Hello again!

I’m Jacquelyn Louise Dawson, Jackie for short.

I am a wife to a police officer and Army veteran, and a mom to two girls who are bright shiny hearts. Both of my girls are active in their schools including running cross country and track. Most of my joy is found in the simpler things — standing at the edge of a the track / meet course cheering my girls on, walking my dogs, getting crafty, or curling up with a book , podcast, or even a little reality TV. I’ve learned to love the rhythm of an ordinary day.

But my story has not been simple. I grew up the oldest of four in a military family, always moving, always adjusting, always trying to be what everyone needed me to be. For years I carried anxiety, depression, people-pleasing, and codependency as if they were part of me. I’ve walked through trauma as a survivor of sexual assault, abusive relationships, and tragedy through much of my adolescence. I live with an autoimmune disease - celiac disease. I’ve known the pain of endometriosis and the grief of a hysterectomy at a young age. I’ve been burned out, emptied out, and convinced that my worth was in how much I did for others.

And yet — again and again, yoga called me back to myself. It has been my constant lifeline, reminding me that I am more than my suffering, more than the labels I've worn as a mother, woman, and caregiver. It has taught me to rest, to soften, to begin caring for myself as tenderly as I care for others.

Today, I try to live simply. To choose what brings me joy. To honor my empathy not as a burden but as a gift. And to remember, everyday, that I am enough — just as I am.

If you’ve ever felt unseen, too busy, or like you had to prove your worth in order to belong — you are not alone. My hope is that in sharing my story, you see reflections of your own, and that together we can walk the path back to presence, compassion, and ease.