyone who’s experienced loss knows there’s no right way to grieve. Some days I felt steady. Other days I felt completely undone. I kept going through the motions, but inside, I was carrying more than I knew how to name.

There came a moment when I realized I couldn’t do it alone anymore. I didn’t have all the right words, but I knew I needed help. So I reached out to 988. That conversation didn’t erase the pain—but it did something just as important. It reminded me that I wasn’t alone, and that asking for help wasn’t a failure. It was an act of courage.

That moment stayed with me.

Why This Matters

Here’s what I’ve learned: every one of us, at some point, reaches a moment where the weight gets heavy. Maybe it’s grief. Maybe it’s stress. Maybe it’s change, or disappointment, or the quiet fear that you’re falling behind. And too often, we carry it in silence.

I believe we can do better than that. I believe in creating spaces where people feel safe enough to be honest—where asking for help is met with compassion, not judgment. Where strength is measured not by how much we hide, but by how willing we are to show up as we are.

Who This Is For

This work is for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed but kept going anyway.

For anyone who’s felt strong on the outside and tired on the inside.

For people navigating loss, transition, or uncertainty—without a roadmap.

I also do this to honor my mother. She believed deeply in people. She believed in showing up, in kindness, and in taking care of one another. Her values continue to guide how I move through the world and why this work matters so much to me.

Why I Keep Showing Up

I don’t do this because I have all the answers. I do it because I’ve seen what happens when people feel seen and supported. I’ve seen how a single conversation can change the direction of someone’s life. I’ve seen how community can turn isolation into connection.

My why is simple:

No one should have to carry everything alone.

If sharing my story helps someone pause, breathe, or feel a little less alone—then this work is worth it.

That’s my why.