Tell me about yourself.

Hi! I’m Ashley, 25 years old from Southwestern, Ontario Canada. I’m a Full-Time Fundraising Coordinator, a Part-Time Marketing Coordinator and an Online Health and Wellness Coach with a passion for serving others, impacting others and inspiring others to lead a healthy and active lifestyle while chasing JOY.

I’m an athlete at heart (I majored in Sport Management in University), growing up playing basketball my whole life and have made the transition to running. I recently completed my first marathon at Disney in January 2020. Being an Auntie is my pride and joy. And I’m a lover of all things pink and Lilly Pulitzer.

What is an obstacle you have overcome or may still be struggling with daily?

In February 2019, I lost my Dad to cancer. I was 23 at the time and we had just lost 3 of my grandparents in the 4 years before.

My Dad was my best friend. Since his cancer diagnosis and his loss, I’ve made it my mission to continue to carry on his legacy and continue to live a life chasing JOY despite all of the loss we have been through.

We then lost my Grandmother just a few months after my Dad passed away.

Each and every day I struggle with the loss of my grandparents, and especially my Dad. It’s not always easy to hold it together and be the “strong” one. The daily reminders he is gone. The future reminders of not being able to have him walk me down the aisle at my wedding or meet my future children. And the simple things like coming home at the end of the day and him not being here.

I struggle with the guilt of choosing positivity and not “appearing” to be as devastated as others when it comes to the loss our family has gone through.

What are you doing to achieve your goals or overcome your obstacles?

Leading an active life as an athlete or simply in the form of exercise has been a passion of mine since I can remember. It’s not the physical benefits from being active that I crave. It’s the mental benefits. The mental release that comes from crushing a workout, finishing a run where it’s just you, the pavement and your headphones.

Each morning when I wake up, I take the time to write 3 things that I am grateful for in my mindset journal, remind myself of the goals I want to accomplish and look forward to a workout knowing that I am blessed to be here and alive to be able to do so. I consistently remind myself to move my body for those who no longer can.

The best part of being so active is the ability to inspire others to do the same and lead the healthiest life they can through being an Online Health and Wellness Coach. Bringing impact to others and encouraging others to chase their goals is a constant reminder that I am here for a reason. Everything in life happens for a reason and our time is short so we must take advantage of the ability to positively impact our own lives and the lives of others.

Do you have any favorite quotes or life mottos you live by? How does it relate to your life?

CHASE joy. CHOOSE joy.

We only have one life and this life gives us a lot of reasons to fall, to stumble and to feel pain. But it also gives a lot of beautiful reasons to smile. A lot of beautiful reasons to make the most of our time here on earth. If I allow the loss I’ve suffered to consume me and my thoughts vs. the happy memories and the blessings, I’m doing the one life I have on this earth a disservice.

Do you have any routines to keep you on track toward your personal goals or success?

5:45 am : Mindset Journal

6:00 am : Workout

10:00 pm: Bedtime and Gratitude

What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?

Quit waiting for the future and live more in the present. Don’t get annoyed when Dad texts you to drive safe when there’s only one snowflake. You’ll miss those texts.

Stop saying “Mom lost her Dad young but that will never happen to me”.

Quit with the never. Be present. Choose happy and positivity and don’t let stress consume you.

Life will work itself out the way it is supposed to. Quit caring about what other people think.

What advice would you give to others?

Move your body. Take care of your body. Choose joy and positivity. Learn early and quickly to surround yourself in an environment that uplifts you and doesn’t bring you down. Be wise about the people you choose to spend your time with.

Do you have a mentor or someone who keeps you on track or accountable?

Kim Fitzpatrick. She’s my accountability coach but also an incredible friend and listener. She opened me up to the potential and opportunity as an online health and wellness coach and supported my journey into the incredible community that has absolutely been an incredible support in grieving and navigating life.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful to who helped get you to where you are?

When they say it takes a village - they mean it.

I’m not able to achieve success without the help of my parents, my boyfriend, my grandparents, my sibling (brother & sister in law), my coaches and former teammates.

I’ve learned so many lessons from each.

If there is anything else you feel is important to share, please do.

For those walking through loss: However you choose to heal and grieve is what is right for you. It’s not wrong. It’s right. If lounging at home in your pajamas eating a tub of ice cream is what is helping you heal - I hope that’s exactly what you do. However, I do hope you choose to move your body in some capacity at some point. It can be so easy for us to wallow in what has happened and what life is going to be like. But what’s also healthy is allowing life to happen FOR us. Life may just end up being beautiful even though you’ve lost a loved one. And it’s okay for you to allow it to be beautiful, despite their absence. Recognize when you need those down days and that tub of ice cream, but also recognize when you have the strength or feel like you could muster up the strength to do one or two activities that feel “normal”.

When questions come, and they will - you know the “How’s?” the “What are you doing here’s?” - try and remind yourself that it is coming from a place of compassion. These questions are coming from good hearts, hearts that care about you, and hearts that may not have experienced a loss like you have to even comprehend what you could possibly be going through. So before getting defensive, simply say “It’s what heals me”.

You don’t need to defend yourself for living life on your terms and grieving in YOUR own way.