I had the most incredible experience recently. I have been pretty transparent in saying that these past two and a half years have been hard. They have been hard for me and they have been hard for my family, friends, colleagues and clients. I upped my self care game this past year and really started looking at what mattered in my life and what actually energized me and what depleted me. I decided to guard my energy in a way I never have before. As a therapist and healer it is easy to keep giving until you realize you are running on empty.

I couldn’t recognize what was going on until friends used brutal honesty to say you need to take care of yourself, you are burning out. The energy healing of reiki gave me my life back and helped me rebalance and become even better at what I do. I found a calm, a clarity that was positively unprecedented. After months of inner work, I emerged refreshed, refocused and ready to reclaim my space as a healing professional. I am also proud to say that I finished my Level 1, Reiki and am soon to finish Level 2. My reiki training was really for me but it definitely adds a different lense to my therapeutic approach.

One of my first next steps was to get a few photos done and update my website a bit. I absolutely love the energy of Jen from Lady Luck Photography and feel so much gratitude for her creativity, kindness and just all out wonderful vibe. She is a passionate mental health advocate and she came into my life at a perfect time. During my photoshoot, Jen’s bird, Lucky was hanging out in her studio and as I posed against the fabulous exposed brick wall I felt something. Lucky had claimed my head as his own landing strip and sat perched on top of it. He just brought so much joy and whimsy to the moment it was epic. The outcome of the shoot surpassed my expectations and Lucky reminded me the thing I have learned over these years and that is “shit happens” and we have to be ready to roll with the unexpected.

Over the next little while I will be sharing some new things and am happy to say that my practice is shifting to more wellbeing and mindset coaching. I will still be the same therapist and social worker that some of you have worked with in the past but different. Think of me as Kimberley 2.0, the founder of Kaleidoscope Wellness Niagara with a fresh perspective and new insights on what it means to live life in alignment.

So I suppose this might seem like an odd post for a therapist but maybe it tells you a little bit about my sense of humour. We have spent the past 11 months feeling like this on a number of days. It hasn’t happened and although most of us are a little worse for wear the world is still here and so are we. This does not negate the trauma we have experienced globally. Yes, I call it trauma because we have been living in a prolonged state of crisis. It’s been a long journey but it is time to check in. How are you? Let’s not lie about it and say “fine”. It think we need to check in with each other and share how we are really doing. It’s time to move forward and reconnect with those you still want in your life. A phone call, a Zoom chat or a parking lot physically distant cup of tea. Do what works but be real and let people know you are not okay. I love when people are clear and tell me what they need. We can’t always fix things but we can be present. We can bake that cake, pick up those groceries or just listen. I know you have heard this before but it is okay to not be okay! If you are okay then fantastic, help someone else if you have the energy to give.

This is the year of the big reset, we got knocked down and it is time to put our plan in place and do the work we want to do or let go of what we don’t need. Be kind to yourself and just lean in. You’ve got this! Oh and if you don’t, well find a good counsellor and prioritize your mental wellness because it is so important.