It’s been a while…
It feels like yesterday I was writing about managing the stress of the holidays and talking about avoiding resolutions but here I am in June trying to figure out how to re-establish my blog after months away.
In late January my Dad passed away just 9 days after his 81st birthday. It was unexpected, but also, it wasn’t.
Let me explain. In October of last year, he fell and broke some ribs. He was hospitalized and eventually released and seemed to heal well at home. At Thanksgiving, he was feeling good, or so we thought; his appetite began to wane, he started using a cane to walk, and he began having some shoulder issues. We didn’t think much of the symptoms and just chalked it up to the fall.
By Christmas, however, there was a marked change: he wasn’t able to eat, he began using a walker in place of the cane, and he became withdrawn. He was there in body but he wasn’t present; it was as though he was in the past more often than not. Looking back, I should have realized what was happening.
Within a few weeks, he went from being a fairly active 80 year old to someone unable to walk unassisted and needing support for even the simplest of tasks. The weeks after the holidays seemed like minutes and before we knew it he was gone.
I spoke at his funeral. As the only child (my brother passed away in 2018), I wanted to honor him. I’m not a public speaker and I certainly don’t pretend to be one. but I knew if I didn’t do it I would regret that decision. The words I prepared started off as a Facebook post but when I was asked if I wanted to speak at the service it quickly became the basis of what I wanted our family and friends to know about my father.
Writing the words, and then speaking them out loud, felt very surreal to me. Here I was trying to fit 81 years into a 10 minute speech, and many of those years I didn’t even know the man-I had to recount stories told to me as a child from my grandparents, my mother, and my father himself. And, it all made me wonder about my own life; what have I accomplished, who have I impacted, who have I helped?
Since then, I have spent much time reflecting on where I am today, how I got here, and where I want to go. I have re-evaluated my business plan and I know, without a doubt, nutrition, health & wellness coaching is who I am at my core. I want to help as many people as I can find wellness through nutrition. I want to be someone who educates and guides and creates impact in the lives of others.
There are many instances where one might seek guidance in their wellness journey: maybe you’re not feeling quite your best and you believe nutrition is a place you’re lacking; maybe you know what you need to do in terms of proper nutrition but you don’t know how or where to begin; perhaps you’re tired of the eat less/move more theory and you’re ready for something different, something that fits into your lifestyle.
Whatever your situation, it’s possible that a coach can serve you well. Coaching isn’t for a lifetime, but rather for a period of time in which you are learning, applying, and growing into the person you wish to be. A coach, your coach, provides education and accountability, and guides you toward your individual goals while holding your hand along the way. It’s a partnership dedicated to your personal growth.
As your coach we work together in collaboration on the design of your individualized program whether the desired outcome is weight loss, learning how to break unhealthy habits, to have increased energy, or to live an optimized lifestyle.
I coach with YOU in mind. YOUR goals. YOUR lifestyle. YOUR ideal outcome.
If you’re interested in learning more please reach out. I would love to connect and learn more about you and your goals. Maybe coaching isn’t for you, but also, maybe it is. Take control of your life and find out if a coach can help you reach your goals.
You can find me online on Facebook and Instagram, where I share education, information, recipes, and sometimes silly shenanigans. I also have a private Facebook group where I am building a community of people who are ready to implement changes in their nutrition. I host free challenges and share a lot of educational content too.
I’m always happy to answer questions, or to provide assistance in any way I can. Send me your questions via email at jen@wellmattersnutrition.com or feel free to schedule a call with me here, (or, just give me a call at (860) 368-0472).
Live well & Thrive!