In life, there are moments you get hit hard… really hard. Blindly not knowing when or where or why or how. And when its all said and done those are the moments you can’t even begin to explain or rather fathom going through all over again. The moments that feel like they came at you at lightning speed leaving you to wonder how on earth you got here and what could have possibly triggered them in the first place. Soaked up in these times you mentally try your hardest to “stay in the game” but eventually it starts to wear you down. More and more and more until you feel like the battle you were fighting just isn’t worth it anymore. This is Part 2 of my Journey to Wellness, Balance and Self-love. And why I feel my best at 30.

The last 3-4 years in my twenties challenged me in more ways than I could have ever imagined. Suffering from negative body issues, undergoing changes in diet and lifestyle, putting myself through extreme physical daily workouts, and constantly questioning my career and the person I was becoming. It was no doubt an ongoing battle that continuously ended in days of severe exhaustion and sometimes even tears. I admittedly pushed myself to the edge day in and day out and within the midst knew there was a much healthier, happier life out there for me but was too scared to turn around and grab it.

Just as fast as I tricked myself into believing looking skinny and feeling thin would make my life 100 X’s better, I literally disconnected the cord of being “perfect” and plugged in a new one called “live life”.  From that moment on, just over a year ago today, I began my journey to becoming the woman I am so very proud of. I now look at myself in the mirror and see the person I have become on the inside rather than what I look like on the outside. I see a woman who exudes happiness, positivity, who sets meaningful goals, is extremely resilient, and most importantly I see someone who has used all of those negative experiences from the past to help spiral me up to where I am today. I now have morning rituals like going for a long run and enjoying a beautiful healthy breakfast alongside my dog for the sole reason of mental therapy and positive intention. I go with the flow of life and how I feel instead of putting pressure on my body and over exerting it like i did for years. I have learned to except the fact that as you age your body naturally changes and the more you try to “fix it” the unhappier you will be. Being kind to your body and building self-compassion may seem impossible at times, but believe me when I say life isn’t about looking like the next super model on television. It’s not about taking your clothes off and wondering why you have healthy fat around your stomach or thighs. And it’s definitely not about how many miles you can run, or how much weight you can lift that determines how strong you are as a person. Once you get past all of these timeless worries, you see life in a totally new perspective and everything around you becomes that much more beautiful.

So today, I am first off thanking God for helping to guide me through my most challenging, heart-pounding, frightening moments and giving me the strength to power through the days that now seem impossible to re-live. Those days, those moments, those tears have all turned my entire life around. A complete 360 of the way I visualize myself as a person inside and out. I now understand the feeling of overcoming a personal battle and even though I want to say I wish it never happened, at the same time it was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

My husband of 2 years, (boyfriend of 8), and best friend of forever has given me this amazing opportunity to share my story with you all along with my passion to cook and create deliciously healthy meals. Because of his genuine spirit and enormously big heart I am able to overcome any obstacle that come my way. Our wellness journey has only transitioned us into the healthiest, happiest versions of ourselves and undoubtedly changed our lives for the better. Together we’ve cultivated our own health and are now self-assured and confident in how we want to live our day to day lives.

This is really just the beginning for us! I truly cannot be more excited to continue waking up every morning with a sense of pride and positivity knowing the decisions we have made have brought us to the best place on earth.

This moment. Right here.

For all of my followers and supporters, this ones for you.

Never forget that you’re strongest muscle is your open heart. Always seeking adventure, opportunity and most of all, it holds the key to kindness within yourself so that you can share it with the world. Unlock it and set yourself free.