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Archive for October, 2011|Monthly archive page

If You’re Up at 2am, You Must Have Something on Your Mind

In You on October 25, 2011 at 8:09 am

I’ll be honest. In my opinion, there is NO reason to be awake at 2am. Call me old if you wish, but I like to get to bed at a reasonable time (unless there’s no other option). Yesterday evening, friend and founder of WHEW, Sarah Scott, posted a link to the trailer for Miss Representation. The film, written, directed and produced by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, addresses the powerful and, more often that not, negative effect that media has on the development of women’s selves. Miss Representation premiered at Sundance in 2011 and has since been picked up by OWN.

After watching the trailer, I headed to the organization’s website,
http://missrepresentation.org
,  where I was prompted to make a pledge. I did  so and received a really interesting confirmation email in which they gave suggestions of ways to take immediate action. The suggestions were as follows:

1. Tell 5 people about the film and share one thing you learned from watching it.

2. Parents- watch TV and films with your children.  Raise questions like “What if that character had been a girl instead?”

3. Remember your actions influence others. Mothers, aunts and loved ones- don’t downgrade or judge yourself by your looks. Fathers, uncles and loved ones—treat women around you with respect.  Remember children in your life are watching and learning from you.

4. Use your consumer power. Stop buying tabloid magazines and watching shows that degrade women. Go see movies that are written and directed by women (especially on opening weekend to boost the box office ratings). Avoid products that resort to sexism in their advertising.

5. Mentor others! It’s as easy as taking a young woman to lunch. Start by having open and honest conversations with a young person in your life.

 

I thought this was pretty cool because they provided ways to contribute without ever asking for money. Anyone interested in making a pledge can follow these suggestions.

Needless to say, the trailer got me thinking. And, given that they allow individuals, businesses, schools and organizations to have screenings, I’m going to look into holding one.

Check out the trailer below, but be careful, it may have you up at 2am thinking as well. Thanks for sharing, Scottie!

It’s great to see filmmakers interested in making a change!

~Thankful

Update: HAR Jewelry

In You on October 24, 2011 at 10:21 am

It’s one thing to praise someone for their arrival. It’s another thing to be along for the journey. In a previous post, the original A Little Daily Inspiration, I shared a story about Halle Richardson, an up and coming jewelry designer. Well, as fate and hard work would have it, she’s finally made some of her pieces available for purchase at 
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HARJewelry
. Just another step on Halle’s path to success! Good Luck HAR!

A ring by HAR! Thank you for the gift!

 

 

I hope that whatever your journey is you are moving forward in the same fashion! I’m trying my best to do the same.

Happy Monday! I’m off to enjoy the start of a new week.

~Thankful

Get updates on her new pieces by following @HARJewelry on Twitter. And follow @Thankful_Fam on twitter if your feeling fancy.

Choice and Expectation

In You on October 21, 2011 at 11:51 am

I’ve been talking to a few friends lately who have huge life decisions to make. They’re in transition and it seems like a difficult place to be. Many of them feel a tad unsure and are feeling the “burden of choice.” Although, as frustrating as indecision is, we should all remember that it is a luxury only afforded to the fortunate. On top of this inability to decide things like, which job to take, when to move in with their significant other, when to get engaged, when to change one’s career path, when to purchase a home etc, everyone is also taking in to consideration expectation. That is, what society, family or friends actually expect you to do and how they expect you to act. A friend, who I’ll refer to as “X”, told me yesterday that they are interested in shifting gears. However, changing career paths will mean starting over. X is excited about the prospect, but not sure if their parents will approve. I was exhausted just listening to them, but also realized that I’m not immune to similar thinking.

I started reading a new book (well new to me), “All Things Shining: Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning in a Secular Age”, by Hubert Dreyfus and Sean Dorrance Kelly. Hubert Dreyfus is actually a Berkeley Professor (Go Bears!). All Things Shining uses Western Literature to examine what it means to live a meaningful life, in a time when there is no one religion determining how anyone should behave or make decisions. In one section, they make reference to the work of David Foster Wallace, stating that the structure of his work is often a reflection of modern indecisiveness:

“Many of these (his) sentences are complemented by lengthy endnotes that continue the process, as if to say that this is the way we are aware of ourselves in the modern age: we say something, wonder about what we’ve said, unsay it, ask about it again, circle back to it from a different perspective, qualify it, unqualify it and on, footnoting our endnotes and end noting our footnotes to infinity. We conclude, it at all, without resolution.”

Whether or not Wallace intended his structure to imply this, I believe Dreyfus and Kelly have touched on a real challenge. One which I see playing out everyday. Then I have to imagine how exhausting it is, to not just face narrowing down options on one’s own, but to consider everyone else’s opinion as well.

Now I’ve just started this book and while the writers address some heavy issues, it’s not all negative. Even when addressing David Foster Wallace’s sadness and the “lostness” inherent in his writing, they take care to illustrate the positive intent of his work. They’ve quoted Wallace as saying,

” In dark times, the definition of good art would seem to be art that locates and applies CPR to the elements of what’s human and magical that still live and glow despite the times’ darkness.”

While transition seems daunting, it also provides an instance of endless possibilities. One has the chance to explore something NEW, change their life or improve their circumstance. Saying yes to moving in with your significant other, or no to a job offer should never induce fear. Standing at the edge of possibility in fear isn’t the most productive option. Either way you must jump and make a decision. I recently received some advice from someone, they said, “The beginning of a new pursuit always seems dark but you must step in and see for yourself. There’s probably more light than you think.”

I’m thankful for the advice! Do More; Think Less.

Happy Friday!

~Thankful

A Little Daily Inspiration: Women’s Health Empowerment Worldwide

In Uncategorized on October 18, 2011 at 8:07 am

Women's Health and Empowerment Worldwide

WHEW! I’ve said this many times before, but it hasn’t held the same meaning since Women’s Health Empowerment Worldwide was formed in 2010.  The non-profit organization was co-founded by Sarah Scott (A good friend of mine!) and Ashley Gardiner in partnership with The Fistula Foundation’s Circle of Friends program. WHEW’s primary goals are to promote women’s health worldwide and address the growing need for obstetric care in developing countries, specifically in relation to fistula’s. Pardon my ignorance, but I actually wasn’t aware of what a fistula was until Sarah educated me a year ago. So, just in case you’re wondering:

C/O The Fistula Foundation and WHEW

 

Fistula: A fistula is a hole. An obstetric fistula, the kind that occurs in many developing countries, is a hole between a woman’s birth passage and one or more of her internal organs. This hole develops over many days of obstructed labor, when the pressure of the baby’s head against the mother’s pelvis cuts off blood supply to delicate tissues in the region. This hole results in permanent incontinence of urine and/or feces.  (C/O The Fistula Foundation)

In the U.S., our obstetric care has advanced to the point where fistula’s aren’t a concern and surgery is immediately available. However in developing countries this isn’t the case. Women faced with this problem are often abandoned by their husbands and ostracized by their communities.

Sarah Scott took a few moments to answer questions about WHEW and their cause:

How did you and Ashley become aware of The Fistula Foundation and what drove you to start WHEW?

Ashley and I both read Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s book, Half the Sky, and are also fans of Kristof’s NYT Op-Ed column. Another great read on the topic of women’s health, and specifically fistulas, is Cutting for Stone.  While we were working together at an educational policy organization in DC, we became friends and realized that we were both passionate about women’s health and empowerment around the world, and had both been very moved by Kristof’s writings/stories (especially after both traveling in Africa and falling in love with it!) So, we decided to do something about it! While I was living in Bolivia, (June- December 2010) we agreed that fistulas were a specifically terrible and understated medical condition affecting mothers around the world. We contacted The Fistula Foundation (located in San Jose, CA), and they warmly welcomed us as a new Circle of Friends chapter, a fundraising and awareness raising group.

Can you give us a comparison, what are the risks for women in developing countries v.s. the U.S.?

Think about your daily life as a woman in the US.  If you are lucky, from the moment you wake up, you are surrounded by choices: what to wear, what to eat for breakfast, how to get to work, (what you want to do with your career, education,) who you have lunch with, if you go out or to the gym after work. Now, imagine you are a poor, 20 year old girl living in the Congo with 4 children and a husband who works all day. You had to leave school in 3rd grade to help your mother around the house. You wake up every morning and have no choice.  You must take care of your children and provide the best life possible for them. Or imagine that you are a teenage girl living in Afghanistan and you have been betrothed to a man whom you have never met, and as soon as you get your period, you are forced to leave your beloved family for a life unknown. Basically, I think that it comes down to options and education. Options with your body, your life, your education. Without having a say in these issues, you are left very vulnerable.

You held your first fundraiser on August 12th, when will your next event be?

Since I returned to DC in February, we have had two wine and cheese parties where we showed friends a documentary from Despair to Dignity, a moving and educational documentary produced by The Fistula Foundation (another amazing documentary on fistulas is A Walk to Beautiful). We’ve also had one very successful fundraiser happy hour event where we raised over $1000 that went directly to The Fistula Foundation. We are planning our next event, a dinner/fundraiser for the end of October, and this potluck dinner group will meet every month, and then we are planning to have another happy hour fundraiser in November/early December in DC.

 

How can people interested in donating and/or getting involved with your foundation in a larger capacity do so?

The Fistula Foundation’s website has great ways to get involved, check it out! We would love for you to follow the WHEW blog (
http://wheworldwide.tumblr.com/
) , and like us on Facebook, where we post recent news stories on maternal health, events and articles. A great way to start becoming involved in women’s health and empowerment is to read, read, read and start conversations with friends and co-workers, raise awareness, and if you can, money too to support the doctors and hospitals working to repair fistulas.

If you had one piece of advice for young women (or anyone) interested in forming a non-profit, what would it be?

Give it a try! Nothing bad can come out of giving something like this a chance. Educate yourself on the issue, become an expert on what you are passionate about (I’m working on it!) and reach out to your community. I need to be better about it, but take chances! Reach out to professionals in your field to ask for advice and connections. Every bit can help, don’t think that you can’t make a difference, because each of us can.

What are you thankful for?

I am thankful for my AWESOME supportive friends and family, and to be living a life full of options. Choices are the key to a successful, healthy and healthy life especially as a young woman. Think about all of the choices you make every day; what to wear, how to get to work, what to eat, who to meet up with for happy hour, when to go to bed, who to spend your time with and who you love. This isn’t the case in some countries, especially if you are a woman. In some countries, women have no options, they are told at a young age who they will marry, when they will drop out of school (if they get the chance to attend), what to wear, who to speak to, how many children to have; a large part of their life is dictated by others. Be grateful for your daily life, for the little things, and for the people who help make that possible, your parents, your siblings, your co workers and loved ones.

I have some really amazing friends doing amazing things! Thank you, Sarah and the rest of WHEW for sharing! Maybe this has inspired you to donate, maybe this has inspired to to create your own non-profit, but I hope in the least it’s inspired you to pass this knowledge around and make an effort to understand issues outside of your daily life. It certainly has for me.

~Thankful

The Good with the Bad

In Me, You on October 17, 2011 at 12:55 pm

Saturday morning I woke up to my friend Rosa saying, “I have some not so good news. Someone broke in your car.” My first thought was, “Seriously? What could they possibly want in there?” My second thought was, “Oh crap (well, maybe it was another word). My computer.” I’d like to think that I’m a bright person. However, I can’t deny that I did something extremely stupid; I left my laptop under the seat in my car! Needless to say the jerks stole my laptop but curiously enough they left the $6 that was just sitting on my seat in plain view. Strange. So, $250 +tax later, I will be able to roll up the window on my car again.

                                                     

That unfortunate event would have taken over my weekend if it wasn’t for the good things that followed. So now for the good stuff!

I went to a great dinner at Picca a Peruvian restaurant on Pico. Picca serves tapas style dishes that are a sort of Peruvian and Japanese fusion. We tried a few small plates including, conches a la parmesan, choritos, cheviche crocante and arroz con erizo. This was hands down one of the best meals I’ve ever had! Here are some pictures, mmmm…


Also, some friends and I ventured to the most magical place on earth, Disneyland! This was the first time I’d been in 12 years and to be honest, I was scared. I’m not much for roller coasters and for some reason I remembered Splash Mountain as having a giant 300 foot drop. So, when my friends got excited about the ride I was totally freaked out! As it turned out, Splash Mountain was all good and the drop was more like 50ft. The last time I went in the Haunted Mansion I was 8 in Disney Paris. I got on the ride with my brother and half way through I looked over and his face had been replaced with a hologram. Of course, at the time, I didn’t know it was a hologram. I truly believed that my brother was gone and a skeleton had taken his place. Needless to say I vowed never to go in The Haunted Mansion again. Well much like Splash Mountain… things are a lot less scary 12-17 years later. Disneyland was so much fun!

To top everything off, my friend Francesca finished her first marathon on Sunday! She completed the Nike Women’s Marathon in 4:07 and that’s even with walking mile 22-23. She is amazing and is today’s Daily Inspiration.

Despite the fact I was totally thrown off and irritated by the burglary of my computer and vandalism of my car, some good things did happen this weekend. And since I can’t go back and knock out the person who broke in my car, I’ll just focus on the other things and give thanks to the fact that I’ll have  new window in a few hours.

Happy Monday everyone! I hope this is the beginning to a great week.

~Thankful

Everyone has Them…

In You on October 13, 2011 at 9:28 am

Good Day! Welcome to a new Thursday edition on Thankful FaM. Depending on the response we get from this, it will either become a regular Monday event or it will go to the archives where all one-offs go.

Today is a day to Walk on the Bright Side. I have a special guest contributor, friend and writer, David. In our circles he’s know as the resident realist (sometime cynic) whose love for writing may only be trumped by his love for European football. I love soccer for certain reasons (read: Christiano Ronaldo); I’m not sure David and I are of the same opinion.

Each and every one of us have things in our life the stress us out. It doesn’t matter how happy we are when we wake up, there are, undoubtably, certain annoyances and worries, big and small,  that creep in our heads. For today’s blog, I asked some friends to tell me about a few things weighing on their minds. I’ve listed these worries below. Following each, David will serve as the creeping voice telling us why, realistically, this should be an issue of concern. I will then do my best to illustrate the bright side. It’s always been helpful for me to see the dark and light of each issue in order to move forward in a positive, productive (hopefully healthy) way. Plus if you ever thought my optimism makes me overlook certain realities in life, David is here to balance me out.

In case you thought you were the only person stressed about the following things, just know, you’re not…

I’ve been at my job for a fair amount of time and I love it! However, I feel like I’m in constant competition with my peers.

D: Welcome to 21st Century America. I think competition is basically unavoidable these days. The fact that jobs are so scarce and coveted mixed in with the promise of financial stability in uncertain times means that people are gonna really fight to claim their piece of the pie. I would say that it would be worse to be naive about the competition at your workplace than to be conscious about it and act accordingly. I do not think it is advantageous to meddle in your coworkers’ business, but it may be wise to take measures to protect yourself. Just make sure to be assertive and not get in situations where you are pushed under the bus. I would not let a competitive work environment ruin a job that you enjoy, because good luck finding a job that is not competitive.

B: Well let me be the first to say, thank goodness you have a job! David, I’m sure this was on your mind and you just forgot to vocalize it! I think a lot of us assume that once we get a job the pressure is off, when in fact the pressure shifts from getting a job to keeping one. Competition always makes me better at whatever it is I’m doing. So I would say, it’s a great opportunity to rise to the occasion and prove that you are even more valuable than your company initially believed. Maybe they won’t just keep you, they’ll promote you.

I dream of writing a book but fear that I’ll never do it.

D: As a writer, I have experienced countless frustrations with starting and finishing projects. I think the biggest mistake people make is trying to bite off more than they can chew. I know that I would not be ready to write a novel right away and judging myself on whether or not I can or will finish a novel would just frustrate me more and rattle my already fragile confidence. I would say work your way to the point of writing a book. Start with some short stories or things where you can polish your skills but where you will also set a more realistic goal. It is all about habit and discipline though. The world is full of people who talk about writing a lot and never do it. So if you want to write, start writing now. On the bright side, plenty of novelists and other famous writers did not start or finish their first works until their 30s or 40s.

B: For me, I’ve found that if I really want to do something the reason I do or don’t jump is because of fear. For a while I couldn’t figure out if failing was trying and not succeeding or not starting something at all. Not starting could happen for a number of reasons, lack of time, a change in priorities, or maybe the doubt that I shouldn’t. At any rate, I’m happy with everything completed or not completed. If you’re serious about writing I’m sure it will happen, even if you only have time to write in the first 20min of your day. Even though David says to start small before jumping into your novel I wouldn’t say that means you have to put the novel on hold. The small steps may be breaking your novel into pieces. It’s going to go through numerous revisions anyways, so you might as well break it up. Stop worrying and start writing. You will finish if that’s what you want.

I’m getting an advanced degree and wonder, will this degree will get me a job?

D: Well, I think it is becoming clear that degrees are no longer the golden ticket they once seemed to be. Sadly, I think there are just so many people with college degrees and master’s degrees that the issue is a numbers game. However, that being said, my advanced degree did just recently land me a job. But it got me a job not because of the degree but because of a contact and friendship I made through the degree program. I think we are in a job market where jobs are only acquired through personal connections and others vouching for you. So if you are worried about your degree leading to a job, I would say use your program and the fact you are in school to make as many contacts as possible (i.e reach out to alumni). If you think of the degree as a means to an end and not a guaranteed end then I think it can certainly pay off.

B: Welcome! I’m pretty sure I’ve heard this before. In my own head perhaps? Obviously if you’re pursuing an advanced degree, you’re smart, ambitious and tenacious so you won’t have any problem getting a job- no matter how long it takes. You are in a prime connection to make contacts and these aren’t just any contacts, they are people who share your interests and in all likelihood have a personal stake in seeing you succeed. Don’t knock your advanced degree! What’s even cooler is that down the line, if you decide you want to change careers, you can teach!

All of my friends are getting married and I’m no closer to finding that person or being ready to settle down.

D: Coming from the southern part of the US, I have a number of friends from high school who have been married for a while. At least three people I know from high school have unfortunately already been divorced and they are only 27. I think rushing into marriage because of pressure is one of the worst things a person can do. Just because other people have gotten married does not mean they were ready and knowing that you are not ready is important and nothing to be ashamed about. From what I have seen, the allure of getting married young and building a life with someone is often very different from the realities of having to deal with all the pressures and uncertainties of navigating decisions about careers, money, children, and where to settle, when you are still trying to build your life. So I would not feel any pressure or shame. Best to be honest with yourself.

B: I get the sense that you always find things when you aren’t looking. Plus, if you aren’t ready then no need to worry about finding that person yet! I’m always reminding myself that the only person I can compare myself to is me… so as far as I’m concerned, there’s no use judging my life progress based on someone else’s. I recently had a conversation with my friend Evelyn who said, “You are exactly where you are supposed to be.” Find comfort in that. And if that doesn’t help you stop worrying, know that you aren’t alone, present company included. So there are millions of people out there looking and in those millions, may be, your prince or princess charming. Oh, and David is free! I’m sure he would also like me to add that he plays the guitar, loves dogs and sunsets.


I hope you can tell from the responses above, that  not only is there a bright side to many worries, even the most realistic of people can identify the positives.

Thanks to David for helping!

If you’d like to send in anything or be a part of the next edition please submit! Enjoy your Thursday! Just know you’re one day closer to the weekend!

~Thankful

The Canadians give thanks, so I give thanks!

In You on October 11, 2011 at 7:25 am

Holiday Time! I know what you’re thinking- I’m a few weeks early. However, there were a slew of holidays this weekend: Yom Kippur, Canadian Thanksgiving and Columbus Day. While the latter isn’t exactly an awesome reason to celebrate, each of these days gave me a chance to see friends and family that would be otherwise engaged by work or school. Lucky me! Plus, if the Canadians are giving thanks, shouldn’t we all?

Early on in the weekend I got to meet up with my good friend, Mere. We ventured to Shop House the new tasty, yet cheap, eatery from the owners of Chipotle. This new restaurant features Vietnamese food which, I’m happy to say, was as filling and delicious as a Chipotle burrito. Unfortunately, this is the first and only location. I’m hoping they bring one out West soon.

Saturday evening I got to meet up with, Nellie, another former classmate. We marveled at how fast time has flown.

Nellie, Mere and I

On Monday Mere and I toured the monuments. Luckily we were able to see the new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in West Potomac Park. The memorial’s construction began in December 2009 and was recently completed and opened on August 28th. Two walls featuring MLK Jr.’s most notable quotes converge to meet an embossed relief of MLK Jr. (Pictured Below). It’s wonderful that a man so dedicated to civil rights finally has a tribute; a sign of universal thanks and public gratitude. Those responsible for the memorial have even created a $1,000,000 scholarship fund for D.C. area high school students who plan on pursing post- secondary education.


"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It had been a while since I’d sincerely taken time to visit The National Mall. We got the chance to see the Korean War, Lincoln and Vietnam Memorials. Mere mentioned that the best time to visit the Korean War Memorial is during the evening. Even in the daylight the statues were breathtaking. We looked on in awe of the Vietnam Memorial, simply due to the sheer quantity of names. I wondered how many family members still visit. Per usual Mere and I stood in front of the massive Lincoln statue and contemplated ways we could climb up and sit in his lap.

" Our Nation honors her Sons and Daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I finished up my evening with a three mile walk to my friend Scottie and her boyfriend Dave’s apartment. Upon my arrival I was greeted with a warm welcome and the fragrance of freshly baked chicken pot pies. Apparently I stopped by on a good day because Dave was cooking! It was wonderful catching up and hearing about Scottie and Dave’s new adventures! Scottie recently began teaching at a school in the DC area. I’m not sure I realized how much work teachers put in to lesson plans, no matter the age of their students. Teaching is a huge responsibility, one which Scottie seems to be taking on very well!

Now I’m returning to California. But in the spirit of Canadian Thanksgiving here’s a list of things I give thanks to after the weekend…

Those who unselfishly fight for our freedoms, family, friends, teachers, good food, good company, memories, running shoes, exercise, nice weather, email, long walks, public transportation, good books, dreams, macs, Adele and Spotify.

Have a good Tuesday everyone!

B

A Little Daily Inspiration: Skylor Powell & Sprout Health

In You on October 7, 2011 at 8:27 am

I remember the first day I tried Yoga. I walked in the studio thinking, “This is gonna be a piece of cake. I can do repeat 600′s. I can squat 300lbs. Yoga ain’t got nothin’ on me.”  Well, I was a little overconfident because not only did I have no idea what I was doing, I spent half of the time sweating, out of breath, and trying to catch up to everyone in the next pose. So sad.

Our Inspiration for the day, Skylor Powell (pictured right),  has a very different story. After taking a 200hr certification class, she and a friend, Molly, decided to open their own Yoga Studio, Sprout Health, in Portland, Oregon. Skylor and Molly really value community, and wanted even those unable to afford classes to be able to attend, so they decided to have donation based classes. Clients give what they can when they  can. In this way, Sprout Health is available to anyone who wants to start living  a healthier life.

In addition to the Yoga Studio, they decided to include a wellness program. We all know that improving our health doesn’t just mean exercising; we have to change the way we eat and live. Sprout Health’s Wellness Program brings teachers to clients’ homes with the goal of helping them make healthier eating choices on their own. Additionally, Sprout Health’s website and blog have healthy recipes inspired by experimentation with fresh ingredients. I tried the Spinach and Romaine Salad with Shrimp and Walnuts recipe!  I’ve said too much already. Here’s more info straight from the source:

Interview with Skylor Powell of Sprout Health PDX

It’s very easy to have a dream. How did you implement your vision of Sprout Health?

To be honest with you, I leaped with eyes closed!  I have always been a little bit fearless in taking steps forward because I give very little time for considering the consequences. After I found the location that seemed to fit Sprout’s needs: beautiful flooring for a yoga studio, a kitchen for cooking classes, a living room where everyone would want to spend time, office space to meet clients in, a lot of natural light and an awesome location where people could find us easily, I got the key and was off and running.

You have a pretty amazing Wellness Program; can you break it down for us?

We try to offer a little something for everyone. There are programs that are as basic as taking you through the grocery store so that together, we can weed out the processed foods that pretend to be healthy because they are “low fat” or “low calorie” and focus on whole foods.  There are cabinetry clean outs, where we empty out bad foods and make room for the good ones! One month, three month, and group cleanses/health coaching programs to help change patterns and habits that keep people in ruts of being tired, irritable, overweight, and prevent them from living to their fullest potential.  We even have in-home healthy cooking crash courses, where we come into your space and cook some very simple dishes with your favorite ingredients, your pots and pans and your spices, so that you can easily replicate it when we are not around to help :) .  We have mini consultations for people who just need a bit of accountability. We try to offer options to every level of price point and experience.

 

You have a 3 Month Health Coach Program that looks perfect. It seems that after drastically changing your routine, one would need consistent encouragement and support. What challenges have people faced once the program is through? How has the community built around Sprout helped enable positive health choices?

The key to our programs, especially the 3-month program, is to make changes that are manageable so that the encouragement and support is something that they can supply themselves simply by feeling the benefits of the changes. We try to make simple, minor changes over a period of time so that the transition is slow enough that the changes last. Through group cleanses, yoga classes, potlucks, workshops, and follow-up meetings, there are a myriad of opportunities for follow-up support systems.  The Sprout community blows my mind, every single day, with how much they support Sprout and each other.  Everyone just seems to want to see everyone else succeed! They speak encouraging words, they bring in healthy, delicious goodies, they talk, I mean really talk, before and after classes and programs. They take time to get to know each other. One of our dearest students, Gary, brings in eggs & berries for teachers and students to enjoy. Another student, Molly, brings in homemade Kombucha for everyone to share. They are all so dedicated to the well being of the community as a whole; it makes our job so easy!

 

What advice would you give someone eager to make a healthy change in his or her life?

Do it! What is holding you back from making one change that will inevitably open up a number of other doors in your life?

 

What are you thankful for?

I am thankful for everyone who has helped me get to this point on every level. My mom, my brother and my dad, of course, who have only been sources of encouragement to make me the brave, and sometimes ignorant, soul who leaps without looking first; who have also been the people to help me up throughout life when the leaps end in falls! They pick up where I leave off and remind me that forgiveness is crucial to happiness. They are more love than any one girl could ask for.  They have been so supportive to my growth and it brings little tears to my eyes thinking about how important their dedication to family has been and still is today.  Our manager, Molly, of course, who selflessly puts in so many hours at Sprout without hesitation and is such a significant part of every decision that I make. She is the earth that my foundation at Sprout is made of.   I’m thankful for my closest friends and boyfriend who have been supportive to Sprout since day one. Friends who have gone out of their way a number of times (even rerouting their 1,500+ bike trip to come to the opening, THANK YOU GUYS!) just to see that Sprout is succeeding. The friends who paint Sprout’s walls, who make manikins and spend their weekends working, who run errands to insane places like Ikea on a Saturday by themselves just to make sure that our kitchen is appropriately stocked for cooking classes, who take hours and hours out of their days to build ladders and assist with cooking classes, who donate their time and effort to cleaning, teaching yoga classes and cooking classes and leading workshops, just to see us grow. The partnering businesses who donate free gifts to our raffles and spread the word about Sprout.  I am grateful for Portland rain! It keeps my extreme energy levels at a relatively neutral state so that I can concentrate and keep my priorities straight.   I am grateful that I live in a community that is so dedicated to happiness and change.  I am grateful for running water and food in my belly. I am grateful for Kenston Elementary, Hawken Upper School, The Mountain School of Milton Academy, Hobart and William Smith and Colorado College for all providing my education to get me here (a lot of transferring!). This list could really keep going, I am grateful for so much.  I am grateful for this fantastic opportunity to pause in my day so that I can reflect on everything and everyone that fills me with such joy!


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Thank you, Skylor, for sharing you story and for providing inspiration to those looking to change their lifestyle, improve their health and maybe start their own venture! I’ll wait for the studio opening in L.A. (=
~Thankful
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