A Fresh Start, A New Name, and Big Things Coming
If this is your first time receiving a newsletter from me, WELCOME!
And if this is your first time reading this on my website, thank you so much for being here.
(And yes—if you ever want to unsubscribe, the link is always at the bottom. No hard feelings at all.)
I’ve started and stopped newsletters more times than I can count… but I promise I will be more consistent from now on!
A New Name for a New Chapter
Some of you know I had this biz named Inner Water Reflection. That name carried me through a season where everything I created came from my inner world.
But now, Josh—my husband—is joining me on this wild entrepreneurial journey, and we wanted a name that reflected both of us.
So, for now, we’re going with:
Josh ‘n’ Cat – Steady Under Fire
Is it our forever name? I don’t think so.
But it’s us and it will work for now, until we figure it out.
What Josh Has Been Up To
Many of you have asked what Josh is doing now, so here’s the update:
✔️ He is officially certified in YFFR® (Yoga For First Responders®)
This is an incredible program that supports people who face trauma, high stress, and demanding jobs—first responders, veterans, and honestly… anyone navigating this hectic world.
✔️ He is currently getting certified in Oxygen Advantage®
Even the small amount he’s learned so far has already changed his sleep. Once he’s fully certified, he’ll be sharing techniques and tools that can help anyone handle stress, breathe better, and feel more grounded.
He’ll have his own page on the website soon—so stay tuned!
Book #3 Is Almost Here!
I almost have my third book in hand!
If you preordered, I’ll be reaching out soon so I can get your copy to you.
I’m thrilled and I’m honored.
This book has been a journey—one I can’t wait to finally share with you.
Paid Subscriptions Coming Soon
Soon, I’ll be introducing a paid section where I’ll share:
deeper personal reflections
body-based wisdom
tools for intentional living
ways to understand your patterns, emotions, and inner world
Think of it as everything I’ve learned—from life, loss, body memory, hormones, trauma, healing, and rebuilding—shared in a way that helps you live with more clarity, intention, and peace.
Weekly Shorts + Articles
I’ve officially begun writing Weekly Shorts and longer Articles—every week for my Substack:
Monthly Newsletter on the 1st, for my website
Weekly Short once a week, which I will share here every Saturday
New articles also once a week, which will share every Saturday
Here in this newsletter, I’ll also link to the ones I wrote last week and the week before so you can catch up easily.
A Personal Update: Our Move to Okinawa
Our plans to move to Okinawa, Japan are still very much alive—just a little delayed.
Maya’s (our dog’s) process into Japan turned out to be about a month longer than expected. The 180-day countdown doesn’t start when the blood is drawn—it starts when the lab in Kansas receives the sample. So we’re adjusting.
We’ll still list our house for sale in April. Once it sells (about 45 days), we’ll figure out where to stay while waiting for Maya’s clearance.
One way or another—we’re going.
Building My Foundation as a Writer
While we wait, I’ve been:
writing everywhere (Substack, my site, Threads, LinkedIn, FB, and Instagram)
building momentum as a new writer
researching book signing events
applying for book fairs
seeking speaking and podcast opportunities
finding ways to get Lucky the BYRD into more hands
I’ll keep you updated on every opportunity that opens.
Do I Miss CHI Massage Therapy?
I get this question a lot.
And the answer is… yes and no.
Yes, I miss you.
I miss the conversations.
The laughter.
The connection.
The healing that happened through words and presence.
You were more than clients—you were part of my life for nine years.
But no, I don’t miss the physical strain.
As a disabled veteran, massage was hard on my body.
My hips suffered.
By the end, I was sitting more than standing during sessions.
Even my bi-weekly massages couldn’t keep up.
I pushed hard—trying to hire more therapists so I could step back.
Every time I was ready to hire, something would fall through.
I kept hustling.
I kept sacrificing myself for the dream of what CHI could become.
And then life cracked everything open.
I realized how overworked I was—and how tired I had been for years.
Writing Gave Me My Life Back
The last seven months of writing have given me something I didn’t know I had lost:
Time.
Energy.
Freedom.
Myself.
Since stepping away from massage, I’ve been able to:
go to the gym consistently
get regular massages
get my nails done
have lunch dates with Josh
rest
breathe
create
dream again
Not once have I felt like I was “falling behind” in my business.
In fact, for the first time, I’m building something sustainable—without sacrificing myself to do it.
Could I have built a balanced life while running CHI?
Maybe.
But I never did.
Something in me couldn’t.
And now… I can.
I choose this life.
I choose this work.
I choose this path that lets me grow without breaking myself to do it.
I miss you all deeply—
but I am happier, healthier, and more aligned with what I am meant to do.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for walking with me into this next chapter.
Steady under fire,
Cat
