Mom, bonus mom, wife, yoga instructor, reiki practitioner, baker, student & friend. I was once innocent, shattered & broken. My Mom did great considering the mental abuse she dealt with. She'd say, "your Dad may not be here emotionally but he's a great provider". They divorced when I was 13 & I moved out at 15 because of abuse from my brother. My Mom let him stay in the house- I felt I wasn't important or good enough to protect. I dropped out of high school in the 10th grade & went back to a "job study" program a year later where I did classes until 11:30 & worked afterward as part of my grade. My best days were marrying my husband Daniel, graduating from high school, medical assisting school & yoga teacher training. Losing my Mom to cancer was my worst day she was only 51. I miss her everyday. Being a Mom & Stepmom is a tough balance. Gaining my step kids trust & love while maintaining the family values I've created for my 3 kids is difficult. My greatest challenge though is around the scale, body image & eating. I'll always be in recovery from ED. It all comes down to control. What I thought was control was really just distorted thoughts. I've always had issues with body image but it got bad after my 3rd child. I went from 140lbs to 98lbs in a under a year. I was in and out of the hospital with potassium deficiency & constant fatigue. I'm insecure about my smile. My eating disorder took its toll & a year ago I had to pull a bunch of teeth. I couldn't afford implants so right now I have partial false teeth. It's embarrassing because I still can't eat with the partials in so in a restaurant I try not to speak or smile. I have always loved my eyes! I manage life with a yogic lifestyle, personal development, support from loved ones, meditation & mindful eating. Realizing I could have died from this illness & knowing how far I've come I don't think I'd change a thing. These challenges shaped me & gave me my life's purpose to help, heal & inspire. I'm excited about what's next! Growth & my journey promoting wellness & healing. I'm proud of the strength I've gained. I'm proud of my grit! I'm grateful everyday. I am love, light & strength. I’m Sandra. I am worthy!