#1 Introduction to Life's Toolbox
Welcome to my solutions-oriented & growth-focused publication!
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Greetings, fellow apprentice of Life!
In January of 2021, I said goodbye to seven years of teaching at the private preparatory school that brought me to Texas. Despite the benefits of health insurance, sick days, and week-to-month long vacations, 70-90 hour weeks took a toll on my mind, body and spirit - and I’d become too famous.
You might be thinking: “I’ve never heard of you so you can’t be that famous.” And you’d be absolutely right. I’m not that famous. But imagine being a teacher, administrator, and staff member (simultaneously) at a K-12 school of 1200 students, and having developed a presence of 600,000+ followers within months on TikTok - the app of the youth.
My colleagues thought I was dancing my life away (I’ve never danced on the internet), and students were grappling with seeing me as a figure of authority and a creator (though wholesome and educational) they could watch on their phones.
Now imagine going to work and being disrespected & undermined by entitled colleagues, and then going home to emotional DMs from people telling you that your videos are the reason they stopped being depressed or decided to get their lives in order… My life felt like a contradiction. How could I be helping people around the world online, yet my own community saw me as their lackey?
I truly loved working with my students and watching them grow, but it was time for a change. With some contracts for my company in the works and a book deal from HarperCollins, I parted ways with the school and began the next part of my journey.
I never sought out to become a teacher, but I do enjoy sharing my knowledge to help people grow. I am a philosopher, poet, and a writer; a thinker through and through. I observe, record, and reflect on my experiences as well as those of others because it's my nature. This combination has put me on a mission to help people maximize their potential, and create stronger communities with a healthier environment that we can all share.
This also means I can seem long winded, but in fact, I am just being thorough. Truth be told, I prefer to say less, but it happens that there is always a lot to share when you see things as interconnected as I do.
I grew up without many resources to pull from so my experiences were what I had to draw upon in times of need or challenge. The lessons I found in these experiences became tools I could use to make productive choices and keep moving forward, even when circumstances tried to pull me back. I didn’t realize others might benefit from my tools until I was encouraged to share them, and was met with a powerfully positive response. I had been told many times before that I have wisdom to share, but I had never stopped to think of harnessing it for a greater purpose.
Through this publication, I will share weekly public essays focused on my experiences, observations, and thoughts. I will share content such as journal prompts, recipes, and activities when I have something I think you would benefit from. These resources will always be free because I am trying to help as many people as I can with what I’ve learned on my journey. My community here is open to all so everyone can comment, interact, and grow.
In addition to the above, paying subscribers will have access to:
Weekly voice notes/podcasts
A monthly wellness Q&A column.
Founding members will have access to everything and:
Monthly “office hours” webinars with me to chat, ask questions, and learn more about my tools.
I recognize we are living in difficult times and not everyone can offer financial support to creators. For those who can, do not underestimate the power of your contribution. You help me maintain my independence, control over my work, freedom to share, and support my family. I’ve spent the past few years making content to help people with their mental health, physical fitness, and spiritual awareness - the majority of it free - and creating quality content takes time and energy. Your support helps me continue sharing content that everyone can enjoy and learn from. I feel blessed to have received such an enthusiastic response to my work, and look forward to sharing more.
So welcome to Life’s Toolbox, a publication dedicated to learning lessons and creating an arsenal of irreplaceable tools. I hope my stories, reflections, observations, and musings help you face your own experiences, and encourage you to think of what tools you have waiting to be forged. My main objective with all of my work is to create a better future, and I believe that starts with us.
I'm thrilled to be here. Let’s sharpen our tools and become a force to be reckoned with.