Today, we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Fajardo . Ashley was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Lauren Alexander.
Ashley, can you walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My name is Ashley, I’m 39 years old. I was sexually abused by my grandfather at the age of 7 years old. I held my shame and my story for 31 years before I finally was able to speak out and share my story. It took my abusers death to help give me the strength to speak up for the inner child in me. I went through a tough childhood, my parents divorced my dad was non existent I suffered heavily with depression and anxiety. In 2019 shortly after the birth of my last child, I suffered heavily from PTSD and post partum depression that I was suffering from suicidal ideation. I saught therapy and after 4 long intensive years in therapy I decided to start my own podcast about my mental health journey.
Let’s talk about your work and career – what else should we know?
I started my podcast in August of 2022 Called Speaking Out the podcast and Volunteering and becoming a Sexual Assault Advocate with my local rape and crisis center in Jan 2023. I want to change the stigma around mental health and encourage others to speak on things that matter to them. Our voices matter, our stories matter, WE matter. What I most love about my journey is the ability to be there for others in a time of need. Sexual assault is a topic not highly discussed enough. The transition from victim to survivor has shown me I too can be part of the change. Starting my podcast was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I’ve received numerous messages about others in similar situations and I’m just glad that we can communintively impact lives for the better.
So, as we mentioned to our audience earlier, you were introduced to us by Lauren Alexander and ital wellness and we really admire them and what they’ve built. For folks who might not be as familiar, can you tell them a bit about your experience with ital wellness.
Lauren is my friend, more like a soul sister. We actually lived in the same apartment building for years before our beautiful friendship blosommed. After finally meeting her i followed her on Instagram on her ital Wellness page and I was blown away by her message of positivity and wellness. She offers a variety of wellness products which I have been a fan of and also a client of. During Covid Lauren would bring me personalized teas to help us battle sickness and it was then when I was truly taken by her products. She stands behind quality and ethical sourcing. She cares about the environment and thrives on the healing from nature. She is such a positive spirit that naturally her products speak for themselves. I have multiple bracelets I wear from ital for the healing properties and I use her Vital Glow tea for my skin and Divine Feminine Tea for those menstrual times and itals Rose Hips water for my makeup primer. My kids even love her sea moss gummies! I love her passion and I admire her contribution to this world as wellness as a whole, mind body and spirit. Go check her out!
Instagram: Speakingoutthepodcast
Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/1gomQMyA5pMKvlUSWSRYEe?si=g0IiIu5kTy6np4qIODWo8w
Image Credits
Ital_wellness
