Defining moments aren’t just exciting – they are thought-provoking and fertile ground for learning. These inflection points often are the result of an illuminating moment where some truth of the universe presents itself in an easier to recognize form. Below, you’ll find talented and successful entrepreneurs and artists sharing the stories of defining moments in their lives.

Carly Bassett

I was sitting near the front row with an ocean of other graduates in cap & gowns in the warmth of a May Texas evening. It was my college graduation. I had completed my degree at the University of Texas at Austin in just three years, working hard through summers to gain credits so I could wrap it up early and embark on what I expected would be an exciting career in public relations. I did not even intend to go to this massive event because it was so hot and crowded, but someone convinced me to because “the fireworks show was really cool.” Read more>>

Megan Adolph

I think there have been a few defining moments throughout my career. I started my business during COVID and thought it was the perfect opportunity to start sharing what I love online. My ultimate goal has always been to have the freedom to travel and be my own boss. As life has changed over the past several years, so have I; letting go of a past version of myself to grow into a version that aligns with who I am today, not who I was years ago. I’ve had to learn that to become the person I want, I must let go of being in control by allowing life to just flow and learning how to deal with things as they come: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Read more>>

Jessica Oliver

While going through school at Saint Leo University as an undergrad, I had no clue what I wanted to do with a degree in social work. At the tail end of my degree, in my very last semester, I lost the single most important person in my life. He was in the Army, an encourager for any of his soldiers who needed it, just a strong, incredible human. He was my hero, and I learned then that we don’t always know the struggles someone else is battling. Asking for help, receiving support, and being vulnerable is not encouraged in the military. Read more>>

Dr. Jasmine James

January 24, 2021 I was driving home with my at the time one year old son when someone opened fire and our vehicle was hit several times. Moments later, I realized that I had been shot. I lost mobility in my left leg and was confined to crutches for the remaining months. During the months of rest and rehabilitation, I was fortunate enough to have insurance and was able to pay for physical therapy and mental health services. I soon realized that that was a privilege that not many people have. Thus, The Trauma Zone was created as a community wellness hub to provide community members with health and wellness services regardless of their financial barriers. I learned that healing is communal and that we are able to heal better together. Read more>>

Christy Holy

Not long ago, in the midst of an unhappy marriage, I found myself trapped in a cycle of complaints, blame, and pointing fingers. It seemed as though the weight of my discontent was holding me back from the life I truly desired, and for a time, I felt helpless to change it. One day, I had an awakening. I realized that I was the common denominator in all of my problems! I realized that in order to truly change my life, I needed to change myself. Taking responsibility for my own happiness became my mission, and I set off on a journey of deeper self discovery and personal growth. Read more>>

Ramona Crabtree-Falkner

In my journey as a Holistic Wellness Professional, there have been defining moments that shaped both my career and personal growth. I’d like to share a pivotal moment that led me to where I am today. Back in 2015, my life seemed to be unraveling, and I sensed a significant change was on the horizon. My health was deteriorating, and I sought help from conventional medicine, but it offered no solutions. That’s when I realized I needed to apply the holistic principles I had shared with my clients for years to heal myself. By addressing not just my physical health but also my energy-body and mind, I found the path to recovery and a more open mindset. Read more>>

Kaitlyn Pietras

Deathwork has been calling to me in big and small ways over the years, but one defining moment was when my Nana was dying we had a priest come to her house to speak with her and hold space for us as a family. I had no idea he was coming but felt how vital his presence was at the end of her life. I am Jewish, and so his words didn’t exactly resonate with me, but I could see how much spiritual comfort it gave to my Nana in her final days. He asked her questions none of us thought to ask and hearing her reflect on her life and death was such a beautiful gift. I remember thinking that holding this kind of space was something I was meant to do. Read more>>

Danielle Petze

I’m going to bullet-point a lot of this for the sake of space. Background: Troubled childhood Left home early Moved to LA for modeling, but was homeless Did a lot of photo shoots and events for pretty big companies Went to the Playboy Mansion for a lot of celebrity events Played in the Lingerie Bowl Read more>>

Rachel Browning

I had been teaching yoga for quite awhile, but I wasn’t enjoying myself, and I wasn’t filling my classes. Everyone in LA was teaching Vinyasa Power Yoga. I had purposely trained in other types of yoga, because I’ve never really enjoyed Vinyasa Yoga. But when I applied to teach yoga in LA, no one would hire me, because they said what I was teaching “wasn’t real yoga.” So I decided that I needed to give in and teach the yoga everyone “wanted” to make myself marketable. I went back to college to finish my degree, and I had a homework assignment: find successful people in a wellness industry, and interview them about how they attained their success. I was working at a popular yoga studio at the time, so I was able to interview yoga teachers who were the foremost in their field. Read more>>

Dr. Sarah Duke, DC

I knew that I was meant to work with infants and small children the day my third child was born. A few months before she was born, I had taken my first infant adjusting class, and I learned a chiropractic technique that was very similar to other massage techniques I had done in the past using sustained holds. Fast forward to the moments after birth, I realized through a hormonal rush of adrenaline within myself that this baby was not thriving at birth. She seemed to be struggling to breath even though we allowed for delayed cord cutting to get her oxygenated blood in her body. Read more>>