Mother, wife, daughter, sister, mentor, facilitator, director and teacher. My greatest gift is my ability to teach others how to help love themselves and those around them. I worry about my children's mental health in this crazy world. The best day of my life was becoming a mother. The worst day was 2/14/10 when I lost my partner Jon. I've managed by helping others, doing yoga, kickboxing and talking about my loss and journey with others. I've chosen to turn our tragedy into a way to help as many people as we can. It is important to me to teach others how to find joy after losing their closest person. Being widowed at 34 gave me a vantage point on life many people don't have until they are in their seventies. I now appreciate all that life has to offer. I understand how little things in life truly are the BIG things. I love hard. I feel deeply. I believe in being good to others. Helping others is empowering - it's God's work. I'd tell a 12 year old me to go easy on herself. I wish there was more empathy and compassion in the world. I wish there were more people who truly cared about strangers. I'm excited about the growth of my non profit, We Do Care. I want to teach the world how to better care for those who have lost someone they love. In 10 years I hope to be teaching workshops and classes to empower others and spread ways to help children who have lost a parent. Success to me is feeling like what I do matters - that I'm living in my purpose. Happiness comes from giving love, being loved and sharing simple things with family and friends. Beauty is in the soul. I believe in honesty, love and care. I am real. I care with passion and depth. I am happy. I am joy. I am fulfilled. I am Julie and I love to help others find joy again.