We LOVE a good story, especially when it’s a heartwarming one. Below, you’ll hear some amazing stories from incredible business owners, practitioners, and creatives and artists.

Allison Duquette

Being a psychotherapist can be one of the most rewarding careers, due to holding space for someone who is offering up their most vulnerable moments. The flip side of being an emotional support is also holding space for the heaviest of moments, thus draining our own emotional battery. Often times, when I start to feel the emotional fatigue, something happens that brings me back to the true beauty of this job. As a teen experiencing depression and undiagnosed ADHD, I was put into therapy myself. The moments I most fondly remember are the times I talked about shoes with my therapist. Unbeknownst to me, she was building rapport and providing a safe space for me to ‘just be’, without the expectations and obligations that went with being that age. The longer I worked as a therapist, the more I understood the power of that experience and attempted to provide the same for my clients. A few years ago I found my former therapist on Psychology Today and sent her an email, reiterating the power of that experience and how that has encouraged and shaped me nearly 25 years later. She replied with delight that I had acknowledged how our work together has had a lasting impact, and as she was getting to the end of her career, feeling validated for knowing she made a difference. Read more>>

Erin Mahoney

When people ask how I got into fitness, I always tell them that I actually got a 4-year degree in something completely unrelated- which is a surprise to many! I originally went to school to pursue broadcast/multimedia journalism. After graduating, I got my first job in the field working for a small company. Little did I know, the 2 years I spent at this company would change my life forever! Unlike most, my first “real” job in the field was not a pleasant experience. I was naive, hungry for a paycheck and overlooked a lot of things that did not feel right to me in the workplace. I was scared to speak up, because afterall, this was my first job post-college and I didn’t want to lose it. I fell victim to a boss that manipulated me, threatened me, intimated me, swore at me, silenced me-on a daily basis. I let it go on for a lot longer than I should have and it took a huge tole on my mental health. Afterall – there’s no playbook on what to do when you’re faced with an emotionally and mentally abusive boss, especially at such a young age. Over time I developed severe social anxiety. I couldn’t have a simple conversation with strangers or make eye contact with people without burning up inside. The anxiety had taken over my life and I didn’t even realize what was happening. I was miserable! While at this job, I had always worked out on my own but decided I needed another outlet. There was a boxing gym conveniently located across the street from my work. I walked in one day, tried a class, and fell in love. Read more>>

Greg Kettner

I’m a speaker who is on a mission to help 1 million people talk about mental health at work. After a recent keynote, my friend Scott and I were having dinner, and he shared with me how important my topic of “Reach Out” when you need to regarding mental health. Scott and I became friends several years prior; we follow each other on social media and have been guests on each other’s podcasts. I asked him as I was curious what stood about about my talk versus my other talks and social media posts. He got quiet and then shared the following story with me. Read more>>

Wally Bartfay

logoBold Journey Magazine Sitemap Nominations About Bold Journey Bold Journey Podcast Privacy & Terms of Service Categories Leadership Development Mental Health Relationships Productivity Resilience Confidence Technology Search Bold Journey Search Meet Wally Bartfay October 10, 2024 We were lucky to catch up with Wally Bartfay recently and have shared our conversation below. Read more>>

Victoria Mahabir

Yes, there is a particularly heartwarming story that stands out in my career. A woman who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer came to me the day after her diagnosis. She was understandably overwhelmed and seeking any form of support that could help her through this challenging time. From the very first session, I could see her determination and resilience. She made a commitment to see me once a week from the beginning of her diagnosis through to the day she went into remission. Read more>>

Eric Chow

In March of 2022, a bright 9-year-old girl, whom we’ll call “Maggie” to protect her privacy, walked into my office, accompanied by her determined and hopeful mother. Maggie, who wore glasses prescribed by her ophthalmologist, had been struggling with daily headaches over the past four months, especially after long school days and during reading. Alongside the headaches, Maggie’s academic performance had been declining—she was receiving D’s and F’s in school, and her teacher mentioned that she seems to be struggling with copying notes from the board. Read more>>