The Light In Your Eyes.

“There is light in your eyes
when you talk about what you love
the way you explain the path of
pursuing your dreams
and laugh in pride when you
tell the story of how you overcame
the obstacles

There is light in your eyes.
Go on.
Don’t stop.”
— Anis Mojgani

A year ago while still working at the hospital, I was talking to a friend about how much I enjoyed the nutrition and wellness coaching I was doing in my free time. I explained how I loved creating a holistic long-term nutrition and wellness plan for each client after examining their current diet, stress levels, and the mental obstacles they had. It was like putting together a complicated puzzle and making sure all the pieces fit together. It was meaningful and fulfilling work since I enjoyed seeing others become healthier and happier.

I stopped talking, my cheeks still flushed with excitement. My friend stared at me dumbfounded. "You need to go do THAT full-time," he said. "It's so clear. Your entire demeanor changes when you talk about that work. That's what really lights you up."

The more people I talk to, the more I am noticing this. When the topic shifts to something they truly love and passionately believe in, it transforms them. Their head nods with enthusiasm and their eyes dance and they are physically changed by the energy pulsing through their heart. All I can do is hope they follow their intuition, knowing that the path before them will be illuminated by the radiance in their eyes.

 

The Three Zones.

Are you familiar with the three zones of proximal development? I've experienced all of them within the past month of quitting my full-time job and pursuing my own dreams of helping others outside of the hospital setting.

The first zone is the comfort zone. We all know this one. It feels safe and secure and monotonous. It's smothered in boredom. Things are easy and at the same time, largely unfulfilling. 

The second is the learning zone, where you're putting new information and pieces together. You're stretched, constantly expanding your knowledge, and experiencing deeper levels of growth. This is where we make meaning, forge new paths, and feel inspired.

The panic zone is similar to when you're pummeled by waves in the ocean. The gap between what you currently know and what you need to know feels too wide. You've lost your bearings, you have no idea which way is up, and the fear is screaming at you. Learning is halted. Your natural instinct is to contract and pull back and quit.  The survival mechanism kicks in full-blast. You.Must.Get.Back.To.Safety.Now.

So what prevents someone from heading straight back to their comfort zone and hiding there forever? Friends. Mentors. Teachers. People who push you up to that razor thin edge up against the panic zone yet keep you anchored in the learning zone. They reaffirm who you are, what you desired long before the fear started screaming, and believe in your potential. They remind you how much you love to swim. And that you're right where you belong, going after your big dreams and refusing to play small in your life anymore.

The most exciting thing? The more you continue to push up against the panic zone without fully getting submerged into it, your learning zone actually expands and widens. And this, my friends, is the whole point of learning!

So examine the different areas of your life-  your career, your relationships, your health, and how you contribute to the world. Which zones are you in? And who can you be an anchor to? 

I'll meet you in the learning zone. That's where I plan on staying for the rest of my life. Because I love to swim.

The Good and Bad News.

“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”
— Neil Gaiman

The Bad News: Pretty much everything has already been done before.

The Good News: It has not been done by YOU before. With your unique voice, with your particular skills, and with your heart.

Go.Make.Art.

Togetherness.

“I feel beautiful
knowing
that something of
me,
is shared
in
you.”
— Tyler Knott Gregson

We meet different parts of ourselves in our different friends. The quirky, humorous parts of my personality are turned on in the presence of one friend, while the more introspective and philosophical parts come out in the company of another friend. It's beautiful to notice this- the diverse and unique little pieces of our personalities that are illuminated only in the magical presence of another. So be curious about other people who are not like you, who do not look like you, who may not believe what you believe. You may uncover parts of yourself through the fusion of their personalities with yours, and together, you'll discover a sense of shared delight.

Keep Expanding.

“We are so afraid to change careers, to end relationships, to outgrow people or places- and that’s just growth. To me, choosing to go toward the cracking in order to keep expanding is the only way. The only way to get out of pain is to go through it. Pain is information.”
— Sophia Bush

In her book, "The Crossroads of Should and Must," Elle Luna describes the snake as being the ancient sacred symbol for transformation. The snake must shed its skin in order to mature and grow. It's a painful process, but its very survival depends on this act. The snake's insides are literally outgrowing its outsides, and it must shed the outermost layer or risk becoming malnourished and possibly blind.

Perhaps you're in this process of shedding your skin. It's painful. It's hard. But we must trust the process, and the transformation that is magically taking place from the inside out.

Little Bites of (Strawberry and Cashew) Love.

A simple, delicious (and nutritious) treat for you and your loved ones.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 12 pitted medjool dates
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 oz freeze-dried strawberries
  • pinch of sea salt

Directions:

  1. Pulse the cashews in a food processor until finely chopped.
  2. Add the dates, vanilla extract, and salt. 
  3. Mix together in the food processor until the dates are minced and the mixture is thoroughly combined.
  4. Add the freeze-dried strawberries and pulse a few times to blend everything together.
  5. Roll into 1-inch balls. 
  6. Enjoy! 

You can store these in an air-tight container, or alternatively store in the freezer for a firmer texture (my absolute favorite). 

Your Place.

Coastal Trail, Marin Headlands

“You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.”
— Mary Oliver, Wild Geese

The Secret to Happiness and Longevity Lives in Your Gut

Enjoyed my time recording in the studio as a guest on the radio show "Aging By The Bay"

Please enjoy this fun conversation I had about nutrition, the gut microbiome, mindfulness, movement, and stress management....pretty much all of my favorite things.

Our guest is Julianne Kanzaki, Registered Dietitian talking about how healthy eating habits and your gut are keys to happiness and longevity. She will also share how she helps others experience more well-being in all areas: body, mind and spirit. Guests: Julianne Kanzaki, MPH, RDN --- Follow us on Twitter: @AgingByTheBay Catch the latest episodes and subscribe to “Aging By The Bay” on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn. For more information about “Aging By The Bay” visit us at http://www.agingbythebay.com/about-us.html Related episodes can be found at http://www.agingbythebay.com/shows.html. Music Credit: Contact: info@AgingByTheBay.com Web: www.agingbythebay.com Sponsor: ComForCare

One Thing.

Mirror Lake, Yosemite National Park

“You must learn one thing:
the world was made to be free in.

Give up all other worlds
except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness
to learn

anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive
is too small for you.

”
— David Whyte

Warning: If you understand the depth of Whyte's words and incorporate them into your heart, expect massive shifts to happen in your life. I write from experience.