When I was a small child, I struggled immensely with my ability to read. I was born with a lazy eye and astigmatism, which meant that for the first four years of my life, I wandered around half-blind. When I finally got glasses, it felt like a whole new world opened up to me. However, while I could now see clearly, I was developmentally behind my peers in many ways, including reading.

In first and second grade, I found myself at the bottom of my class in nearly every subject. Determined to improve, I worked hard to catch up. One year, my efforts paid off when I received an award for reading 1,000 books aloud to my mom and my two oldest siblings, Ramona and Sherry. It was a big accomplishment, especially since the next closest person had read only 400 books. I later learned that my mom secretly wanted to show the other moms how much effort she had put into helping me succeed. Her support made all the difference.

I was fortunate to have many caring and dedicated teachers who helped me along the way. One teacher introduced me to a special reading machine that became both a tool for learning and a source of mischief. The machine worked by sliding a card through it, which triggered a strip of recordable tape to say the word written on the card. It was fascinating to me. But I soon discovered that I could erase the correct word and record the wrong word in its place. While my teacher was not amused by my newfound “skill,” I secretly enjoyed being a little mischievous. That experience, though naughty, also reflected my natural curiosity and desire to learn in my own way.

It’s interesting to reflect on how far I’ve come since those early struggles with reading. Despite my challenges, I eventually overcame them and developed a passion for writing and sharing knowledge. Today, I channel that passion into teaching others about essential oils, something I deeply enjoy. I find it especially fulfilling to share oils that can help children improve their ability to focus—a challenge I faced as a child and continue to manage as an adult.

I feel truly blessed to have discovered an essential oil focus blend that has significantly improved my ability to concentrate. It’s remarkable to think about how my journey has come full circle—from a little girl struggling to read to someone who writes, teaches, and shares tools that can help others. My past struggles have shaped me, and I’m grateful for the lessons they’ve taught me about perseverance, curiosity, and finding joy in the process of learning.

When I was a small child I struggled with my reading ability. I was born with a lazy eye and astigmatism. The first four years of my life I wandered around half blind until I got glasses. This opened up a whole new world where I could see, but I was behind developmentally.

When I was in first and second grades I was at the bottom in all my classes at school. In my effort to catch up and improve myself, one year I received an award for reading 1,000 books to my mother and my two oldest siblings, Ramona and Sherry. The next closest person read only 400 books.

I had many helpful, caring teachers. I remember one machine that helped me read. It would make the sound of a word when you slid a card through the machine. It had a strip of recordable tape attached to cards. You would slide a card through the device, then you would hear the word you just read. I learned how to erase the right word and, replace it with the wrong word instead. The teacher was not happy with my newly discovered knowledge of the reading machine.

I find it interesting that in spite of my difficult past with reading, I have risen above my reading obstacle. I now enjoy writing, and sharing my love of essential oils. I have come full circle, sharing oils that may help small children with their ability to focus which I feel was one of my challenges as a child, and has followed me into adulthood. I have been blessed with an essential oil focus blend, that I have found greatly aids my ability to focus.