A New Chapter
After many years of happily serving the first responder and veteran communities, and working with other trauma-exposed professionals, I've closed Pause First Academy and stepped into a new chapter of semi-retirement. I'm now working independently and expanding my writing, conversations, and teaching to include spirituality, personal growth, and conscious living. Learn more about my journey below.
Kim Colegrove
About
Hello. I’m Kim Colegrove.I’m an author, meditation teacher, speaker, and lifelong student of all things related to health, healing, human behavior, and wellbeing.I’m a longtime practitioner of meditation and a huge proponent of the practice. That’s where my entrepreneurial adventure began.My personal meditation journey started in 1976, when I was trained in Transcendental Meditation at the age of 10. Fifty years later, I'm still meditating and sharing what I've learned along the way. I no longer practice TM and that’s not what I teach, but it was definitely a foundational part of my development.In January of 2011, I left my job to teach meditation full-time. What started with private clients and small classes eventually grew into corporate training with organizations like Garmin International, United Way, Department of Veterans Affairs, and others.A few years later, after losing my husband, David, a retired law enforcement professional, to suicide, I turned my attention to helping first responders, veterans, and other trauma-exposed professionals manage stress, build emotional resilience, and recover from trauma.That lead to speaking engagements, conferences, in-service trainings and workshops across the United States and Canada. Along the way, I published three books and created Pause First Academy, an online learning platform dedicated to these professionals.
My New Chapter
In July of 2026, I was in a serious car accident. I spent the next several weeks recovering, which gave me time and space to think. For a long time, I'd felt restless, constrained, and increasingly out of alignment with my work. But I kept pushing forward, ignoring that little voice that kept telling me something needed to change.After 15 years of teaching professionally, I decided it was time to step back, close Pause First Academy, and slide into semi-retirement.But I'm not finished teaching, writing, or speaking. I'm simply ready to do things differently.
Retired and Unrestrained
For years, acting as a contractor or a paid speaker, I felt I needed to be careful about how I conducted myself publicly in this wildly divided society we live in.So, I tempered myself in an attempt to stay away from cultural and ideological hot topics. But there’s a lot on my mind and I have a lot to say.In this new chapter, I feel more comfortable taking on subjects I previously avoided. No more fence-riding. No more silent, frustrated conformity.I'm free to speak more openly about the things that matter to me.
The Things That Matter to Me
I'm deeply concerned about what's happening in the United States and around the world. The division, racism, bigotry, intolerance, and growing lack of compassion are things I can no longer watch from the sidelines.So, in addition to the work I've always done, I'll be writing and speaking about kindness, inclusion, social issues, critical thinking, personal autonomy, and what it means, in my opinion, to be a decent human being.I'll also continue exploring the subjects I've loved for decades: meditation, mindfulness, nervous system regulation, trauma recovery, spirituality, emotional intelligence, and nontraditional approaches to health and healing.
BOOKS by KIM COLEGROVE
Explore
Read. Listen. Learn. Connect.
I invite you to join me over on Substack, where you'll find my writing, audio recordings, videos, and other opportunities to connect, all in one place.It's free to subscribe! If you enjoy what I share and want to explore more, you're always welcome to upgrade to Pause First Underground, my paid membership community.But first, let's get to know each other!
Pause First with Kim Colegrove
Welcome to Pause First with Kim Colegrove, my home on Substack!This is where I share my thoughts and perspectives on humanity, conscious living, personal growth, and all things related to healing, health, and well-being.Read, listen, watch, learn something new, or connect with like-minded people. Whatever you're looking for, there's something for you!
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Thoughtful insights, delivered right to your inbox.
Every week, I share a new essay directly to your email inbox. Read it or listen to the audio version, whichever you prefer.I also share shorter reflections, observations, and ideas through Substack Notes and Posts, available to all free subscribers.
PAUSE FIRST UNDERGROUND
More connection, learning, and more opportunities to grow.
A paid subscription isn't just about supporting my work. It's an investment in your own mental and emotional well-being, personal growth, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.For just $8 a month, a paid subscription gives you everything included in the free subscription, plus membership in Pause First Underground.Your membership includes:• Community & Conversation
Members-only social audio and live video meetups, plus other opportunities to connect and explore ideas.
• Live Learning
Private live videos, interactive classes, and meaningful conversations.
• On-Demand Learning
A growing library of mini-classes, courses, guided meditations, breathing exercises, and recorded videos you can access anytime.
• More to Come
Educational resources from my recently-closed learning platform, Pause First Academy, along with the new content I'll keep creating and sharing.
JOIN PAUSE FIRST UNDERGROUND
Contact
I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to shoot me an email.