To everyone who has supported me through this fundraiser in the past: thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Your generosity carried me through an incredibly difficult chapter of my life. Because of your support, I was able to keep gas in my car, maintain utilities during the winter, afford groceries, continue prioritizing movement and wellness, and give myself the space to grieve my brother with care and dignity on his birthday in March. More than anything, your support reminded me that community exists — and that I did not have to navigate everything alone.

Over the past year, I’ve been rebuilding after a contracting experience that left me financially strained and emotionally exhausted. While I initially hoped accountability and resolution were possible, I ultimately chose to redirect my energy toward healing, rebuilding, and creating a more sustainable future for myself and my work.

That rebuilding process has been intentional.

I’ve slowly begun restructuring my private therapy practice in a way that allows me to continue supporting others without sacrificing my own wellbeing in the process. I no longer want to operate from burnout or survival mode just to make ends meet. I want to build something sustainable, community-centered, and rooted in long-term healing.

One thing that has consistently kept me grounded throughout this process has been movement — fitness, dance, and somatic practices that reconnect the body and mind during periods of stress, grief, and trauma. Experiencing firsthand how transformative movement can be has inspired me to expand my work in this direction.

I’ve decided to pursue my Group Fitness Instructor Certification and will also be traveling to Mexico City for an educational and professional development opportunity to learn from dance and somatic practitioners whose work centers trauma-informed movement and healing.

This next chapter is deeply important to me — not only for my own growth, but for the future of the care I hope to provide others.

Because of the financial impact from my previous work situation, I’m still navigating significant business-related debt, which has made funding these opportunities independently more difficult than anticipated while rebuilding my practice.

I’m asking for support from my community to help invest in this next stage of my professional and personal growth.

Contributions will go toward:

• $800 for an online self-paced Group Fitness Instructor Certification course, including testing fees

• $1,700 for travel-related expenses connected to my Mexico City training, including transportation, meals, and paying down the credit card balance used to secure flights and lodging

Every contribution, share, message of encouragement, and show of support genuinely makes a difference. Thank you for continuing to believe in me as I work toward building a life and practice rooted in sustainability, healing, movement, and community care.

With sincere gratitude,

Michelle