Kate Sewalk lives no ordinary life. She worked in communications for some of the largest global insurance companies before retirement, rescues and raises horses, has practiced alternative healing support that include Reiki, a healing practice believed to have been based in Japan, sound frequency therapy, crystal therapy and neuromuscular touch and runs private tea parties to raise funds for area nonprofits from her Buckingham farm, Crystal Pointe Farm.

Sewalk said she started rescuing horses, particularly Paso Fino type horses in 2015.

“First applied to horses in 2015 when (a) client asked me if I could help her mare who was down with colic,” Sewalk said. “That same year I bought the farm in Buckingham and eventually moved the rescued and liberated Paso Finos to Virginia. Annie was rescued from the slaughter house in Ohio, and Swift was liberated from 10 years of stall rest in Pennsylvania.”

She said if there was any pet she would like to have, it would be a unicorn.

“Actually, I am happy with all of the animals that live with us on the farm,” Sewalk said. “All of those that I work on and help with healing support become my own for my having loved and cared for them. They all become a part of my life.”

When asked about her proudest achievement, Sewalk said it was pursuing her education.

“I am not a proud person,” Sewalk said, noting that her family and background were from a coal patch, or coal mining town in Pennsylvania. “It would be having the courage and stamina to work three jobs while helping to raise three children as I pursued my education — i.e, academic degrees and professional accreditations.”

Sewalk said she ultimately attained 20 years of education beyond high school.

Noting challenges women face in the workforce, she said education, particularly for women, is important.

“I am a zealot for encouraging women to attain higher education,” Sewalk said. “It is one thing that they truly own that cannot be taken from them. I say you can lose your man, your home, your job, even your children. But no one can ever take your education away from you.”

When asked what sort of superpower she would have, Sewalk responded, “To be able to fly. It would make travel and multitasking much more efficient.”

The lessons that have stayed the most from her, Sewalk said, are messages by people of faith, including Jesus Christ and the Dalai Lama.

“I have learned many lessons from the Dalai Lama,” Sewalk said. “The first is that you are responsible for your own happiness so go create it. Another is that what you need most is what you most need to give.”