Can you believe that we are about to step foot into not only a new year, but a new decade? I recently left my last job and have had a few days to genuinely relax, refresh, and reflect on the past decade in order to mindfully set my intentions for the next year and coming decade.
If you are reading this, you may know me or know nothing about me! I have spent the past ten years working in professional pastry kitchens. I worked my way up from pastry cook to Executive Pastry Chef of a very well-known hotel. It has consumed the majority of my time and priorities as well. In that time, I have learned valuable skills and lessons that will carry over to every aspect of my life, for the rest of my life. I met “my people” in those kitchens – think Christina Yang and Meredith Grey, who have gotten me through not only the best times of my life, but the worst. I also met my best friend aka fiancé, and soon to be husband. I have worked most holidays, nights, and weekends, and have missed out on a lot of family friend’s events. That didn’t used to bother me so much, but as we grow older and time goes on, priorities change. I chose to leave my last position because I hit a wall. It wasn’t just because of the industry, but all of the events that have occurred in the past five years.
I started my first wellness blog in 2013 to share my journey of shifting to a non-toxic, holistic lifestyle. What first started as a way to rid myself of hormonal acne quickly blossomed into this huge passion and pathway to help others achieve whole body wellness. I no longer just wanted to share my journey, but really delve into the why behind everything I did in order to truly educate others. I first wanted to go back to school in 2014. When I was in pastry school, I took a nutrition class and was instantly inspired. I wanted to finish my Bachelor’s in nutrition at that time, but I also wanted to start my career in pastry, which was the direction I ended up choosing. It was one of those interests that you carefully place on a shelf for safe keeping, for a better time, but also one that you pass by daily and look at that consciously always stays in the back of your mind.
It was one of those interests that you carefully place on a shelf for safe keeping, for a better time, but also one that you pass by daily and look at that consciously always stays in the back of your mind.
Fast forward to May 2015. My fiancé was dealing with personal struggles and alcoholism and my Dad was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. In the same week, the two most important men in my life were in the ER. I immediately turned into caretaker for both. I was supporting my fiancé and I on one salary, all while going up to see my Dad as much as possible during treatment, sometimes driving two hours after working eight, spending time in the ER until 6 am. It was then that I decided it was time for me to officially go back to school. Probably the WORST timing one could choose, but my life was screaming at me to do something. So, in Summer 2016, I started online classes part-time while working full-time and playing caretaker. I’m not going to lie, 2015-2017 were some of the darkest, most difficult times in my entire life and it almost broke me. If it weren’t for my closest friends and family, I honestly don’t know where I’d be right now. I also believe that my being in school helped not only my Dad and my fiancé, but many of those around me, as well as myself. It allowed me to be focused on something positive when literally everything around me was beyond negative.
Let’s fast forward to this year, 2019, to show you the contrast of just how much things really can change for the better. January 2019 marked the one year anniversary of my fiancé’s sobriety (we’re almost at the two year mark!). My Dad is healthy, still working and exploring as he used to. I turned thirty, and, just recently, I FINALLY finished and received my Diploma in Holistic Health Practice (with honors) from the American College of Healthcare Sciences. There were so many wins this year! There are few reasons as to why I am sharing such a personal journey. One, it is a way for me to reflect on it, heal from it, and leave it in this decade to move forward. I do my best reflections and growing in written form. Two, I hope it will allow anyone out there who has hit hard times or doesn’t know what direction to go in – to know that good things are coming!
The main point of this entire post is to set my intentions for next year. With that being said, one of the main challenges that I continue to encounter is time – or really, the lack there of due to working in the industry that I’m currently in. This year has truly been eye-opening for me. I became a manager for the first time, which has been extremely rewarding. At the same time though, my very belief that wellness should be a priority fell to the wayside in order to accommodate my job. My motivation and passion for wellness, helping others, and photography were almost non-existent because I was exhausted literally all of the time. My physical and mental health were declining rapidly. Between that and not having a real break from the events that have occurred in the past five years of my life, I hit burnout. How was I supposed to be a holistic lifestyle and nutrition coach on side if I can’t even grasp my own wellness? Something had to change. I weighed out all of my options (in true pastry fashion) and did what I had to do to prioritize my health and sanity. I’ve really taken the time to rest and reflect on what is important to me in the past few days and there are a few things that just really stand out to me that I have set as my intentions for 2020 and beyond.
What makes intentions different from resolutions or even goals is all in the mindset. You can set daily intentions or affirmations, or set a timeline, that is solely up to you! With intentions, saying it, making a vision board or something to look at daily can really help you to live out your intentions. Staying positive, believing you can do, achieve, or overcome something is truly a game changer.
My Intentions for 2020
Wellness: Wellness is a broad term and for good reason. Wellness has a different definition for each person. For me, it means actually taking the time to rest and take care of my body and mental health. I will be getting more regular massages, going hiking more often, meal prepping and being more consistent with eating whole foods. It also means saying no to things that don’t serve you well. I am well and my physical and mental health are priority in 2020.
Enrich My Mind: I love to read but exhaustion has prevented me from reading regularly in the past year. I love to learn as well. In 2020, I will read more books, listen to podcasts, attend online and in-person seminars and educational summits to further reach my health and educational goals.
Spend Time with Loved Ones: This is a big one for me. In 2020, I genuinely want to spend more quality time with my family and friends more often and WILL.
Consume Consciously: This has a few parts for me. I already use all non-toxic products or make my own for all aspects of my life and I will continue to do that. Being a conscious consumer is more than just using non-toxic. It means supporting local businesses and farmers, sustainability, and fair trade. It means using less plastic, reducing waste, and only buying what is needed. In 2020, I am reducing clutter and waste, only buying what I need, shopping at Farmer’s markets, and supporting local whenever possible.
Educate & Inspire Others: I have always been drawn to helping others. Be it teaching someone a recipe, recommending a product, lending a helping hand, or just being there for support. In 2020, I am putting my holistic lifestyle and nutrition coaching business into action. I am sharing my knowledge and inspiring others to make healthy shifts and changes in their lives to feel and live better.
I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Cliché, yes, but life has a way of presenting unexpected miracles and opportunities when you least expect them. Sometimes taking a small step back is a way for you to catapult ten steps forward in the correct direction. I’m so excited for 2020 and I know it is going to be an amazing year, I can just feel it. I get to marry my best friend in my favorite place, Yosemite National Park in August. My brother and his partner are also getting married in 2020!