A Private Sanctuary For Thriving and Personal Growth
GratiJoy /ˈgradə, joi/ A divine, open-hearted state of gratitude that culminates in a mystical state of joy.
The Heart of This Site
This isn’t a public blog or a place for likes and shares. It’s a free, private offering—a collection of thoughts, tools, and teachings I’ve gathered along my journey—created first for my three children. My hope is that you will come here for guidance, inspiration, or simple curiosity about who I was and what I cared about most. I’m also sharing it with a few dear friends—people I trust to receive it quietly, sincerely, and with love.
Unfortunately mental health struggles are everywhere. In the U.S., about one in four adults experienced a mental illness in the past year, one in six people age twelve and older struggled with a substance use disorder, and among young people, the leading causes of death are increasingly ‘deaths of despair’—suicides, overdoses, and related struggles. I share these sobering facts not to alarm you, but because they explain why this site matters. I created this site to combat this darkness and shine a light toward growth, healing, and joy.
As someone who has lived in that darkness through addiction and anxiety, I know both the weight of it and a way through. This site is my small piece of light—what I wish I’d had sooner. At its core, it is a living answer to a single question: How do I become the best version of myself—more loving, less afraid, and moved by compassion? Life will always include suffering, but alongside the pain we can also cultivate joy: a deep, sustaining joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances, but on how we choose to meet them. This space exists to help you find more of that joy.
The Spark
The word GratiJoy came to me during a summer mountain bike ride in Crested Butte. My body was alive, heart pumping, and I was overwhelmed with gratitude just to be alive—to move, to breathe, to witness such beauty. That moment cracked me open. Gratitude transformed into joy. Tears of joy flowed, and I felt deeply connected to something greater. Something divine.
Since then, I’ve come to understand that this state—GratiJoy—doesn’t have to happen randomly. It can be cultivated. It’s a practice. A way of being.
Science tells us that joy and gratitude don’t just feel good—they heal. As Dr. Andrew Huberman explains, even a few minutes of genuine gratitude can boost serotonin, reduce stress, and strengthen the immune system. These states literally rewire the brain for health and connection.
“When you're in a state of gratitude, you're no longer in survival—you’re in creation. And that change in state changes your biology.”
— Dr. Joe Dispenza
What You’ll Find Here
This space is organized into three simple yet interconnected sections:
The Body
Foundations of physical well-being: food, sleep, movement, breathwork, and how I structure a Masterpiece Day.
The Mind
Tools for emotional and mental clarity: meditation, anxiety relief, authentic living, forgiveness, and purpose.
The Soul
What I affectionately call “The Upside of Woo”: heart coherence, GratiJoy practice, intuition, awe, connection to nature, love, and the mystics (both scientific and spiritual) who guide me.
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I care deeply about your time. We’re all flooded with information, so I’ve gathered only what I believe matters most—distilled insights from books, podcasts, and lived experience—offered with simplicity in mind. You’ll also find links to music that heals and uplifts, woven in as part of the journey. Think of this site as a toolkit: open it when you need it, take what helps, and leave the rest.
Who This Is For
For my children—standing at the threshold of growth and beginning the lifelong journey of self-discovery. There’s no guidebook for how to thrive so this is my humble attempt. I love life so deeply I feel called to share it—especially now, in a world that often feels heavy with darkness. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can choose to thrive and shine our light, and there’s nothing I want more for the three of you.
For my dear friends—fellow travelers on the winding path of healing, wonder, and curiosity.
For anyone who has had a deeply spiritual experience—left asking, What now?
And for me—so when I lose my footing, I have a place to return to… an organized map of practices and reminders that help me find my way back.
This is everything I wish I had been handed 20 years ago—and also something I had to create for myself. It’s the most honest expression of who I am right now, and creating it has been so fun.
A Gentle Reminder
There’s nothing wrong with you. You are whole, even in your struggles.
Growth is not a punishment—it’s a privilege. It asks for courage, yet it can be playful, soulful, and full of wonder. I believe we came here for this very reason—that our souls chose this “earth school” as a place to grow, to evolve, and to remember more of who we truly are.
And remember: struggle isn’t a detour—it’s part of the path. My own growth path began in 2009, when I stopped drinking. That pain became the doorway. More on that later...
“The root of joy is gratefulness. It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”
— Brother David Steindl-Rast