MY STORY
Like so many, my wellness journey hasn’t been straightforward. And yet, it has put me exactly where I’m meant to be. My soul sings with happiness that I get to help others on their wellness journey!
In 2005, I was working in a demanding corporate job where I was a female executive in a largely male-dominated industry. I was feeling maxed out and stressed when a friend invited me to spend a week with her at Canyon Ranch, a resort-style health retreat in Arizona. I jumped at the chance to relax poolside with girlfriends.
Little did I know this getaway would be a pivotal moment in my life, sparking an interest in holistic wellness that has evolved year after year. Thanks to this immersive experience, I had the chance to sample different health and wellness modalities to see what resonated. I was hooked and came away inspired to lead a healthier life.
I continued visiting Canyon Ranch over the years. Between visits, I absorbed what I learned and searched for local experiences. Slowly, I started to learn more about myself and how to personalize my wellness plan. While I slipped in and out of commitment—some years focusing on my well-being better than others—I never lost the spark that kept me coming back for more.
Worn out after 18 years in corporate America, I stepped away to do some soul-searching. Then in 2009, I started my own real estate business. Energized by my role as an entrepreneur in an industry where I could put my relationship-building skills to work, I made my first vision board. In the dead center, I wrote, “Inspire others to create positive change.”
While this exercise clarified my desire to support people going through life transitions as a real estate agent, I couldn’t have guessed how prophetic this statement would become—or how much I was about to learn while experiencing major changes in my own life.
FINDING THE silver lining IN A PERFECT STORM
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There's nothing quite as distressing, especially for a recovering perfectionist who LOVES to be in control, than to navigate a mysterious health issue. In 2021, I began experiencing strange and seemingly unrelated symptoms, at least according to conventional medicine. I bounced from doctor to doctor desperate for answers to the frustrating puzzle. It took me nearly a year to get diagnosed with a mold illness.
Meanwhile, menopause was kicking my butt and our family dynamics were changing. One of my children moved across the country and the other graduated college. We found ourselves with a truly empty nest for the first time ever.
Ironically, this perfect storm of health and life changes turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. It kicked me into gear, motivating me to be more intentional about my health. After two decades of learning, I realized I’d built a wellness toolkit, and it was time to put it into action.
• I listened to my intuition and started paying closer attention to my body's needs.
• I integrated wellness practices that worked for me and my life.
• I learned to surrender the need for the control that was dominating my life and causing more stress at a time when nothing was controllable.
• I sought out and connected with a community of like-minded people who could support me on this journey.
And I knew I wanted to help others do the same.
Inspired TO HELP OTHERS CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE
In 2022, I enrolled in a health coaching program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition® in New York to coach myself back to health and use my experiences to help other women.
My journey has been a multifaceted effort to evolve all aspects of my well-being, including physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. While I’ve always approached wellness in a holistic way, I learned it requires determination and hard work on multiple fronts to achieve a sense of balance.
I learned that healing rarely happens in isolation. I found the right team of health practitioners who figured me out and put me on a better course of treatment. I connected with the right people, including an amazing and supportive community of women. These connections continue to have a profound and positive impact on my life.
Most of all, I’ve come to understand this journey never ends.
Whether you’re facing a challenge, looking for a supportive community or taking your first steps into your wellness journey, I’m proud of you for showing up for yourself, and I’m honored to walk alongside you.
What does life look like for me when I'm in MY element?
HERE ARE A FEW fun facts ABOUT ME!
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I've got a huge heart for rescue dogs and have so far adopted six of them (we currently share our home with two named Moe and Chili Dog).
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On a vacation to Thailand, I spent a day riding and caring for an elephant (their heads are prickly)
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I LOVE whale watching!
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A supportive circle of friends and loved ones is essential to grounding my energy! My hubby Jim and I have been married for 30 years, and we love spending as much time as possible with our adult sons, Ethan and Mather.
Spending time in nature and connecting with animals brings me joy!
