At 28, I found myself in a place I never thought I’d be. I was working in a call center, completely unfulfilled, and my life felt like it was unraveling. My health took a serious nosedive—I was so stressed that I couldn’t even keep food or water down. My nerves were shot, and it all came to a head when I had a panic attack that sent me to urgent care. At the same time, my marriage was falling apart. Years of people-pleasing had left me completely drained, and I felt hopeless, disconnected from any sense of joy or purpose.
Then came my moment of truth. One night, while lying in bed, barely able to keep water down, I asked myself a question that changed everything: “What if I don’t want my 30s to look like my 20s?” The answer that came from deep within was clear: “You’ve never followed your heart. You’ve never pursued your dream of acting in LA.” Despite how sick I was, I decided then and there to say yes to my heart. From that moment, something shifted, and I began to heal.
I didn’t know how I would do it, but I started researching how to move to LA and pursue acting. I found a local acting class and met people who guided me along the way. My marriage eventually ended, and while it was emotional, I knew I needed to follow my heart. A month later, with $8,000 in savings, I packed up and moved to LA.
Living in LA was a completely new chapter for me. I found a job in wellness, started studying acting, and performed in improv shows. I made lifelong friends and learned what it was like to audition. I also worked in wellness centers by the Pacific Ocean, which felt like the perfect balance to the fast pace of LA. Following my heart to LA was the beginning of a new life—one where I was truly living in alignment with myself.
Throughout this journey, I’ve confronted and worked through a lot of deep patterns and wounds. I’ve faced my addiction to people-pleasing, co-dependency, religious trauma, depression, and panic attacks. I’ve worked through shame around my sexuality, lack of self-love, perfectionism, and even orthorexia. Each step forward has been about reconnecting with my intuition and trusting myself, even when insecurities and fears arise.
Now, I’m living a life that’s aligned with my heart and intuition, and though the challenges haven’t disappeared, I’ve learned to navigate them with trust and self-compassion. This journey has transformed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined, and I continue to follow my heart wherever it leads.
