About the Founder

My name is Kristin (Gruel) Walsh and I’m a survivor of domestic abuse. There was a time in my life when I didn’t know if I would live to see another birthday. I’m a survivor of physical, psychological, emotional, and financial abuse. I was lucky enough to live through these experiences and survive, but it changed me forever… I proactively made a decision to make those changes positive ones and use all I’ve gone through, learned, and became afterwards for the good of others not only to lessen their suffering, but give my own experiences purpose and meaning in the process of reaching for my own healing. Thus, it’s a symbiotic transaction in which we all heal each other and find strength in our interactions and community of support together.

I’ve done the best I knew how, and despite having injuries and related health issues that I live with on a daily basis and have left me disabled, I feel I’ve played my hand dealt quite well, with a lot of creativity and unyielding determination. I never believe in the “no’s” or “impossibles” I’ve received from others, not even with my so-called “permanent” injuries and related conditions. I admit that after experiencing terrible abuse in marriage, I hit rock bottom so hard that I bounced twice…but it was then that I was bouncing back and springing forward into a new future filled with blessings hidden beneath the ashes and rubble of my old life.  That was the beginning of ME…of Budding Into Fullness…and many more adventures and surprises alone the way.

In an attempt to empower myself and make myself less vulnerable to future abuse, I returned to school to work on attaining a degree that would allow me to become financially independent. However, since I had trouble accessing adequate medical care, as well as had more complex conditions that sometimes even stumped doctors or for which I was told couldn’t be cured,  I  decided to try to figure out how to heal myself and became a pre-med major, now killing two birds with one stone. My inability to be self-sufficient in the past contributed to my vulnerability to abuse, which was only furthered by the financial abuse to which my ex-husband subjected me, and then continued to pose more barriers to my healing and stabilization since I lacked the necessary resources. I refused to allow him to be victorious, though, so I continued to be proactive on every level with regard to my own future and circumstances, which remains a lifelong endeavor in general based on my tendency to reframe things and always find a way to extract the good from any situation, no matter how bad it appears on the surface at first glance. This proactive attitude and persistence has been central to my healing process and success reaching goals in many ways and areas of my life, even impressing my doctors enough to ask why I think I’ve been more resilient than some since I’ve already surpassed what they initially told me was even possible in some areas. But the secret is that when they did, I never listened to those limitations and decided it just meant that they didn’t personally know how to heal or help me, but that I could if I just dedicated myself to it. So I began to research endlessly until I figured it out myself when supposed road blocks like that appeared. I tell everyone who asks, nothing is impossible unless you quit believing in the possibilities. It’s all about stretching your concepts of what’s possible and deciding you don’t lay down and give up to limitations that may not even be real.

As my journey continued to unfold, my plans evolved more and more, and my path had some surprises along the way. I attained my initial degree with a concentration in psychology, then matriculated into another program in which I ultimately switched my pre-med major to Interdisciplinary Social Sciences with concentrations in Psychology and Neurobiology, Health Education, Law and Justice, and Forensic Psychology (Criminal Profiling). I plan to complete my Masters and Ph.D. and to continue helping others heal, humans and animals alike. My vision is to one day expand services to include a program involving therapeutic animals and healing retreats so that in the midst of their trauma, others who go through suffering might find a moment of peace, safety, and begin healing on a deeper level. My goal is to advocate for others in many ways, not only abuse victims, but all sentient beings globally, and to effectively create and implement programs in both local communities and globally to help raise empathy in our society, lower violence, rehabilitate people and animals, empower others (with an especially passionate calling to lift and empower other women), and eventually give anyone I cross paths with during that journey who’s interested a chance to give back to those who come after them, as well.

So far, Budding Into Fullness has reached over 45 countries and helped thousands find encouragement and resources in their area, already having given my own adverse experiences and resultant suffering meaningful purpose and facilitating much deeper levels of healing and ascension symbiotically for myself and those I’ve crossed paths with along my journey.  Over the years, what began as an idea to help only female domestic abuse victims heal, has evolved into much more than it’s original design and purpose just to help survivors of abuse. It’s grown into a comprehensive integration of healing, inspiration, educational resources, health promotion, positive psychology, networking for those who come to share in similar experiences, struggles, goals, dreams, beliefs, emotions, attitudes, passions, and shared causes, coupled with genuine support and celebration of each others’ milestones and major achievements along our shared journeys together, cheering each other on and making lasting friendships and connections as we all walk each other back home to the Divine Source from which we all came. The symbiotic relationship and transactions are the key ingredient for why this project has been so rewarding.

Budding Into Fullness has thus far blossomed into a place where men AND women now come to heal from ANY kind of hardship or suffering, as well as those who come to purely celebrate and help perpetuate the ripple effect of light, love, and positivity to others as we champion together to work towards an energetic shift in the unified field of consciousness to ultimately effectuate world peace and eradicate all suffering everywhere. I’m always looking to network with those working toward a common causes or with similar interests, too, because I strongly believe that TOGETHER we can do SO MUCH MORE!

I don’t feel sorry for myself because of what happened to me. I don’t see myself as a victim. Rather, I’M A SURVIVOR AND I’M PROUD OF ALL I’VE  COME THROUGH WITH FLYING COLORS. I’ve dealt with many hardships along the way, including homelessness, chronic health conditions and severe injuries that resulted from the abuse I sustained, legal battles, protection orders, financial abuse and fraud by my ex-husband, and I’ve lost literally everything I own more than once only to have to rebuild from scratch again. But there was a purpose for it all, intertwined with cosmic coursework that was actually helping me accomplish the end goal I was sent to reach. I’m also determined to be triumphant in the face of whatever adversity comes my way, who chooses to dig down however deep is necessary any given day to find the necessary level of strength and resilience to maintain a positive attitude….. who will not allow unfortunate circumstances to get in the way of dreams to finish academic and professional achievements, or to succeed in helping other people and animals in need. Yes, it’s been a tough road. But I’ve gained so much depth and wisdom from these experiences which then led to where I am now because I ultimately did and continue to choose to focus on…post-traumatic growth and cascading benefits that otherwise might not have been brought to existence if not for my pain and suffering that’s served as my cosmic coursework and catalyst for change, my inspiration, unyielding drive, determination, and persistence through it all- as a courier for some of my greatest blessings in life, among which included meeting my most beloved soul sisters who are so inspirational and beautiful beyond what any words could do them justice. Inside AND out. So when I do look at all the adversity I’ve experienced, despite the suffering involved, I don’t see stumbling blocks… I see stepping stones.

Small steps or tiny progress repeated every day leads to even the loftiest goals and major achievements over time. Time’s going to pass anyway, so you might as well see what kind of crazy goals and dreams you can reach at the finish line. Just don’t forget to enjoy the journey and realize it’s actually the journey that matters most and is the REAL point of it all, not the destination.

So don’t let others diminish your dreams and goals, don’t let anything dull your shine, and shoot for big, shiny, outrageously “impossible” targets! Like Les Brown says, “Shoot for the moon [because] Even if you miss, you’ll land among stars!” And if you hit a detour along the way, remind yourself how Jimmy Dean put it when he said “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”

If anything, I think that my experiences have been blessings in disguise because they  were a catalyst… they broke me open, transformed me, and helped me to hone my true life purpose. My adversity is what actually set me on the path to my real destiny. This is the greatest spiritual shift for which anyone can ask.

 

I passionately believe that we all have the power to take something bad and create something amazing, just like the artists who take broken shards of glass to create beautiful mosaics. And so, with this ever-evolving project, we too can go from broken pieces to masterpieces. And if I can decrease the amount of suffering and pain in our world, or change even one person’s life for the better, then it’s all been worth it in the end.

If you’re life is “falling apart” right now, the hidden beauty is that when you rebuild it, you can create whatever you want for your new one. One even better than you had before. You can make it into anything, and that can be exciting…even fun if you let it. Oprah Winfrey said, “[…] when you hit rock bottom in life, that’s the best opportunity to spring forward.” I have taken that challenge and invite anyone else interested in their ow similar journey to join me so I can cheer them on as they go.

This is my story- I am a survivor…I am a creator…and I am proud.