Until Next Time...

I promised myself that once I was able, I would write again and never take that ability for granted. This will be my last post (I’d never say forever, but at least for now and maybe in this context).

Things have taken a different turn, but for those close to me, here’s what’s been going on.

First, I’m going to “blame” Kundalini yoga for turning my life upside down. 😆 I thought I’d do a few 40-day sadhanas to deepen my practice, and—well—things went sideways! 😅

HLK Wellness will no longer be as it was. I’ll be taking my work life in a new direction. Part of this shift happened because things went sideways, and part of it was due to events over the last six months. If you follow me, you may have noticed things got pretty quiet around May.

It actually started a few weeks before that, when I decided to take my professional life in a different direction. I applied for a sponsorship for women in safety, telling the universe that if this was the path for me, I’d get it. And...turns out, I got it! 🙌

Then…I cut my finger. Ironically, this small moment changed everything, though it really had nothing to do with anything. 😂

As the cut on my right index finger healed, the finger and the back of my hand started going numb. It was a slow process—soon, my other fingers and hand (except my thumb) felt numb too. The sensation traveled up my arm, into my armpit, and across my shoulder blade. Then, my right leg and foot joined in.

It completely disrupted my life. I couldn’t type or hold a pen properly. When I held a knife, I had to wrap my fingers tightly around it, because I couldn’t feel if they were there. I couldn’t feel if my fingers were in my pocket or whether I was grabbing the right item from my purse. My strength was gone—I couldn’t open jars or certain lids. 😤 Frustrating doesn’t begin to explain it. I walked (and drove!) even though it felt like I had a clubfoot.

Luckily, the numbness in my leg and foot subsided relatively quickly (in hindsight), so I didn’t have to worry about walking or driving anymore.

I turned to my usual arsenal of modalities for help, but everyone seemed stumped, and I got little relief. At the nudging of two of my practitioners, I visited my family doctor—not without some eye-rolling and sighing, of course. 🙄

I knew the Western medicine route could take time, so I didn’t expect much. I got bloodwork done, then waited to see a neurologist for nerve testing. Thanks to a cancellation, I got in quickly. The test results came back normal, and I thought that was it—just another one of those weird things my body goes through. If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’ve had my share of odd physical symptoms.

But the neurologist suggested an MRI to check my brain and spinal cord. Again, I thought it was just a box to check.

Time passed, and I regained most of the strength in my hand and fingers, though I still have some numbness in my fingertips. The good news: I can type again! 🎉 I can also write with a pen and open jars and bottles.

I went for the MRI on September 5th, and a week later, the neurologist called. The MRI showed lesions on my brain and spinal cord. 😳 This came as a shock—I didn’t even know what a brain lesion was (it basically means damage to the brain).

The neurologist mentioned that this could indicate MS (multiple sclerosis), but since I’d only had this one “episode,” he didn’t make a diagnosis. He explained that “episodes” can include symptoms like blurry vision, dizziness, numbness, vertigo, and anxiety. Though he didn’t ask, I could connect this with some of the weird physical symptoms I’ve had over the years.

They ran more bloodwork to rule out other possibilities, and everything came back fine.

So, what does this mean? It means my body has been trying to tell me something for a long time, and I’m finally listening. I don’t need a formal diagnosis or a label. My focus now is on healing my body. Everything I was doing—oxygen therapy, red light, supplements, chiropractic care, massage—is part of my holistic approach to heal my brain.

Next steps: clean up my diet, increase exercise, stay positive, and focus on what’s best for me. Life is short, and everything can change with one phone call or one piece of news.

Despite everything that happened from May to September, I completed my safety certification. I’m ready to take on a different path for a while and really focus on myself.

I’m sharing this as there’s therapy for me in writing it down. I believe in honesty, in sharing openly, and in the power of hearing others' stories to help us heal.

I also felt I needed a close to this last chapter. I have no idea where life will take me or what things will look like 5 months or 5 years from now, but symbolically, this chapter has come to an end. No matter what lies ahead, I feel ready to face it with courage and gratitude.

Thank you all for being a part of my journey—your support means the world to me. I love you all! 💖

Bye for now.