Welcome to The Back Road Home

I'm so glad you've made it! This blog is to share insights, words of wisdom and give visitors a peak into my world. I really wanted to introduce myself, The Back Road Home and why spirituality has been an important part of my journey and mental health practice. I'm hopeful in sharing this that I might paint a picture that inspires someone on their spiritual and healing journey.

The truth is I am a late bloomer and I've always, ALWAYS done things in my own timing. I've always felt like I was rushing to get somewhere or get things done because I'm notoriously behind the rest of the world. My life was filled with traumatic event after traumatic event but I didn't see "giving up" as an option. I had children to take care of.

I was 26 years old, a single mother of 3 children (all under 8 years old), working a full-time job as customer service rep when I finally finished my Associates Degree in Applied Sciences. Life continued to throw punches and road blocks in my way and I considered giving up but I shifted to autopilot and kept on going.

I moved to New Orleans from Alabama and found myself working in customer service again. A job I really wanted to get away from. After a long talk with my biggest supporters, my sisters, we all agreed I should look into a degree in social work, after all I was a natural helper. I enrolled in Southern University at New Orleans Bachelor of Social Work Program and knew this was my path. It was difficult with the kiddos and work and getting married (to a narcissist but that is another blog or YT video). I took a few breaks to take care of my little ones who were struggling with the transition and the chaos I'd invited into their lives.

Hurricane Katrina (or as I like to call it, "The Great and Awful Deluge of 2005) came through and threw the worlds biggest monkey wrench into all of our plans and left us in a state of constant transition for many, many, moons. Being an Army brat and ROTC reject, came in handy when the highways and main routes out of the city were too congested to get us out of the city to safety. Blessed with the ability to read a road map (no I did not have GPS), I was able to to get my family out of the city taking back roads through areas I'd never known existed. I didn't want to return to New Orleans after all I'd seen on TV after the storm. The Divine said otherwise and once again, using the maps and back roads, we returned to a home with minimal damage.

7 months pregnant and tired as hell, I graduated with my Bachelor of Social Work in 2007. In 2009 I graduated with a Master of Social Work degree from Southern University and gave birth to my 5th child a week later. Then the recession hit and I was forced to go into autopilot. I found several jobs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (DFW) and relocated my family before we lost the home we could no longer afford in New Orleans.

From foster care, housing the homeless, to mental health counseling, I worked in every area of social services imaginable. The more I worked with people the more I learned and saw the hardships and trauma I’d overcome. I also knew the cycle hadn’t stopped. In the 10 years I'd lived in the US, I'd moved my children to 5 different states! My life was filled with chaos and running. Constantly, trying to figure my way out of situations. Looking for a new place that would be better than the last that I could call home.

Eventually, I would be forced to sit still. To stay in one place and look back at my life. Therapy helped. Thank God for good therapists! I had to face the hard truth that I’d painted a picture of my childhood and life that wasn’t true. The truth is my humor was a coping skill, I was not emotionally intelligent, I was not always kind especially to myself, I allowed myself to be mistreated by people in order to feel “included”, I had low self esteem, I’d survived verbal, physical, narcissistic abuse and bullying by my parents. There was no love, for me and my sisters, but there was plenty of domestic violence and alcoholism. I learned to mask and minimize. Years of gaslighting made it hard for me to trust my memories. The weight of the happy mask was too heavy and I couldn’t keep up the facade. I lived in a constant state of fear and my body was definitely keeping the score! 

My healing began with therapy and later with mindfulness. I learned to quiet the ADHD brain and meditate, something I felt was an impossible feat. I learned to pray in my own unique way. I learned the power of forgiveness that first came from my children and eventually for myself after undergoing what some call “a dark night of the soul.” I’ve learned to forgive those that have hurt me and been able to see the lesson or the blessing in those relationships. I learned to let go of anger and embrace my best quality…kindness. Healing was hard, and lonely at times, but it was absolutely necessary. 

My connection with The Divine was irrefutable. The more I focused on my healing the greater my spiritual gifts became. Who knew all this time I had the ability to connect with spirits of passed over loved ones, Angels and Spirit Guides! Over the years, I have been blessed to use my gifts to help those beautiful souls that don’t quite fit in, who are still working through trauma and wanting to incorporate spirituality into their life or need a message from a passed over loved one. I am thankful for those who have allowed me to walk with them on their healing journey.

For those of you who are kind despite all of the ugliness you’ve endured….Thank you! And if you are one the many gentle souls who are just starting out or needing a bit of help on the way…WELCOME! My name is Aundi. I’m a gifted seer, channeler, light worker, and therapist. I’m glad you came. We have work to do!

"Nature always wears the colors of the spirit" -Ralph Waldo Emerson