A Personal Journey to Creating Something Meaningful
A Moment That Changed Everything
Late in 2024, I found myself sitting at a long table in a room full of mostly strangers.
It was a business gathering—one of those meetings where people nod in agreement at the right moments, take notes they may or may not revisit, and move on with their day.
The topic? Recognizing stress and depression in the workplace.
As I listened, I felt it—how deeply personal it all was.
The facts were compelling. The insights were valuable. But as the conversation
moved forward, a question kept circling in my mind:
Do we actually see each other?
Do we see what this really looks like in people’s lives?
I wanted to stand up. To speak out. To share my story.
But I also wanted to stay silent.
Everything in me wanted to say something. And yet, everything in me took the safer route and said nothing.
That pull in opposite directions—the urge to speak and the fear of being seen—is what depression has felt like for me.
When Survival Feels Like Treading Water
After the meeting, I texted my husband:
"The lunch meeting was heavy, helpful, and I feel like I need a big cry of release and relief. Mental health in the workplace, stressors, suicidal signs."
It felt like everything and nothing at once. Heavy and light. Suffocating and freeing.
Because the truth is, I’m on the other side now, but every day is a choice—a commitment to taking care of my mental health.
And this time last year, I wasn’t sure I’d make it through.
Every time I got into a car, I thought about all the ways I could escape.
Taking a turn too fast.Veering into a telephone pole.Jumping out of the passenger seat.
Typing these words makes my stomach turn. But they were real.
For days.
Weeks.
Months.
I remember gripping the steering wheel so tightly, my knuckles white, as those thoughts ran through my mind. I remember the tears falling down my face as I forced myself to stay in my lane.
I remember the faces of the people I love flashing in my mind—the ones who would have to receive the news if I chose differently.
It took everything in me not to make that choice.
And it took everything in me to choose to stay.
Letting Go, Making Room
At some point, we all find ourselves in deep water—treading, gasping, wondering if we have what it takes to get to the other side.
For the last two years, I’ve been letting go:
Letting go of the virtual assistant business I built for nearly 20 years.
Letting go of the identity I built with it.
Letting go of the expectations—mine and others’.
But this wasn’t just a career shift.
I was facing myself—my life, my relationships, my choices.
Letting go of relationships that no longer fit.
Letting go of the pressure to be everything to everyone.
Letting go of the resentment, the exhaustion, the survival mode that never let me breathe.
It felt like losing myself.
But what I didn’t see at the time was that in the letting go, I was making room.
When I think back, I picture myself in the deep end of a pool—barely keeping my head above water.
Kicking.
Struggling.
Gulping for air.
I can hear the voices around me—the ones who didn’t understand, the ones who checked in, the ones who saw but didn’t know what to say.
It was too much.
Kick. Kick. Kick.
Gulp.
Arms out.
"Just keep going.""You’ve got this.""You can do this."
And that’s when Regionally Rooted was born.
Because we aren’t meant to do this alone.
Why This Work Matters
I know what it feels like to be unseen.
I know what it feels like to be dismissed, overlooked, or treated as just another
transaction.
That experience shaped me.
It made me more aware, more intentional, and more committed to changing the way businesses operate—from the inside out.
Regionally Rooted was built from that lived experience.
From recognizing how much small moments matter.From knowing that the difference between a business people tolerate and a business people love is often just one thoughtful detail, one moment of recognition, one experience that made them feel valued.
More Than Just a Business
Regionally Rooted isn’t just a business.
It’s a belief.A way of showing up.A way of building something that lasts.
It’s about people first, always.
Because I believe when people—leaders, employees, and customers—feel seen, valued, and heard, everything changes.
Work feels more meaningful.Teams collaborate better.Businesses don’t just retain employees—they retain trust.
And people don’t come back just because of a service.
They come back because of a connection.
Starting another business wasn’t part of the plan. But in many ways, this has been a full-circle moment.
And I couldn’t be more grateful to be here.
What’s Coming Next
This is Part 1 of a bigger story.
A story of resilience, of rebuilding, of creating something that feels deeply personal and wildly needed.
In Part 2, I’ll share more about:
What Regionally Rooted looks like in action—how small moments create lasting impact and why the little things in business and leadership matter more than we realize.
Meeting you where you are—honoring your strengths, navigating your challenges, and walking alongside you as you move toward what’s next.
How this journey is shaping me—not just in business, but in life.
Because this isn’t just about work.
It’s about how we move through the world, the people who hold space for us, and the small moments that change everything.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going 💬
Have you ever had a moment where business felt deeply personal? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your experiences.
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