balancing wellness

I often catch myself ending a conversation with a friend or colleague saying, “It’s all about balance.” Cliché? Maybe. True? Yes. I think that’s what draws me so much to the subject of wellness. Wellness is not just about being physically healthy and disease-free; it’s about so much more: mind-body alignment and stability, maximization of our potential, and of course, happiness.

I perform my best when my life is in balance and I’m happy. Work seems easier, relationships prosper and the world is more interesting and exciting. It sounds simple, but things are good when we’re well. And who doesn’t like that?

It seemed natural for me to write a blog about wellness. Not because I’m an expert, but because I’m an eternal student – asking questions and seeking answers – of wellness. My interests are broad. I’m fascinated by all aspects of wellness: preventive medicine, diet and exercise, spirituality, etc.  While I work toward wellness, why not write about the things I find along the way? My goal is to use this blog as a message board: posting thought-provoking findings or ideas about health and wellness and maybe spurring some discussions.

A little about me: I’m the middle of three girls and grew up in a suburb of Houston, Texas. I was always active as a kid; I spent countless hours at the local dance studio and played junior varsity tennis in high school. I participated in endless extracurriculars – you name it, I did it – got good grades, and left for college determined to pursue medicine.

After my first year, I realized that my fascination with medicine was more about people and less about science, and I switched my major to sociology. I found a creative and physical outlet in modern dance, both performing and choreographing for my college’s dance company, and I started taking public health classes. I moved to New York City in 2005, completed my Master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in health policy in January 2007 and worked as a health benefits consultant for two years.

As many of us do when we begin our adult lives, I quickly found that money was tight, time fleeting, and things just not as easy as I’d imagined. Determined to live a happy life I’m proud of, I made some big moves this year.  I’m now living in San Diego and working as a wellness consultant for a personal health and fitness company.  Life is good!

I’m still a work-in-progress. I constantly struggle to keep everything in balance: friends, work, play, fitness, money and yes, my sanity. But with a life of dreams ahead of me, I know this balancing act will only get more challenging (and hopefully more fun!) and I need to be present, engaged, and most of all, well to realize my full potential.