Last Monday I combined my love of teaching and nutritional science for a company’s Wellness Week. I presented studies, told personal stories and illustrated my entire slide deck to make it playful and fun- something the “old me” of a few years ago probably would’ve never even considered or been brave enough to do.

But here I am, loving it. Finally seeing how all my interests and passions are snapping into place like puzzle pieces.

I wonder how many hidden talents, how many skills and strengths sit waiting, locked inside us. How much untapped wisdom and character is bound in us, waiting for the right time and circumstance to release it. Perhaps illness will do it. Breaking us down in order to show us our resilience and intense desire to heal. Or motherhood. Revealing deeper wells of sacrifice and unconditional love you didn’t know existed. Or singleness. To uncover your own confidence, power and independence that you lacked when you were in partnership. The loss of a job. The cross country move. The puppy you adopt.

How many aspects of ourselves are patiently waiting to be discovered and explored. How many parts of ourselves we have yet to meet. How going off the beaten path gives us a different perspective but still gets us up the mountain of knowing ourselves.