Julia lost her only child and her father on the same day five years ago, a grief so heavy it nearly consumed her. She was broken, overwhelmed with loss, and had returned to drinking after more than a decade of sobriety.
What changed everything was finding a kauhale, a true place of healing where she could process her trauma, go to therapy, rediscover purpose, and slowly rebuild her life.
Today she works as a cook at a nursing home, waking before dawn to prepare meals with care. She finds meaning in knowing she is providing comfort and nourishment for people in their final days, pouring love into every dish she makes. The structure of her work helps her stay grounded and hopeful. “My goal is to be functional and feel functional and productive and I can take care of myself again.”
She is proud to pay her own rent, make progress in recovery, and be an example for her nieces who call her for advice and support.
To anyone facing hardship she shares a reminder: “Even good things, bad things, all things, this too shall pass. Don’t give up, keep showing up. If one thing doesn’t work, try something else. If that doesn’t work, try, try again. Try some more.”
