Investing in myself.

Over the past few months I have been traveling back and forth between FL and MI as per my new normal life. 

 

 

 

With the worst winter to hit Metro-Detroit in about 35 years upon us, I have welcomed the break every few weeks as it gives me the chance to recharge my batteries and soak up the sunshine and inhale the sea salt infused air.

 

 

With that much travel, I have spent a lot of reflection time on myself and my health goals.  Lots of air time and sunshine-fuelled happy tends to lead to self reflection and realization I guess! 

 

I am an eternal student of life, always reading up on the different parts of overall health and wellness. I have been feeling a pull to learn more and in a more holistic sense, no longer in parts.  I have been called into a new direction as it pertains to how I look at all that I put my body through be it food, exercise,  stress, self care, or sleep. 

Through the past few years I have picked up bits and pieces of ideas from the academic and clinical worlds on so many health topics that it had left me hungry for  much more.

I am an engineer through and through, and by taking a Functional Nutrition lecture series through the Holistic Nutrition Lab in Portland, OR, I have learned about our body's physiological processes as they were put in focus under a lens of science that makes So. Much. Sense.  Combined with my health coaching training program a solid foundation is being formed. 

 

Ultimately, I do see a need in our health system to provide a safe place for clients to understand lifestyle choices and the resulting impacts on their health in ways they may not even realize are connected and in ways that doctors just do not have the time to outline and explain to their patients.

 

Even more directly and immediately, I see a need for myself.   Ever since I have been learning about the physiology of our bodies, my lifestyle changes have taken a deeper and more meaningful root.  To hear "eat this not that", or "do this exercise not that" is one thing; To see clearly how those actions impact my body on cellular level makes it more real for me than just generic health advice. 

 

I have an underlying eating disorder that has plagued me for much of my life.  For the first time I am feeling my disordered eating habits breaking up and with that clarity, I am inherently being drawn to a more stable and normal food relationship.  The impacts of our lifestyle choices on our bodies are outstanding!   

 

After much research and careful consideration, I have decided to gain an even better understanding of the human body, the human mind,  and the all too often ignored connection between.  I am returning to school!

I am working on some prerequisites and foundational certifications (CPT, CHHC), and will be working on a Master's→ Ph.D program over the next few years as a passion project of sorts - as an investment in my health and my ability to help others make sense of theirs.

 

I found out last week that I have been accepted into a Doctorate of Science program and a Masters of Science in Holistic Nutrition - this is my Plan B.   My Plan A is the Master of Science program in Nutrition and Functional Medicine with the progression in to a Ph.D in Natural Medicine following.  I should find out by the end of April, early May if I am accepted!

 

While this will be my 2nd Master's degree (and obviously my first and only Ph.D. *wink*), this will be the first degree that I go into for pure desire of learning and educating - not for a job requirement/advancement purpose.

I am so excited to grow this part of my life, one which has been calling to me over the past few years!

 

 

Oh. My. Goodness. Wake me up, please.

So today started out like any other day. Or so I wish.

I woke up late for packing my bags to check out of my hotel (I had a 10AM flight back to Detroit). I then learned that my flight was late, so checked into my flight and headed back to the resturant for breakfast. *whew* how lucky was I? This is surely going to be a great day, I thought. LMAO - famous last words, eh?

I arrived back in Detroit without incodent - which is always good! My boyfriend works at the airport, and is able to go to the gates to either wait with me before a flight, or wait for me to land and welcome me back home. (I know - he is so sweet!). Anyhow - it was snowing in MI so he stayed home. I did not become aware of this until I had been waiting for him to appear for a few minutes. I was a little upset - not at him, but becuase I really missed him.

Paid for parking - $81.00. Rape me, OK DTW? Jeesh.

Went to 9-A Gold, row 1 in the parking deck where I parked. Hmmm... but where is my car? 5 minutes go by. 10. 15. I panick. I search the entire 9-A gold section, then proced to 8-A, only to find out that it is brown - definitely did not park here. I clearly parked in 9-1 GOLD, row 1.

At this point I am bawling like a little girl. I was exhausted, hungry, missing Mike, and now was sans car.

I called and he headed straight out to the airport to help me resolve this issue. I decided to walk a little further down to 9-B GOLD row 1. Not there. And plus, I clearly walked through Parking "A" into the terminal, so why would I park in B given I would have had to walk past 1 elevator to get to the one I took? Not likely.

Then I walked through 9-C GOLD row 1. Oh shit. There is my car. Called Mike to let him knwo to go back home as I found the car.. 2 sections away from where I thought that I parked. The issue here - I managed to walk past 2 seperate elevator systems on my way to the one I wen tthrough to get into the terminal... WHY????? How dazed was I monday morning to be so... off??? In addition - it took me so long to leave the deck that I had to pay parking again - this time only $5. I call it a stupid tax. My work will call it rediculous.

Oh well *shrugs*

So fast forward to being back home. Took 2 conference calls, checked emails, then we took a nap for a few hours. Grabbed a long over due dinner, came back home to watch TV.

While I was gone in Huntsville, AL this past week, apparently Mike discovered the delicious smells of incense. I, in my infinite wisdom, decide to combine all the incense we have into one of the holders - one with very very sharp corners. Do you see where this one is going?

Yep. I sliced open my finger. I rush to the kitchen sink, run cold water over it, go to the bathroom, put antibiotic cream on the wound, and put a band-aid on it. All better!

Fast forward another 2 hours - when I happen to touch my finger, only to realize that I PUT THE BAND-AID AND ANTIBIOTIC CREME ON THE WRONG FINGER.

WHO DOES THAT???? Me. That is who.

I need sleep. This day has just been crazy.

So let's recap:

• Woke up late
• Plane late
• No Mike at airport
• Lost car
• Found car
• Slept for hours
• Cut finger
• Put band-aid on wrong finger
• Still need sleep

Welcome to my life! Hope tomorrow's run goes better!

I've been tagged.

This is a virtual game of tag where you write down five things about yourself that are not common knowledge, then challenge five of your friends to do the same. Here we go!

1. Growing up I thought my brother was Luke Skywalker. To me he looked exactly like Mark Hamil! My brother died when I graduated high school, and I really regret never having a past with him. I was VERY jealous of my cousins and his half sister - still am actually - as they all knew him and actaully had time with him. (You see he was almost 18 when I was born, so the age difference played a lot in that). All I know now is that he was NOT luke Skywalker - but that is all I remember. I guess the saddest thing is that I have no one else in this world to share stories about my family with that they would understand truly what that means. My brother actaully took himself away from me, and I am still upset to this day that I will never have him back. I honestly do not think that many people knew I even had a brother.

2. All I wanted to be as a kid was an astronaut. I used to wish I caould leave this planet and live somewhere else where everyone was nice to one another.

3. I am afraid of both the dark and of chairs (no kidding - just read on). I have to sit with my feet crossed indian style, or far far out from the base of the chair for fear of someone slicing my achillies tendons. Blame that one on "Pet Cemetary". Also - I am afraid of the ones that rock backwards and of recliners because I am afraid of falling all the way back and snapping my neck.

4. I had my tongue pierced back in college. Hotness! Oh wait - not so much. I swallowed half of it one night and had to get it replaced - it was then when I realized that I really did not want it any more.

5. Mike thinks that this one is hillarious. I MUST have all the doors to ancillary rooms closed at all times when not in use. This means that the closet must be closed and the light OFF when not in use. I also need the door to the laundry room closed at all times. The same goes for all closets and pantrys. Unless it is the office or our bedroom, or even the bathrooms - the door MUST be closed. I hate coming home to cupboard doors open, etc. UGH!!!! I have a mild case of OCD - as I close all of tehse doors constantly.

OK So I tag Pat, Lora, Denise, Josh, and Danielle. Have fun!