Before The Book
Before I wrote a book, I had to find my words again.
Writing and reflection have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. But there was a time when I lost confidence in both — and had to learn how to find my way back.
Finding My Voice
I was always a writer
I was always “good” at writing when I was young. I was reflective too. I liked putting my thoughts into words.
Somewhere along the way, I lost parts of that.
I rediscovered my ability to write when I returned to study. I started my degree simply hoping to pass. Instead, I improved, gained confidence and eventually made it into Honours.
It reminded me that I had more to say than I sometimes believed.
When Everything Changed
My brain changed
At 33, I had a stroke.
Life changed, but so did the way my brain worked.
My spelling changed. My writing style changed. Processing information became harder.
It was like those memes of a computer with 100+ tabs open — except for me, they were all stuck...
loading...
I hadn't lost my ability to think or understand. I simply needed more time for my brain to process what was in front of me.
A slower response does not mean a lack of insight
Sometimes I need extra time to take information in, organise it and make sense of it.
Processing time is not the same as understanding.
And sometimes, once I've had that time, I have quite a lot to say.
Learning to Write Differently
I started with one word
At first, journalling wasn't pages of writing.
Sometimes it was just one word.
I would write what I could, leave it, and return to it later when my brain was ready to finish the thought.
Slowly, I found my way back to writing.
Reflective journalling became part of my self-care. It gave me somewhere to slow down, process what I was experiencing and find my words again.
Over time, my ability to process written information became faster.
Although, if it's a smartarse comment I'm providing, that can still arrive pretty quickly.
Reflection Became Part of My Work
What started as self-care became part of how I work
Reflective journalling began as something I did for myself.
Over time, I began to see how powerful reflection could be for making sense of our experiences, recognising our strengths and understanding ourselves with greater compassion.
It became part of how I work with people too.
My approach is grounded in social work, trauma-informed practice and the belief that people are more than what has happened to them.
I believe creating space to pause, reflect and find your own words can be an important part of moving forward.
More Than What Happened to Me
My story is part of me, but it isn't all of me
My experiences have shaped the way I see the world.
They have taught me about resilience, vulnerability, adaptation, self-trust and the importance of being given space to process things in our own way.
But I don't want my story to be defined only by what has happened to me.
I'm interested in what comes next.
In how we grow, reconnect with ourselves, recognise what we bring to the world and create lives that feel meaningful from the inside out.
That's where my work continues to grow.
Today, my work brings together the things that have shaped me — social work, reflective practice, writing, lived experience and a belief in the capacity people have to grow.
I'm interested in the space between where we've been and who we're becoming.
Through writing, speaking, facilitation and reflective wellbeing work, I create spaces for people to pause, think differently and reconnect with themselves.
My work isn't about having all the answers.
It's about creating space for people to discover some of their own.
Living from the Inside Out. 🌸
And Then Came the Book
The words became a book
I didn't set out to write a book.
But the journey of finding my words again eventually led somewhere I couldn't have imagined.
Hope Written Backwards grew from my belief that the experiences we've lived through can hold wisdom — and that sometimes the words we would give our younger selves are also words we need to hear ourselves.
What began with reflection became a collection of stories, wisdom and hope.
And the book became another way to share that message.
Where I Am Now
Still becoming. Still reflecting. Still writing.
I'm still learning.
Still reflecting.
Still finding new words for old experiences.
And still curious about what becomes possible when we give ourselves permission to slow down, listen inward and grow from where we are.
Living from the Inside Out. 🌸