Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie, explorer, inquisitive researcher, leader, believer, or just kinda a bit of everything, we all have dreams, desires, thoughts, or wonders that roam throughout our coconuts.

One day you will likely take a leap, be pushed, or sometimes land - without realizing in a place that brings you out of your comfort zone. How you get there, the journey is what I believe to be the most magical time of your life. You may not understand why and it doesn’t always make sense, but how you decide to get up from the fall is one of the bravest things that you can do.

Life as I have learned over the years has not always been the easiest at times and when you fall, get in a funk, and wonder what’s next. Take a hot sec to appreciate what you do have, pause for a breath, exert the energy you need, feel the pain, or don’t. As some and many already know, I lost my mom to the battle of cancer after 6 years of pushing through like the happiest champions out there, she was the most beautiful of souls in the entire world. Just being around her made you feel like you were on a cloud, her smile was something you could feel, she had eyes that made you know that everything was just right, and kindness that would put the word kindness to shame. Her love for life was never on pause. When my mom passed away, I was 15 years old and it felt like I was 35 years old, I was on the fast track to being my mom’s caretaker, coach, financial supporter, and on the path to ultimate success to kick cancers butt and get her better. No matter what age you are, when you fall from trying your very hardest it sucks, stings, and makes you hurt with embarrassment for life takes you for a face plant.

This is how I got up

Be around positive people: I moved in with my dad & stepmom (Smithers, BC) - my dad never allowed me to stop
Language: don’t force grief, often you hear "just let it out, you can’t hold it in…” well, I never spoke about my mom and in a way, I created this alter ego of someone who needed forward trajectory (a sprinter maybe). I may have then accepted her passing and I never wanted to go back to that day
Determine mindset: I spoke of courage & never of sadness/fear
Move: I joined sports - snowboarding on the weekends & competitive martial arts during the week
Keep busy: my first job was as a dishwasher at a local diner
Find smiles: I was friends with everyone (band, jocks, science, teachers, stoners, etc) - never really had a solid crew
Work hard: I worked my butt off in high school and knew I needed scholarships for University
Learn: I learned from my dad he was/is my mentor and someone I can go to
Love: I had a high school first love who brought excitement, care & adventure. I fell here, fell hard. When 5 years passed and a guy I cared about passed away. This one burned. At this time, I was so close to putting the university dream aside to play it safe in a town that shone with beauty but was not what filled my cup. I am sorry for your loss - you know who you are.

The fall though is often part of the journey to your dreams

This may not make sense and you may not think that you have fallen to the point that you fully agree or maybe you’re like, “girl I wrote the book of falling”. To fall, whether you didn’t quite get that grade, get that sports play, fail at your startup, get shut down from asking out that love of your life, or lose the win for someone else’s life you love. If you don’t try .. cliche as ever. You don’t know. I believe that the journey to each of my falls, had taught me how to share kindness, never give up, laugh always, live fully, and to trust beyond the skies. Before I fell I tried so hard to be that hero to my mom’s life every step of the way and when she passed away as much as it hurt. It was my responsibility from the words my mom spoke to work every single moment to make the best life for myself and to never let the doubts, tough times, uncertainty, and future fall(s) stop me.

If I could give any advice to my younger and future self it would be to not hurry those special little moments that life treats us with. Those sunsets, stories, holdings, feelings, celebrations, goofy times, togetherness, kindness the list is infinite!

With falls comes dedication and drive, so never give up. I got my university degree from one of the top schools in Canada, landed upon the incredible job that I have today, in love with a guy who has helped me to not be in constant survival mode, I have incredible family & friends who stoke my fire for curiosity, live steps away from the ocean and continue to trust beyond the skies. So stay tuned - because there is a whole lot of light coming from Krista Jo. :)

Much love. xo