It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens, but it is never gone.

~ Rose F. Kennedy

Hello Joyful Community!

My name is Christine and I am honored to be your new Wellness Warrior. I wanted to share this quote because it is both a beautiful metaphor and a literal description of healing. It ties into my new role as a Wellness Warrior of Inner Peace/Outer Beauty. It’s important to recognize that time holds a different meaning for everyone; this is especially apparent when referring to healing. While continuing on your journey time can be your friend and constant companion or a burden and steady reminder you want to forget. That’s why it is so important that you are gentle with yourself and go at your own pace. There are no guidelines or time limits to follow or that need to be met. Before I move forward I would like to tell you more about myself and just how I came to this place of connecting the inner and outer self on the journey towards healing.

I have been working to raise awareness on the issues of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse for 15 years. I have also assisted thousands of survivors and those affected through my work at Safe Horizon and, for the past 7 years, Joyful Heart. My roles have been many yet they all held the same purpose--to provide compassion and support to survivors and the community affected by these issues.

After several years as a counselor I noticed two aspects of my life that had changed, my passion to do this work and my appearance. I felt as though I was a shell of my former self, I was burnt out and it showed. It was at this point I decided to take a sabbatical and pursue my other passion, Esthiology and Make-Up Artistry, which I did with the Aveda Institute. After obtaining my license something unexpected happened as I began my new career: people were disclosing their stories to me, many of them stories of survival.

Some were just beginning their healing journey while others were far along. They were survivors of cancer, domestic violence, 9/11, sexual violence and so much more. They all had one thing in common: they wanted to feel good inside and out. They wanted to share their pain and triumph. Their fearlessness was inspiring. I was open to listen and honored to play small part on their healing journey. The entire experience had a profound effect on me. I realized the connection within myself. After almost a decade of working in the field, I was experiencing what some call vicarious trauma and others refer to as trauma exposure response, the transformation that takes place within us as a result of exposure to the suffering of other living beings or the planet. Trauma exposure response can result from deliberate or inadvertent exposure, formal or informal contact, paid or volunteer work. I internalized the stories while not taking care of myself or receiving the support I needed. I embraced my new-found epiphany and realized a couple of things about myself. The first and most important lesson was that I wouldn't be able to assist others if I didn't take care of myself. For me this means having a solid support system and a physical outlet for my emotions (my favorite is walking with my son), being as transparent as possible with myself and those around me, and finding acceptance and love for myself both inside and out. It was at this point I also realized I wanted to return full-time working with survivors and did so at Joyful Heart.

It was through Joyful Heart I was able to join the concept of inner and outer healing. I presented workshops at a local domestic violence shelter on skincare and make-up application. I also worked with local spas, such as Bliss and Exhale to bring the women there for complimentary beauty treatments. It was breathtaking to see the women transform. Even if it was only for a moment, it was her moment.

We play many roles in our daily life yet we need to nourish our mind, body and spirit. My daily practice of self care is waking up 15-minutes before I have to get my son ready for the day so that I can put my make-up on, try to style my hair and choose an outfit based on my mood that morning. If I am feeling cruddy, I still get up and follow my routine because no matter how I am feeling inside, I want to take care of myself. And truth be told, putting on a little blush and mascara makes me feel better every time I apply. There is a lot to be said about the power of taking care of yourself--nurturing your soul while tending to your body--and I am so thrilled to be the one who says it!

I look forward to sharing my DIY skin-care techniques, cosmetic application tips and products that I love. I'll also be sharing information like what to do if someone discloses they are being abused, as well as organizations within the beauty industry that are aligned with Joyful Heart's mission. My goal is to speak to each of you--survivors, healers, teens, men, women--our Joyful Community.

With gratitude,

Christine R.