Chronicles of a Healing Soul

When was the last time you sat and did nothing? Ok, so I know we are all very busy people. We don't have time just to sit. Especially when we have a career to achieve, kids to care for, health issues to tend to.... You get the picture.
But I believe that slowing down and being in the moment is vital to actually living. And ok, I know this is crazy. But I believe we can still choose the moment even when it's busy.
Today, I share a story about trying to live in the moment, despite crippling back pain. I also share a poem I wrote just for you!
Music Credit: Intro music for this podcast was mixed by the lovely STELLA! 
Scripture Reference:
This is the passage about God as "I AM": Exodus 3:7-10, 13-14

My brother's college sports career came interrupted by a severe sports injury. Only two years later, he experienced disk herniation in his lower back. But his story is not just about sports injuries and chronic pain. It's a story of identity, leaning on others, and the development of inner strength. 
Find out with me what happened when Jonny's passion, running track, was taken from his life for years. Could the loss of a good thing end up leading to something even better?
 

Today I talk about my struggle with depression in the midst of chronic pain. I personally think I am a pretty passionate person, but this kind of pain kept me from feeling much passion at all. Have you ever felt the same way?
Depression is real and not a topic I want to toss around lightly, but I'm also not afraid to talk about it either. If you're ready to brave these topics, let's dive in together!
 
Music Credit: Intro music for this podcast was mixed by the lovely STELLA! 
 
Readings: The Unending Flight by Elizabeth Hayashi; and A Wasteland Where Flowers Grow by Elizabeth Hayashi
References: 
"Depression (Major Depressive Disorder)." Mayo Clinic. October 14, 2022. Accessed September 24, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007. 
 

A good vantage point allows us to see more clearly. We become aware of beauty we hadn't noticed before. We get a better perspective of the world. Can suffering become a vantage point? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
 
Music Credit: Intro music for this podcast was mixed by the lovely STELLA! 
Reading: Vantage Points by Elizabeth Hayashi
References: 
Anne Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts (Eugene Oregon: W Publishing Group, 2010), pp. 131-132

What do you do when embracing the future means leaving precious things behind? Today, I share about my first year of living completely on my own from my family. How does one balance such excitement and heartbreak?
 
Music Credit: Intro music for this podcast was mixed by the lovely STELLA! 
Reading: On Growing Up by Elizabeth Hayashi 
 

Sometimes brave choices only follow deep anxiety. Today, I'm getting a little crazy and sharing a few of my teenage diary entries. GASP!
As a girl, I felt led to be more than the awkward, nerdy church girl everyone knew me to be. How could I move beyond the comforts of my familiar small town and embrace college life in California. My diary entries reveal how I finally made peace with this decision.
 
Music Credit: Intro music for this podcast was mixed by the lovely STELLA! 
References: 
I wish I could remember the lovely story book that talked about the butterfly and the chrysalis. If this is something you want to know about, leave a comment. And I will do more digging.
Scriptures Referenced
"God chose the weak things of the world..." 1 Corinthians 1:27
The story about God calling an individual - Jeremiah 1
"a shelter and shade..." Isaiah 4:2-6
The 'sign in the bathrooms' was a Scripture verse: "Be strong and courageous..." Joshua 1:9
Scripture about shining for Jesus - Matthew 5:14-16

When I lost my Grandad, it felt like a gut punch. Today, I share my thoughts on grief. If you are grieving a loved one, this episode is my best attempt at giving you a hug through my podcast.
Music Credit: Intro music for this podcast was mixed by the lovely STELLA! 
References: The scripture I referenced in this podcast is Psalm 34:18.

In the middle of the ugly, is joy still possible? Maybe all it takes is a little treasure hunt. Let's search together!
 
Music Credit: Intro music for this podcast was mixed by the lovely STELLA! 
References:
Matthew 6:22-23: "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Anne Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts (Eugene Oregon: W Publishing Group, 2010), p. 105.

Am I the only one who thinks good change is hard? Leaving old struggles, labels, and pain can seem impossible! Join me as I explore this challenge.
Music Credit: The instrumental intro in this podcast was mixed by none other than the beautiful STELLA!
References:
Shadows Run ~ by Elizabeth Hayashi

Today I share the second half of my health journey! This episode is especially near to my heart as I talk about things I am facing in the present. Together, we'll tackle topics of thyroid issues, burnout, chronic pain, and wrestling faith. 
Can't wait to get started!
Music Credit: The instrumental intro in this podcast was mixed by none other than the beautiful STELLA!
References:
My Reading: Bleeding Woman Part 2, by Elizabeth Hayashi
The story of the bleeding woman – Mark 5:24–34
Book referenced: Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund; ch.2, p.33
Psalm referenced: Psalm 131:1