Before you read on- take a moment and think about this. If you care to share, I want to know your very first thought? What experience came to your mind? What memory? What future did you envision? Or was it someone? Share below if you like, with or without your name… sometimes just writing it down brings the warm fuzzies. Want to know my first thought when I read that? It’s down below.
I am away on holidays this week, back in LA, staying in Venice and doing all the things that keep me well and healthy. I am spending a week doing what I never do anymore, take care of just myself, and wow does it feel sweet. If you read my book The Healthy Cookie : Unbaked, you are well versed in the characters that make up my LA life. For the week I am having slumber parties with my sweetest friend Alyssa, getting treatments from Dr. Ha and Ping everyday, the doctors that helped me heal from Crohn’s, going to yoga everyday, meeting with my meditation teacher, taking naps, walking by the beach, and eating fresh, local, organic market fresh food.
I left home just when I needed to. The snow had fallen, I was totally pooped out and in need of some sun. Today is December 14th which means the Wellsphere people’s health blogger awards contest ends tomorrow (still time to vote if you like). Whether I win or not, your votes have shown me the value in what I do in this space everyday. The comments that accompanied the votes have been shown that my objectives with this blog are being achieved and that you are being inspired in a healthier way.
I am like every other normal person. I get tired, I work too hard and my brain often runs too fast and I too sometimes feel burnt out. Then I get a comment like this:
“Meghan embodies so many characteristics of a person that I admire. She is positive, determined, honest, down-to-earth, intelligent, and enthusiastic. She is a survivor whose experience with Crohn’s became a catalyst that led to self-transformation and a genuine desire to inform and inspire others. This woman wants to change the world, and to some extent, she already has! She has an addictively bright and cheerful personality, and adds mischievous humor to many of her posts. I also love that she writes to the reader, not at the reader. She draws you in and makes you feel as if you’re good buddies. Also, she doesn’t use terms such as “good” and “bad” or tell readers what to do. Instead, she offers information and reasons why one choice might create better health and happiness than another. She realizes that everyone’s path is different, and her advice is adaptable. She also has the biggest variety of information of any health blog I have ever encountered. One day she’ll have an original recipe and a story; another day she’ll feature thorough research she has done herself on a particular health topic; yet another she’ll decide to do an online workshop or a contest.”
And I think, wow, that person sounds pretty darn swell. I want to be that person all the time and so here I am resting, relaxing, becoming refocussed and energized to continue on my mission. I have lots of work to do! Being here in LA where my path of disease crossed the threshold towards a journey to health, I am reminded of the steps and sometimes missteps that stumbled me onto this path and though the path has had its bumpy points, the smile rarely leaves me these days.
Yesterday doctor Ha told me that it was good that I came now for a top-up in treatments. He told me that I am at a pivotal point in my life again. I do believe that in addition to being the greatest healer I have ever known, Dr. Ha is a fortune teller and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
And what was my first thought when I read that quote? Well isn’t that a sweet bite of truth!
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enjoy your time. especially the sunshine. take good care.
My first thought… so true! I kind of feel that way in general about my life… it’s a little semi-charmed. Lots of crappy things happen… lots of sickness… but I keep looking and trying and stumble accross wonderful people and things!
Awesome post.
The quote is inspiring. I think that we stumble onto paths more often than we think, we just don’t see it. Maybe we’re too busy or distracted or not open to it or we don’t recognize it. Sometimes the stumble hurts so we don’t see the experience (a life changing event, for example) as a positive one. One has to watch for it, be aware and be positive.
I wish Dr. Ha made house calls to Toronto. My sister needs someone like him (but can’t travel with 3 month old baby).
Oh Meghan you’re so close. If you want to meet up for a beach walk or something let me know. I would totally drive up to meet you in person. (I wont feel bad if I don’t hear from you
you’re on holiday!)
This quote is something I totally believe in. I really believe that everyone has a purpose and if we let our hearts lead the way we will find exactly what we need in life and things will come together and have meaning. We don’t really realize what we are looking for until it hits us in the head and makes us feel whole. I am on a serious journey right now and this quote makes me reflect and realize how close I am to success.
I finally finding balance in my life and one step closer to my dreams.
Thank you Meghan for giving me the gift of being able to stand on my own two feet and balance out my life. You made me see it was up to me all along.
As soon as I read that quote I was reminded of how I met my husband. 16 years ago, at the age of 16, I snuck off to a pub; got very drunk and fell down the stairs. Sitting at the bottom was this man with the most beautiful blue eyes. We have barely spent a moment apart since that day. I could so easily not have stumbled into the path that has lead my life to happiness.
My first thought was also just a simple “So true..”
Enjoy the sun, Meghan! Get recharged so you can keep spreading your sunshine here
Wonderful story and so glad you are enjoying LA and taking care of yourself this week. Enjoy the holiday season Meghan!
That quote made me think of my career. I was accepted to college pre-med. I panicked the first day and realized I had no idea what I wanted to do. I changed my major to elementary education, because both of my parents are teachers. I thought I would stick with that until I figured out my future. Five years later, I can’t imagine doing anything else. I love teaching. I can’t imagine a job that would make me happier!
The quote made me think of the day that changed my whole wellbeing.
I was at a friend’s party, eating junk and chocolate and drinking all the sugar you could imagine. And then I thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore, it’s not doing me any good’.
So I went home and swam 100 laps. Then I started running.
I’ve been running for about 2 years now, barely missing a day. I found I am gluten intolerant and gave up sugar and grains and all the processed foods that we ate that day. I actually happy and healthy for the first time in my life.
So now, all I want to do is let people know how much they change their life by changing how they eat.
You’re such an inspiration, Meghan. I love your blog, and all the humour that comes with your health. And it’s such a great comfort to know that someone else has an active interest in health, and there’s a community out there that lives holistically. Rather than everyone at school who stares at me as if I were an alien when I say I don’t eat sugar.
Thank you so much.
Maybe one of the best stories ever!