Shan and Tam... Sisters Breaking Barriers

I must admit, writing on this topic was particularly difficult for me as I have so many thoughts on what the concept of making room in my life means. Making room for Shanique means anything that I do that brings me joy. I work in a profession that emphasizes self-care and highlights the impacts of compassion fatigue. I have found that in consistently doing for others, though I preach it, I usually end up neglecting myself and my needs.  There are days I feel like the famous energizer bunny because of life and the many responsibilities I have that just keep me going and going and going. Life caught up with me and I started losing my hair. After several specialist appointments I was told I had Alopecia Areata. There are many causes for this condition, but most notably one’s lifestyle and diet can also significantly contribute to its existence. Some may think it is only hair, but for me, losing my hair felt like losing a significant part of me. I have prayed about it, cried about

On October 24, 2017, my life changed. There I was sitting in my car at a red traffic light when I heard a loud bang and felt myself jolt forward simultaneously. I looked around to identify where the sound came from and through my rear-view mirror, I saw a heavy- duty truck that was basically in the back seat of my minivan. The back windows of my vehicle were shattered and the body twisted. I never saw, or heard, anything coming when I got hit. The truck, which was pulling a trailer of work equipment and tools, and driven by an apparent distracted young man, crashed into my vehicle without braking. The young man told me he had not seen the red light nor that I had stopped in front of him. The resulting effects of the accident were even more devastating than I initially thought. While I was able to walk away from it, my injuries - physically, mentally and emotionally - disabled me for many subsequent months. It has been two and a half years since the accident and I still ha