I am a Life Coach, a mom, a wife, and was once a widow.  I grew up in Idaho, the youngest of six kids. Just like the Brady Bunch (well almost). Three boys, three girls; two families became one.  My present day family —husband, 3 kids, 2 dogs— and I spend our time between the mountains of Idaho and the desert of southern Utah.

In 2010, when I was 38 years old,  my world turned upside down. Quickly, without warning. My first husband, driving home from work, was killed in a car accident.  Our daughters were three and five at the time. When I became a widow and a single parent, I stopped working on myself and focused my attention on my daughters and navigating the new reality that my husband wasn’t coming home.

I did some grief therapy, which was helpful for a few sessions, but then fell flat. I wasn’t feeling better. I continued to seek other forms of healing.

I started getting out in nature again; where I’ve always felt true connection. One of my favorite things to do is hike and trail run. I started running again. I signed up for a few races. I got into the best shape of my life and completed my first 50K called the “Wild Idaho.” Yes, it was wild, and this Idaho girl loved it. Trail running and hiking helped me then, and still do to this day. 

I love to cook. I started getting creative in the kitchen again. I even started a popsicle business called Heidi O’s Gourmet Popsicles. For about a minute.

I love interior design. We were in the middle of a home remodel and addition when my husband died. I decided to move forward with making our home the place we had dreamed of. Yes, it was different now that my husband was gone, but I still wanted it to be a warm and welcoming space for my daughters and me to come home to.  

I was staying busy, and I seemed fine to others, but I was not feeling great. I wanted to silence the critic in me. Cherish myself more, and honor the amazing people and opportunities I was being presented with in my life. I read The Law of Attraction, and listened to Jerry and Ester Hicks, and Jess Lively. It was fun to imagine all that I could manifest and it felt good to focus on the positive. But, I was still missing a key component to my well being. I needed to learn how to implement what I was learning, into real results. 

I was then introduced to Brooke Castillo’s podcast, which led me to The Life Coach School. Life coaching was the missing piece — enabling me to better understand myself, the life I was living, and the life I wanted to create. This began my journey of designing a life I love. This is my wish for YOU too.  

—Heidi