Where do I even start?...
Turn your struggles into your purpose
I was born in the small town of Clinton, South Carolina. My upbringing consisted of good food, a tight-knit family, moments of Joy and sorrow, and many books. Throughout my college journey, my major allowed me to know and understand the interconnectedness and complexities of my life. This knowledge pushed me towards purpose as I gained the knowledge of disparities and inequities people in the black community faced daily, disparities that have been knocking on my household door.
Passion
I wanted to change the world. Cure cancer and diabetes, end police brutality and maternal mortality, fix the food deserts, serve justice where it's needed, and give black people a lot of money to create a better life for themselves. I was frustrated with the country that black people built and yet, for generations, statistically speaking, we have the sickest, poorest, and underserved community members.
With this newfound drive, I decided to start by helping myself. To break free from the shackles that could hold me back from helping others. So, in 2019, I started therapy to combat my struggles with anxiety, depression, addictions, shame, and self-hatred.
My mindset and habits were shifted through Therapy and self-help books. These new practices that calmed my mind and eased my doubts and fear of connecting with the world around me on a deeper level. I am now in love with the natural world and the uniqueness and complexity of every living and nonliving thing.
I am in love with myself and am living the life God blessed me with.
There is beauty in the struggle.
In 2020, I experienced sporadic body aches, fatigue, and slight weight gain. After seeking medical care, I was diagnosed with prediabetes and hospitalized for a swollen knee caused by reactive arthritis. My clinician expressed to me that if I did not change my lifestyle- which consisted of a poor diet and limited physical activity- I would develop type 2 diabetes within the next ten years.
Determined not defeated
Although being diagnosed with prediabetes at the age of 20 was scary, but I was m grateful that doctors for catching the onset of the disease before it progressed. My grandmother, auntie, late great-grandmother, and late cousin all suffered from this disease.
Growing up, I saw the restrictions and health outcomes of having diabetes. It involved lots of medications, low energy, dietary restrictions, and discomfort. I began to take preventive measures to reverse my prediabetes. I studied holistic, integrative healing modalities outside of my public health courses. I studied the power of nutrition on one’s health which led to crowding out processed snacks such as Debbie's cakes and chips and replaced them with nuts and fruit. I drink more water, study, and listen to my body. I am more aware of what is giving me energy and what was stealing it. I use my body mass index to determine the calories I need to consume in each food category. I eat balanced meals and do not overeat. I no longer consume beef, pork, or dairy. I am intentional about the type of chicken I consumed: grass-fed, pasture-raised, with no added hormones.
“The energy of food affects your energy”
“You are what you eat”
I have limited my fast food consumption and enjoy cooking at home to be more aware of what was in my food which has given me the opportunity to try traditional ethnic dishes. I regularly engage in physical activity. Now, after two years of intentionality, I no longer have prediabetes.
As someone who has faced health challenges the past few years with so much uncertainty, I have taken my health outcomes into my own hands. I refuse to be a statistic or live a life of dis-ease.
Overall, do not let a diagnosis define you. Do not let anyone or the internet tell you that you cannot change the trajectory of your health or life. Refrain from succumbing to pharmaceuticals when there are indigenous, natural, holistic practices that could serve you better. Surround yourself with a supportive community and likeminded people and listen to your body to discover what works best for you!
Health is Wealth
Join me as I continue my health journey and nourish every dimension of well-being to reach an optimal health status for ME. May my journey inspire, educate, and motivate you to advocate for your health and take control of your life in holistic, natural ways.