5 years ago I thought very rarely about my health or wellness. Like a typical twenty-something I ate whatever I craved, or what felt good at the time. I bought products that were on sale, had pretty packaging or convincing commercials. I had no reason to question mainstream media or the prescribing practices of my family doctor.
But all of that changed when I got sick....
After almost a year of worsening symptoms, and months of medical test after medical test, I was handed a diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis. An auto-immune disorder that I had never heard of before and for which there was no cure.
I was scared, and confused as to how my body could just turn against me so suddenly.
After 2 years of following the conventional treatments, and taking daily medications with little relief I decided that there had to be a better way. I started digging around on the internet in hopes of finding some answers...a cause, a cure, a way to regain the quality of life I was used to.
After a lot of blogs, books and podcasts I learned that I could take back my health and do so without the medications or surgeries. There were huge communities of people online who had healed their bodies naturally with healthy food and lifestyle changes, and I was ready to join them. That was the beginning of my health and wellness journey. I started embracing naturopathy, homeopathy and herbalism... leafy greens, whole grains and good fats, as well as meditation, yoga and mindfulness... and I started to feel better. More importantly, my body was learning to heal itself again...the way it was designed to.
As I began to heal and feel better I began noticing many people around me that were suffering from various illness'... from obesity to allergies, migraines to cancer... I began to notice many others that had also seemed to slip through the cracks of our medical system and not finding relief from their ailments. I wanted to help them take control of their lives and their health but wasn't sure how. It was then that I decided to totally change gears in my career and follow my passion.
I am currently enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition's Health Coach Certification Program and I already feel that I am finally living my true purpose. Helping to support and educate others about health and wellness is more rewarding than I could have ever hoped.
I no longer ask why I got sick... I know now that it was to guide me toward my true purpose.