In honour of the first anniversary of You & I, we hosted a LIVE episode on YouTube and Instagram where we answered some of the question submissions we haven’t yet explored. We took audience questions LIVE with one of my closest friends and people I go to regularly for advice, Caroline Boquist, who is the co-owner of Walrus in Vancouver, BC.

Question 1:

I'm married with kids. I love my husband and my kids but at the same time I'm not fulfilled by my relationship. I've started to develop strong feelings for someone else. It hasn't gone beyond a meeting for coffee and messaging. I don't know what to do. Please help?

Question 2:

How do you find balance between “life is too short” and still achieve goals and get through your daily routine?

Question 3:

I left my drug addict, in all ways abusive, partner after eight years about eight months ago. I was bold, convicted and finally strong enough to leave. But after almost a year, I am more wounded, battered and stuck in my trauma than ever before. Talk therapy is just talk for my mind to get in some words and for my heart to be emotional. But my body is stuck, frozen-filled with stress, trauma, cortisol, paralyzed with PTSD and all things in between. My question to you is, how do I thaw myself and help my body release all of this ‘stuff’?

Question 4:

How do you let go of personal guilt? Guilt is an overpowering emotion that takes up way too much space in my life. The bigger problem is, all my guilt is self-imposed and the person I feel most guilty about is…me. Most of my days are spent thinking about what or how I SHOULD be doing something, even when those around me encourage me or remind me I am doing so many great things. How do I let go of this guilt?

This anniversary episode will be my last for a little while. In order to create the space needed to write my book, To You Who Wonders, You & I will be on hiatus. I love all the learning that has come from exploring your questions and I can’t wait to do this LIVE with you. We hope that you get something helpful out of this conversation. If anything, know that you’re not alone. You see, we all struggle, mourn, yearn, question, laugh and cry. No matter our age, background, or titles, at our core, we are all not so different, You & I. It needs to be said, I am not a professional, just someone with some personal experience to share. I do hope this is helpful, but as always, take the advice that resonates and ignore what doesn't. Don’t hesitate to seek out professional help through a trusted source. Resources on finding trusted professional help can be found here.

Jackie Kai Ellis: Website / Instagram

Caroline Boquist: Instagram

Walrus: Website / Instagram

Indian Residential School Survivors Society: Website / 24-hr Crisis Line 1-800-721-0066

You & I Podcast: Website / Instagram

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