Every once in a while, something happens that really matters. Something that will define at least the next chapter of your journey – perhaps it’s a conversation with a client, a meeting with a visionary or a major event in your personal life. Below, you’ll find some very insightful folks sharing defining moments from their journeys.

Hilde Elder

The moment that transformed my life and redirected my career was when my mother took her last breath. I was 14 weeks pregnant with my first of 4 blessings and had been practicing holistic medicine for 6 years at that point. Now with 20+ years in the field I can look back and say that was the moment when everything shifted and I up-leveled my life in every which way I could. Read more>>

Tom Glaser

As counseling psychologist at a small college, I lived my dream job for seven years. I had the privilege of doing the one-on-one psychotherapy that I love AND share my love of wellness-related and leadership development topics with groups. And not just teach in the academic sense, I was challenged to find creative ways to deliver important messages in accessible, meaningful ways. Read more>>

Kristin Calverley

I can honestly say that my first job completely changed the course of my career. I landed a job in women’s perinatal mental health and was housed in a busy hospital right on the NICU, postpartum, and antepartum units. At that time, I had limited experience in perinatal mental health or neonatal issues so it was a steep learning curve. Read more>>

Amanda Marcell

The year 2020 was a defining year, to say the least, but I did not know what all would come out of it at the time. Now nearly four years later, I am amazed at all that has unfolded since then. I already had a counseling background and had graduated from grad school with a MA in Ministerial Leadership 2018 which included Biblical counseling. Read more>>

Walter Berry

I tell this story in more detail in my book- Drawn into the Dream, The experience was the defining moment in my life. In my high school years, I picked up a summer job at a local summer Read more>>

Megan Hook

I was working in a very stressful job, you could say a toxic environment with so much dysfunction. I was already practicing meditation and doing yoga, but I felt I like I needed something more to help me catalyze and transform all the negativity. A friend serendipitously told me she had just been to a “sound bath” and asked if I had I ever been to one. I hadn’t even heard of it!! Read more>>

Libby Supan

I’m Libby. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified intuitive eating counselor helping people recover from eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image issues. I am extremely passionate about what I do and here’s why: Read more>>

Sally Colón

I knew at the age of 6 that I was going to be in some form of entertainment after watching one of the greatest films ever made, “The Wizard of OZ”. I wanted people to feel what I felt while watching that magical film. In my senior year of high school the caption under my photo was “Hollywood, Here I Come”, the dream was still alive and well. So, in the late 90’s, I packed up my bags and moved to Hollywood. Read more>>

Jesse Codere

For this, I will share the personal statement that I recently wrote for my grad school application to SDSU. Read more>>

Maria Fuentes

In my life, there have been numerous defining moments, but one stands out as profoundly impactful: five years ago, I reached a personal rock bottom and decided to seek therapy to mend the one source of joy in my life—my marriage. That pivotal decision initiated a healing journey, rife with both peaks and valleys. Working alongside various professionals transformed not just who I am today, but also equipped me with the ability to extend that help to others. Read more>>

Allyn Resch

I had been feeling for a few years that if patients had a resource available to help walk them through the process of returning their body to nervous system regulation it would make a big difference but it didn’t seem to exist. Then I got the push I needed to think about how to provide that service myself. Read more>>

Brady Roberts

I’m a cancer survivor—from stage 3 cancer to complete health I was told I had a 50% chance to survive, but this wasn’t going to deter me from my goal of living a long and healthy life. Read more>>

Dave Rolls

At age 40, (my 40,000 mile check up) I went to the doctor for my annual physical. I am 5’10” and at the appointment I weighed in at 262 pounds. My blood pressure was really high, sending me straight to the ER was discussed, and then they pricked my finger for the first time ever. My sugar was at 350 – I had no idea what that even meant. Read more>>

Melanie Halpert

Along my journey in the field of holistic health, currently spanning almost 25 years, there have been a multitude of defining moments. However, among the blessings and challenges of being a solo practitioner, of growing my international practice, and of embodying my life’s work in the most authentic way, I will admit there was indeed a “moment-of-all-moments” that unexpectedly changed the trajectory of my career and of my entire life as I knew it. Read more>>

Shannon Kroll

I believe every parent wants to be the best version of themselves, but we often feel stuck parenting in response to other people’s expectations rather than following what’s in our heart. Read more>>

Eric – KetoFiveO Reynolds

My transformation from a metabolically sick and wounded police officer (shot in the line of duty). I battled PTSD and heart disease. Then I lost 80 lbs, Retired From Law Enforcement, became a Licensed Sports Nutritionist, Personal Trainer and Health Advocate. I also started a first responders Non Profit called Cops and Campers INC. This group specializes in mental and physical wellness Retreats in Nature. Read more>>

Chloe Dublin

I have experienced a lot working in the health field. From working in hospitals to interning with herbalists, I was given an opportunity to learn a new way to help people feel better. Not just with medication but with holistic remedies and hope. Read more>>

Cassandra Knoedl

Practicing yoga brings about lots of defining moments, in my experience. I walked into my first yoga class during a very tumultuous time in my life. I was lost in a toxic relationship, feeling disconnected from myself and the people I loved, and searching for something, though I didn’t know what. I didn’t think that yoga was going to solve all of my problems, I was just taking a day of self care. It turns out that when you take care of yourself, you become the person with the power to solve your own problems. Read more>>

Cassandra Houston

The defining moment in my career was basically a forced moment. What I mean is that my career in Human Resources came about when I took the role over suddenly as a temporary assignment due to a peer becoming ill. My peer never returned back to work and I did such a great job in the role, I was asked to stay in the role permanently. I was forced to learn a great deal in a short period of time, in addition to performing my duties in finance and accounting. Read more>>

Stephen Adika

Someone once said that every man is trying to live up to his father’s expectations or make up for their father’s mistakes. I fall into the latter category. Read more>>

Sallie Sarrel

With a belly full of stitches, I sat in my doctor’s office listening to what he found during the six hour surgery I had only days before. I heard a sentence that would change the course of my life: You have endometriosis. I spent 23 years going to doctors, physical therapists, anyone who might have answers for my pain. Mostly I was told I was overweight, or that cramps and bloating were normal, one told me I had pain because I was supposed to be pregnant and not be a career woman. Read more>>

SUNAO GILBERT

The defining moment in my career occurred when I was sitting on a workstation, working in the emergency department. I had not seen a good friend and colleague of mine in several years and she commented on how sorry she was that I was still dealing with a very severe skin eczema. The last time I had seen her was about 10 years prior. Read more>>

Nellah Mx

I am Nellah, a stripper turned psychologist, coach, and a bestselling author and I live in New York. I didn’t cross the Atlantic Ocean to make a dollar like most immigrants do. I came to New York to survive and escape mafia, s*x trade, and a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol, and toxic relationships. Back in Europe, I was a stripper. Read more>>

Katy Maag

A defining moment in my nursing career was a few years ago when I realized the immense stress that patients were enduring during their recovery, especially when it came to exercise. It’s no secret that exercise can be a daunting task for most, and it’s even more challenging for those who have experienced heart-related incidents. I vividly recall patients pedaling away on stationary bikes with shoulders hunched up to their ears, tension radiating from every muscle. Read more>>

Cara Stawicki

In 2019, racing for Team USA, my pair partner and I won gold in the Lightweight Women’s Pair at the World Rowing Championships in Linz, Austria. The win was the pinnacle of my rowing career to date. The podium moment—an experience that enabled me to realize a childhood dream of hearing the national anthem play throughout the stands, teammate by my side and American flag in my hand. Read more>>

Cameron Rowan

When I first moved to Colorado, I did not know what I was going to do. I was expecting myself to still teach private music but I did not know what else to do in the mean time. Building a music studio takes a while so I needed to couple teaching with something else. I was out running errands and I came upon a local crystal shop in Denver called For Heaven’s Sake. Read more>>

Arielle Lewis

Hi, my name is Arielle. I am the Creator and Owner of Naturally Beautiful Family! I was caught up in the corporate world working as an RN for three, twelve hour night shifts (really more like thirteen). I was not happy. I settled, and it showed. I always had a passion and purpose to truly help others and be the point of reference to aid in their health journey and educate about important habits. Read more>>

Stacilyn Bellemare

I knew from the time I was very young, the love and fascination I had for newborns grew as I got older. It all started when I was 14 years old, I started babysitting and that transitioned into me becoming a nanny at 16 years old. When I went to college at 22, I declared a dual major in Biology and Marine Science with a minor in Early Childhood Development and Chemistry. Read more>>