Gillian Stevens confesses that she has been a caregiver her entire life, albeit not without great cost to her own life and health. Now, she is extremely grateful for those challenging life experiences and the resulting personal growth that led her to where she is now. She is passionate about sharing what she learned and, more specifically, how she went from surviving to flourishing by focusing on herself and improving her life. She speaks on this topic around the country.

Gillian recently retired from her job as a secondary school guidance counselor, where she empowered at-risk youth to overcome barriers to success. She has now pursued her dream of becoming an author and is passionate about sharing her book’s messages of the need to prioritize our personal well-being and to be bold enough to ask for support when necessary.

She believes we all need relevant and practical resources to meet the increasing demands both in our jobs and in our lives. She gained experience working with the bereaved as a volunteer with Hospice Wellington and helps individuals cope with the transition related to all loss, not just related to death.

Gillian credits her most significant personal growth to her relationships with her three children. She raised them to adulthood while employed as a teacher, and that only contributed to her passion for helping others. Her lived experiences during that time included managing co-dependency related to addiction, single parenthood, and financial stress while embroiled in the legal system.

Within her writing and speaking platforms, Gillian thoughtfully and compassionately melds her stories with the wisdom of many writers whose words provide inspiration and support. Her message of encouragement is that we possess an inner power, courage, and strength, and we can rely on these during times of struggle. We are not, however, meant to do it alone. Together, we can do more than survive or even thrive. We can flourish in our lives!