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.
Dr. Vinod Prakash
On one of my trips to rural India, I was wonderstruck to see villagers sharing their sleeping and living areas with their cattle. I saw men carrying a sick person on a charpoy (woven jute cot) because there was no ambulance to transport patients in the remote areas to the hospitals. I found myself heavy-hearted, fighting back the tears. This was a turning point for me. I was inspired to serve the downtrodden for as long as I lived. I resolved to focus on building the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF)- a public charity and to be a supporter of local NGOs in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka to serve the poorest of the poor with zeal and spirit. Read more>>
Samie White
It’s been a joy to work with the younger generation, as it reminds me of when I was in their shoes, facing the mental health and social challenges that life serves up. I worked with a particular client for months who was struggling with depression, anxiety, relationships, and self-esteem. They came to me without peace, living each day in a stressful state, hunched over while sharing the details of their worries about daily life. Read more>>
Carrie Devaney
One of my favorite stories happened recently, during a women’s circle I held last fall for a group of women coming into Ojai for a wedding. A women’s circle is a sacred container where we connect with the earth and each other in an intentional way. The bride wanted to incorporate a spiritual aspect into her wedding weekend—something meaningful and connective for the most important women in her life. Read more>>
Anna Del Castillo
One of the most profound experiences I’ve had in my work with Our Own Deep Wells happened last summer at our Soul Trust retreat in Lake Tahoe. We gathered with a group of seekers—leaders, caregivers, and community builders—who came not just for rest but for reflection. Over two and a half days, we wove together soulful conversations, storytelling, and silence, allowing the land and water to guide us. Read more>>
Kelly Sinning
The career path I have taken has led to many heartwarming moments over the years. One of the things I enjoy most about being a long term therapist is that I get to see and support my clients through so many phases of their lives. I have worked with adolescents from middle school through college and been able to witness them set goals, work hard, excel in college, find meaningful careers, help them through heartbreak, witness them find their partner’s in life. I’ve seen women find themselves in meaningful and powerful ways. I’ve watched couples repair their marriages and find the kind of love they’ve only ever imagined after years of feeling stuck. It is my greatest honor to be able to watch these things unfold day after day. Read more>>
Vittoria Jackson, M. Ed., Psc
Every year, my heart is drawn to a family—one that God places in my path, allowing me to use my gifts to serve in a meaningful way. In the fall of 2024, I met a mother from Detroit, a single mom navigating life with three school-aged children, two of whom had spectrum disorders. The youngest two, ages 5 and 7, had never been to school. They had been overlooked for far too long, shuffled through a system that failed to meet their needs, leaving them chronically absent and struggling with significant academic and developmental gaps. Read more>>
Truvella Reese
For years I have been restoring smiles for human trafficking survivors. Being able to bless them with the gift God gave me has fed my soul. However, it was one particular survivor that had been through severe abuse and had several broken and chipped teeth. Like most of the women I work with, she would smile and laugh with her hand covering her mouth or lower her head. Although she didn’t require extensive work, just a few fillings and a couple of crowns, her results were beautiful. After we had finished cementing the last crowns I handed her the mirror, like I always do. And she just began to sob, uncontrollable tears. Read more>>