Summer 2018. Photo by Sarah C C Lashbrook. Edits by CeCe Lashbrook.

At 38 years old, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I had been unwell for 20+ years but never had any answers to my pains and ailments. When I received my diagnosis and confirmation of the diagnosis from a specialist, I felt empty and hopeless. Somehow I thought there was a magic prescription or cure that would make the pain go away. 
I fell into a deeper depression; when things were at the absolute lowest, I could not stand the idea of living my life so sadly and without purpose.
In the summer of 2019, I found the Fibromyalgia podcast by Tami Stacklehouse. Tami's positive outlook on life with Fibromyalgia inspired me that my life was not over because I have Fibromyalgia. I could learn to live with my illness.  I decided to enroll in college for the first time in my life. A few month into the program, I took a career aptitude test, and it made me realize that I wanted to peruse a career in wellness and coaching. ​The real "ah-ha" moment was one day after class, sitting and chatting with a classmate, I confided in her that I wanted to be a Fibromyalgia coach (first time I said it out loud) and she responded with excitement that I would be an excellent coach.
All of this is still a work in progress, I have a list of goals I wish to accomplish by 2024 and the end result, my ultimate goal is that I will be a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach who specializes in addiction and abuse prevention for women.