For the first half of my life, I lived a traditional lifestyle as a corporate executive. There were happy moments with my kids, but I didn’t know how to express those moments of happiness. In January 2020, with my children grown, I semi-retired to focus on creating a happy and fulfilled life. I volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate® (CASA) to help children who have experienced abuse or neglect and raised funds for BuildOn to help build a school in Nepal. I started volunteering at the Dallas Zoo and currently work there full-time as an educator, teaching children and adults about conservation, kindness, empathy and compassion.2020 was only the beginning of my healing journey. I had been struggling with identifying and expressing my emotions from childhood through my adult life. it wasn't until late 2021 when I was able to admit how seriousness of my mental health struggles to only one person, Beth. Our paths led us to each other and allowed me to finally understand what a safe, loving space felt like and what a truly extraordinary relationship we had. Now, I am sharing what we’ve learned to inspire others to create the same safe, loving environment for themselves and those they love.Our children’s mental healthiness program, Making Friends With Feelings™ is focused on establishing healthy conversations about emotions early in a child’s life. By starting with preschool and elementary students, we hope to contribute to the prevention of mental health challenges that often show up in adolescence. Our long-term intention is to have a multi-generational impact to accelerate the culture change needed to embrace and support proactive mental healthcare — for everyone, at any age.