Wellness with Wendy

But, what got me here? What triggered that switch in me to turn onto holistic health care?  Well, here is my story:

 

About 3 years ago, I was at a crossroads debating whether or not to change careers.  I was also lacking that sense of belonging, you know, the ideal that gives you that fuzzy feeling and comes with family, a good man by my side, kids, and a place you can call home.  You see, aproaching at 34 I thought I’d already be married, with kids, a house with a nice kitchen, a garden and a big dog; a fulfilling career, overall: enjoying a happy life.  I was happy in some areas but I was lacking in others.  So when I was looking for ways to find balance and figure out the next chapter in my life, I received some life changing news.  The type of news that definitely created a new chapter in my book of life, with a completely different language, that I was forced to learn.  I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).  But what is that? In simple words, a cancer that affects the lymphatic or immune system.  It was shocking news not just for me but also for those who knew my lifestyle.  I didn’t have the habits commonly known to cause cancer: not a smoker, not a drinker; however I might have abused alcohol a few times in a blue moon, but not to the point that I’d be found passed out or puking my guts out every weekend.  Also, my diet was pretty clean with very little junk food, sweets, or processed foods.  So what went wrong? Why the hell me?  Finding out of the intruder was incidental and turned out that the cancer is not causing damage to my body.  In consequence, I did not have to go through any therapy or treatment; instead I am in what is called a ‘surveillance’ state, like a security guard watching for any signs of disturbance. 

 

Since that moment in early 2012, I decided upon the biggest challenge of all, in my physical and emotional state, I was focused on doing everything I can to defy the disease, to never let it develop.

 

After sleepless nights and an ocean of tears, I made a commitment to life and to myself: to be the best Wendy I can be. It is an ongoing process, a journey of learning about the disease and learning about patience, understanding and compassion with the most important person: ME.  Of course some questions still remain unanswered, they are clouds of uncertainty but they will not deter me from having goals, dreams and a future. 

 

I am taking charge of my life and learning how to best take care of it. 

 

In that process of awakening into a new life with cancer, I’ve learned many lessons.  The most important one is to live a life with no regrets while following my passions and being compassionate and grateful of what I have, and in some humble way, to give back.  That is when I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and thougth, "why not learning from my experiences and somehow become an advocate for many others who are struggling in taking a turning point in their lives".  I’m not here to tell you there is a golden pot at the end of the rainbow, we all know that!, I’m here to help you see and enjoy each color of the rainbow.  Life challenges come in various forms and sometimes they leave us feeling vulnerable, scared, overwhelmed, hopeless or empty.  I am sharing my story now because maybe at this very moment, someone else is out there who relates to it and can possibly find comfort in my words.  I want to let anyone who is going through challenging situations to know this: you are not alone!  I don’t want people to feel alone when they are anxiously sitting in a cold waiting room at a doctor’s office and it feels like eternity; or when someone is at home with no idea of what to make for breakfast because nothing seems to taste good or when sometimes it feels like nothing is worth it and staying in bed is just the answer to avoid reality. 

 

Whether or not you have a health condition, there is ways you can improve your health and state of mind by making some attainable changes, but it all starts with your mindset of success.

 

Why becoming a holistic health coach?  The reason is that it is a personable approach in the process of healing.  It takes into consideration the person as a whole, including the mind, body and spirit in order to have a balanced health and wellness.  Also, it was difficult for me to understand and accept that in the society we live in today, nutrition and preventive care is not an option. While American medicine excells in trauma care (transplants and reconstructive procedures), preventive and integrative care are not implemented in health care.  I was surprised to discover that American doctors will get maybe a class or two in nutrition during their entire medical school training.  I was appalled to learn that the federal food guidelines are regulated based on food politics and vested interests rather than the well-being of the public.  Has it turned into a business?  It appears that western health care treats symptoms rather than the disease.  It’s a disease-care rather than health-care system.  How does that make you feel?, to know where your insurance money is going to.  Would you rather pay to prevent disease and stay healthy or pay for drugs and bandages that would only cover the surface of a wound?  However, I must also emphasize that there are also great doctors who do care for their patients (I am lucky to have a great oncologist).  Now there seems to be more awareness in considering the body as a whole in relation with outside influences such as the environment.  

 

As a patient, I wanted to take the reigns of my health care.  Who is better to know about my body than myself?  In the same way, I imagined that if each one of us starts being proactive about ou health, we could prevent many diseases that are influenced by lifestyle.  I was still interested in providing care to those in need but I wanted to do it in a more direct and personal level as well as focusing on the root of the problem.   At a level where I can follow my passion: being of service, healthy eating/cooking, and helping people improve their lives.  Health coaching allows me to do that and more.