My Story
This movement was born out of my own healing journey with mental health — and a belief that kindness can not only impact lives, but also improve mental health in our communities. Because everyone you walk by has a story, and most people are carrying a weight you can't see.
For most of my life I battled anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. From the outside, it looked like I had everything together. I went to a great college, built a successful career, lived financially stable in New York City, and was surrounded by incredible family and friends. To everyone else, I seemed happy.
But inside, I was silently struggling. I had built an identity rooted in performance — where fear was disguised as ambition — but underneath it all was a deep sense of unworthiness and shame. So I pushed myself even harder to avoid the pain.
Eventually, after years of living in survival mode, my health collapsed and my life hit rock bottom after a series of seven surgeries — months of being unable to walk and nearly losing sight in one eye. It was a season of stillness, refining, and stripping away of everything that had defined me.
Even at my lowest, I found so much joy in connecting with others. There is a quiet magic in a brief conversation, a shared smile, a kind gesture. To me, these weren't just interactions; they were reminders of our shared humanity — the idea that everyone we walk by is living a life as complex as our own.
After two years of recovery, I moved to St. Petersburg and reconnected with my faith. Guided by God and a desire to be a light for those who are silently struggling, I began writing notes. They were simple words of encouragement — the ones I needed to get through my darkest seasons.
I took these notes to parks, grocery stores, bus stops — sitting with strangers to talk about their fears, hopes, struggles, dreams, and wisdom. In every conversation, I saw the same truth: everyone is fighting a battle we can't see, which is why kindness is so powerful.
One moment of compassion can shift someone's entire day, and sometimes even their life. One story can shift a perspective, and one person's kindness can inspire someone to keep going. This is the heart of The Ripple Effect.
When we show up with kindness, we create a more compassionate, connected world. We remind each other that we are seen, that we matter, and that even in our struggles, we are never truly alone.
Today, The Ripple Effect has impacted thousands of lives through notes of kindness, community activations, storytelling, and a growing movement of people who believe kindness changes everything.
And we're just getting started.