Cindy K. Waddle: Building a Legacy of Encouragement, One Message at a Time. Introduction Success is often measured by financial growth, market influence, or professional recognition. For Cindy K. Waddle, however, success is measured in something far more meaningful, the lives transformed through simple, heartfelt words of encouragement. As the Founder & CEO of Dezire to Inspire (D2I), Cindy has built more than an inspirational products company. She has created a movement centered around one timeless belief: people need to know they matter today, not someday. Through thoughtfully designed inspirational card collections and a mission built around human connection, she continues to remind individuals, families, organizations, and communities that a few sincere words can change a life. Where Purpose Began   Long before launching Dezire to Inspire, Cindy spent 38 years in federal human resources leadership, helping employees navigate career challenges, leadership development, and personal transitions. Alongside her professional career, she also volunteered in hospice care, supporting families during some of life’s most difficult moments. It was there that her life’s purpose revealed itself. One of her first hospice patients, a mother battling terminal cancer, had two young adult daughters. Having lost her own mother at a young age, Cindy deeply understood the grief those daughters would soon face. Wanting to leave them with something their mother no longer could, she handwrote 365 individual cards for each daughter, one message for every day of the year after their mother’s passing. Each morning, the sisters would read a card together. Months later, their grandmother reached out with a message Cindy would never forget: those daily notes had changed their lives. That extraordinary act of compassion became the foundation for what would later become Dezire to Inspire. Today, the company’s mission is beautifully simple: “Say It Every Day.” Because love, gratitude, encouragement, and appreciation should never be reserved only for birthdays, anniversaries, or special occasions. When Retirement Became a New Beginning   Many people view retirement as the closing chapter of a successful career. For Cindy, it became the beginning of her life’s greatest purpose. Although she had built an accomplished career in public service, she realized that her true calling extended beyond organizational leadership. She envisioned a company capable of helping millions of people strengthen relationships through intentional, daily encouragement. What began as handwritten notes has evolved into a nationally recognized inspirational brand serving individuals, healthcare providers, schools, veterans, corporations, first responders, athletes, and families. Every product created by Dezire to Inspire begins with one guiding question: “How can we help someone feel seen, encouraged, and valued today?” That philosophy continues to shape every decision the company makes. The Power of Partnership   While Dezire to Inspire was born from Cindy K. Waddle’s deeply personal mission to encourage others through the power of words, its continued growth has been strengthened through her partnership with Willie (Carl) Merrell, her trusted friend business partner. Best buddies for over three decades, Cindy and Carl built their partnership on a foundation of trust, shared values, and a genuine desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Together, they have expanded the company’s reach, developed meaningful collaborations, and created innovative products that inspire hope, resilience, and human connection. United by a shared commitment to serving others, Cindy and Carl continue to build an organization that supports individuals, families, healthcare providers, schools, veterans, businesses, and communities alike. Their partnership reflects the very heart of Dezire to Inspire—that lasting impact is created when people come together with a shared purpose, genuine compassion, and the desire to help others feel seen, valued, and encouraged every single day. Creating Encouragement That Lasts Unlike traditional greeting cards that are often read once and forgotten, Dezire to Inspire was designed to create lasting emotional impact. Its signature inspirational card collections are opened over 30, 60, 90, or even 365 consecutive days, transforming encouragement into a daily habit rather than a single moment. Whether supporting someone through grief, military deployment, illness, retirement, anxiety, depression, personal growth, or celebration, every collection is intentionally crafted to remind people they are never alone. For Cindy, the greatest achievement isn’t measured by awards or sales figures. It’s hearing someone say, “Your cards came at exactly the right time.” Those words represent the true purpose behind everything she has built. Leading with Compassion Building a purpose-driven business has never been without challenges. Entrepreneurship has demanded resilience, perseverance, and unwavering belief, particularly during seasons when resources were limited and progress felt slow. Yet every customer story reinforces why the journey matters. Every email describing renewed hope. Every handwritten note expressing gratitude. Every family strengthened through intentional conversations. Every veteran reminded they are appreciated. Every individual who discovers hope during life’s darkest moments. These stories continue to fuel Cindy’s commitment to the mission. Her own personal experiences including loss, health challenges, and adversity, have only strengthened her belief that life’s greatest struggles often prepare people for their greatest purpose. Redefining Success Over the years, Cindy’s definition of success has transformed dramatically. Earlier in her career, success meant promotions, leadership responsibilities, and professional accomplishments. Today, success means impact. It means helping someone believe in themselves again. It means strengthening relationships. It means reminding grieving families that they are not alone. It means encouraging people to keep moving forward when life feels overwhelming. For Cindy, true success is not measured by the number of products sold, but by the number of lives touched. If Dezire to Inspire becomes known for helping people express appreciation, build stronger relationships, and encourage others every single day, she believes she will have fulfilled her life’s mission. More Than a Greeting Card Company One of the biggest misconceptions about Dezire to Inspire is that it produces greeting cards. In reality, Cindy sees the company as something entirely different. Its products are designed as transformational experiences that cultivate habits of gratitude, encouragement, reflection, and emotional connection over time. She believes encouragement is not merely a kind gesture, it is one of the most powerful

From Trauma to Transformation: How Dr. Sam Mishra Is Redefining Healing Through Science, Compassion, and Lived Experience. IntroductionHealing is often viewed through two separate lenses. Medicine treats the body. Therapy nurtures the mind. Yet for countless people living with trauma, chronic pain, grief, or disability, true recovery lies somewhere in between. Dr. Sam Mishra (h.c.), Owner of The Medical Massage Lady, has dedicated her career to bridging that divide, combining decades of clinical expertise with deeply personal lived experience to create a model of care that treats the whole person. With a professional journey spanning surgical nursing, high-risk midwifery, trauma-informed therapy, oncology massage, education, and authorship, Dr. Mishra has become a respected voice in integrative wellness. But her story is far more than an impressive list of qualifications. It is the story of someone who transformed unimaginable adversity into a mission to help others heal. Today, as an award-winning holistic therapist, trainer, and author, she continues to challenge conventional thinking around trauma recovery, advocating for evidence-based holistic care that honors both the science of the nervous system and the complexity of the human experience. Her philosophy is simple yet profound: healing begins when people feel truly seen, understood, and safe. Where Healing Began: When Professional Knowledge Met Personal Survival Dr. Sam Mishra’s journey into holistic therapy wasn’t born solely from academic study or professional ambition, it emerged from the intersection of medicine and personal survival. Before founding The Medical Massage Lady, she spent nearly a decade working as a surgical nurse across multiple specialties, including gynecology, oncology, orthopedics, ENT, and recovery, before transitioning into high-risk midwifery. Those years gave her an intimate understanding of the human body, its resilience, and its remarkable ability to recover. Yet it was life beyond the hospital that transformed her perspective forever. Having survived domestic abuse, sexual assault, complex PTSD, and profound personal grief, Dr. Mishra experienced firsthand the painful disconnect between clinical diagnosis and genuine emotional healing. Even with extensive medical knowledge, she understood what it felt like to navigate trauma largely alone. Rather than allowing those experiences to define her, she chose to let them reshape her purpose. She became determined to create an approach that integrates clinical understanding with compassionate, trauma-informed care, one that recognizes healing as both physiological and deeply human. That philosophy continues to shape every aspect of her work today. Transforming Pain Into Purpose Every significant chapter of Dr. Mishra’s career has added another layer to her understanding of healing. Becoming the parent of a child with cerebral palsy revealed the inconsistencies many families face when navigating disability services, reinforcing her commitment to making therapeutic support more accessible and inclusive. Later, while educating aspiring therapists, she noticed another troubling pattern. Many practitioners possessed practical techniques but lacked a solid understanding of anatomy, physiology, and trauma science. That realization inspired her to raise educational standards, ensuring future therapists could offer safe, evidence-based care rather than superficial treatment. Her work evolved once again after supporting someone close to her through addiction. That experience reinforced a truth she had long believed: addiction is rarely the root problem. More often, it is trauma expressed through different behaviors. This insight inspired the next phase of her professional journey, expanding her expertise in addiction recovery while continuing to advocate for trauma-informed healing that addresses the underlying causes rather than simply managing symptoms. Building a Practice That Treats the Whole Person At the heart of The Medical Massage Lady is a philosophy that refuses to separate physical health from emotional wellbeing. Dr. Mishra’s work combines clinical knowledge with holistic therapies, helping clients navigate trauma, chronic pain, post-surgical recovery, oncology care, nervous system regulation, and emotional healing through an integrated approach grounded in both science and compassion. Her practice extends well beyond individual therapy. As an educator, she trains professionals to understand not only therapeutic techniques but also the anatomy, physiology, psychology, and trauma responses that underpin effective treatment. She believes genuine holistic care requires comprehensive knowledge, not shortcuts or surface-level qualifications. Her commitment to raising professional standards has made her an influential mentor within the therapeutic community, helping shape practitioners capable of delivering safer and more meaningful care. Recognition Rooted in Real Impact While Dr. Mishra has received more than 60 awards, including several international honors and has been featured in over 65 global publications, she measures success differently. One of her proudest achievements is receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Integrative Wellness and Social Impact, recognizing years of dedication to mental health advocacy, community service, therapeutic innovation, and professional leadership. Another milestone close to her heart is the publication of her first book, Where Wounds Live. Rather than simply sharing professional expertise, the book reflects her willingness to openly explore trauma, resilience, and healing through both personal experience and clinical understanding. It has become a source of comfort for readers navigating their own struggles, reinforcing her belief that vulnerability can become one of the greatest tools for transformation. Now working on additional books, she continues expanding her mission of making trauma-informed healing more accessible to people around the world. Redefining Success Beyond Awards Although widely recognized within the wellness industry, Dr. Mishra remains grounded by a deeply personal definition of success. Growing up in circumstances that left her doubting her own worth, professional recognition was never the dream that motivated her. What she longed for was something far simpler love, safety, belonging, and meaningful human connection. Ironically, while building an internationally respected career, she discovered that the achievements people admire most are often responses to deeply personal struggles that remain largely unseen. Today, success means authenticity. It means creating a space where people feel safe enough to heal. It means helping others discover hope during their darkest moments. Most importantly, it means transforming her own experiences into something capable of improving someone else’s life. Changing the Conversation Around Trauma and Therapy One of Dr. Mishra’s greatest frustrations is how misunderstood holistic therapy often remains. Many people assume her work revolves solely around massage. In reality,