ABOUT US

At Own Your Path, we believe that everyone has the power to control and translate their path in life. Our mission is to empower individuals to be their own advocates and to learn to value who they truly are. We offer a variety of resources and tools to help you navigate life's challenges and reach your full potential. Whether you're seeking personal growth or professional development, we're here to guide you every step of the way.

You Take The Steps, Why Not OWN Them?!

Empowering You

Our Mission

At Own Your Path, we are dedicated to guiding you towards a brighter future. Our advocacy services include mentorship, career counseling, and community outreach. We believe in empowering individuals to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. Let us support you on your journey to success.

OYP's Life Translator Journal

Own Your Path created the concept of rocks as metaphors for what happens in life and as ratings for each. This can be used for anything in life, positive or negative. The idea is to realize that each "rock" or step leads to your Path in Life. We help you to see that the perception as to what the rating is at the time, may change over time.

At first, a step may feel overwhelming but overtime it may be realized that it was not as bad as originally seen or it could have even become something positive.

Patterns in your Path can also be seen through this concept in the hopes of seeing how valuable each is and that you can work on controlling each as your Path continues.

Granule

Positive: a regular day without any hiccups; an event that is somewhat normal and barely noticed; no real “positive” event:

Negative: gloomy day, no real “negative” event, just in an ok mood

Pebble

Positive: a smile from someone; hitting every green light on way to work; favorite song on radio; an unexpected text or call from someone who makes you smile; a compliment

Negative: small event/day such as hitting every red light on way to work; late for appt; heavy traffic; tense moment or communication; stain on an outfit; favorite team losses; food order is wrong

Rock

Positive: an accolade at work on a project; finding money in a pocket or at home that helps with an expense; winning tickets to an event; scoring a goal for your team; asked out on a date or surprised with flowers from loved one

Negative: unexpected bill; canceled event/plans; not feeling well; pet damages item; an argument with someone; have to sit the bench on a team; negative comment online; delayed flight; broke tooth or have cavity

Boulder

Positive: getting a raise at work; an A in your class; child’s first steps/words; health goal met; going viral online positively

Negative: a repair needed to car/house; flat tire; injury; break up in relationship; do bad on a test or fail a class; low on money until next pay period; didn’t make a team/got cut from a team; didn’t get a promotion/raise; canceled flight

Mountain

Positive: Accepted into your choice for college; Offer accepted on a house or for a lease; getting engaged/married; going on a big vacation; money in savings; birth of a child

Negative: loss of job, health issues; someone passing; need to move; loss of home or car; divorce; new baby; bankruptcy

Meet the CEO

Kelly Haapala

The Inspiring Force Behind Own Your Path

Kelly Haapala is more than an advocate; she’s a resilient leader, an innovator, and the founder of Own Your Path, a transformative organization empowering individuals to overcome life’s challenges with adaptability, self-advocacy, and positivity. Kelly’s life reads like a story of survival and purpose: after two devastating car accidents—one that nearly took her life—she faced years of physical recovery and mental endurance. During her first accident, she endured trauma and blood loss so severe that surgery had to be postponed, and she later woke up mid-operation during a hip replacement. This moment, when most would give up, led Kelly to become a spokesperson for the Anesthesia Awareness Campaign, fighting for humane medical practices worldwide and helping hospitals implement life-saving BIS (Bispectral Index - Brain Activity) monitors. Her experiences didn’t stop there. Kelly sustained a broken neck and severe head injury from a second accident, which required years of perseverance to rebuild herself. Through these unimaginable challenges, Kelly turned her trials into purpose. She developed the "granule-to-mountain" method, which encourages others to recognize every step of progress, no matter how small, toward their goals. With over three decades of experience in PR, administration, and community engagement, Kelly has left her mark across various fields. From shaping Michigan’s soccer landscape to serving on NFL Films and HBO’s Hard Knocks series, Kelly has been at the forefront of events that bring people together. She’s also a respected figure in the paranormal world, where she brings history to life as an investigator. She has been featured on Beacon TV and helped to preserve iconic Michigan haunts, like Detroit’s historic Whitney. Her commitment to uncovering and respecting stories of the past brings new meaning to the idea of preserving our heritage. Kelly’s organization, Own Your Path, reflects her dedication to helping others embrace life fully, no matter the hardships. One of her latest ventures is ParaVenture, a virtual paranormal convention supporting autism advocacy through the Autism Alliance of Michigan. Through ParaVenture, Kelly continues to blend her passions, bringing together community, support, and an understanding of life’s deeper meanings. She has also given back in countless ways—supporting people through divorce, recovery from disasters, and securing autism services. Kelly’s story isn’t just about surviving; it’s about showing that anyone can thrive, no matter the obstacle. Her work is a beacon of hope, proving that with resilience, empathy, and purpose, we can turn our greatest challenges into powerful change. Join Kelly and the Own Your Path community to discover how each step, each story, and each person has the power to make a difference. Ready to take that first step? Connect with Kelly and Own Your Path today to start your journey. #YouTakeTheStepsWhyNotOwnThem