Hi, I’m Chiara Dawn, and I’m a writer who is following my dreams and finding my joy.

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I want to inspire and encourage you to carry on, to get all of your “baggage” sorted and minimized, and to journey with you as we carry on together. I am going to push you a bit, to make you slightly uncomfortable, and to help you carry on; because we don't ever grow when we're comfortable. I feel as though I wouldn’t be contributing to the world the way I was supposed to if I don't talk about ALL of my "stuff". 

 

So what is it "all”? Who am I?

 

I am in my 40's.

I am a single mom.

I am divorced.

I am a former fat girl.

I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and attention deficit disorder.

I dealt with infertility for years and have had 5 miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy.

I built my life around my career and got laid off.

I struggle with depression and anxiety.

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But also:

I like things in lists.

I love wine, cheese, and reading in cozy chairs.

I want to be cool but I’m really kindof a dork.

Without my faith, family, and friends, my life would be a lot less awesome.

 

But who am I beyond this stuff?

 

I have worked hard and continue to work hard to not allow these titles to define me. I am carrying on. I studied psychology in university and have done years of therapy, and don't believe in the "why me" phenomenon; I subscribe to the "what am I meant to do with this situation?" mindset. 

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And I want you to, too.

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And I also want to help those of you who know people who are going through this stuff to better support them and help them feel loved, even when (though) you don’t have the first clue of what to say or do and it’s highly uncomfortable.

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How often do you laugh? What happened to your joy? Let's find it again.

 

So- Life sucks sometimes. Sometimes life sucks a lot and we lie on the floor and sob and scream and wish that the ground would swallow us up. But you know what, there’s light in that despair, and there’s hope, and there’s even laughter and love and a newness and growth that only comes from being in the ground. I believe that Leonard Cohen, a Canadian great, said it best: “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in”.

 

So let’s do this together. Let’s find that light, and crack up while we’re at it.

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Lastly, to you... thank you for journeying with me. I need you as much as you need me.