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.

Lance A. Slatton

When I was younger I was a newly-wed continuing my pursuit of medical school. That all changed though when we received a call from a Home Healthcare Nurse notifying us that my father needed to either come live with us while he recovered or he would have to go into a facility. As a son, there really was never a decision that we wanted him to come and live with us while he continued to recover. However, like most families we didn’t know what we didn’t know. During the over two and a half years he lived with us I never heard the word “caregiver” and I certainly never identified as a “family caregiver”. The care that my father required was around the clock care or otherwise known as 24/7 care. Read more>>

Dr. Ilene Naomi Rusk

I had a lot of fears when I was growing up, and leaning into my fears was what motivated me to grow. My fear of mental illness and neurologic illness drove me to do neuroscience research and study behavioral neurology and psychology. Basically my fears became my passion and I’m just as passionate today as I was 30 years ago ago. It was always those jobs that I was fearful about taking that motivated me to stretch myself. I was offered a fellowship after my doctorate, and it was a very prestigious fellowship offered by the British government. I had been doing a PhD and working on very specific drugs that would help people with very crippling neurological illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Working with adults was what I was used to but the fellowship in England was with children with neurological illness. That terrified me. I thought that seeing children suffering would be too much for me to handle, but I knew that this new treatment approach was considered very effective and I was encouraged to take the position. The pivotal moment for me was seeing one of my first patients who was a young + gentle blonde boy who had a brightness and kindness in him that just glowed. i ended up experiencing the kind golden heart in each one of those children I worked with. I felt a sense of hopefulness (and love) that allowed me to overcome my fears and inspired me to see through people’s illness, straight through to their capacity to grow and heal. Read more>>

Gina Arellano

Transitioning from community mental health to running a private practice was far from simple. I quickly discovered that while I had a strong grasp of the therapeutic aspect, I lacked experience in managing the business side of things—administration, marketing, and billing systems were all foreign territory to me. Despite having earned three degrees from Pepperdine University, I found myself underprepared for the realities of owning a practice, a gap that I suspect many universities share in their curriculums. So I was faced with a make-or-break moment. If I couldn’t run my own private practice then my career as a therapist was over. All that schooling, time, and money was for nothing. I knew I couldn’t go back to working for community mental health or someone else’s group practice… I needed my business to succeed. Read more>>

Kelli Miller

I don’t believe there was one defining moment but rather a series of them that led me to become a full-time psychotherapist. I believe with each challenge we go through, it adds to our depth and understanding of how that particular struggle is for others. So after several challenges in my life, I felt closer connected to humanity and what we are go through as a collective. I knew I wanted to help others. Read more>>

Deanne Canieso

Back in 2017, I was blindsided by a severe and mysterious autoimmune disease that really made me rethink my life trajectory. I was in the middle of finishing up my PhD, working hard on my dissertation, and juggling a big transatlantic move to Europe with my husband. We’d just moved to Germany when everything shifted. My body started shutting down, and for almost a year, I bounced from one specialist to another, trying to figure out what was happening. That chapter of my life opened my eyes to the vastness of the universe and the powerful, sometimes painful forces that shape us into who we’re meant to become. There I was, in this picturesque Bavarian town, surrounded by beauty and history, yet unable to walk through the countryside, or even move easily around my home. My condition affected both legs, and my right hand, which is my dominant hand. Any movement led to excruciating pain and required what felt like herculean effort just to move one foot forward. I needed my husband to do almost everything! If I tried to muster up the courage to do it on my own, it would take me at least an hour to gather my energy and then push through the pain and physical limitations. Read more>>

Shelly Reid

I suffered from regular moments of dizziness as a result of a bad car wreck in 2011. I had to hold on to the walls as I walked, I had to get out of chairs slowly and couldn’t lay flat on my back at all. Through weekly yoga practices (that I didn’t want to attend but had to due to my job) I soon saw a difference in the dizziness and noticed it was happening less and less. I also had awful pain in one of my feet from a childhood injury that sports doctors, podiatrists and pain management doctors couldn’t identify. They said “this is your new normal, embrace pain management…” My yoga practice also solved the excruciating foot pain when all modern medicine could offer was pills or exploratory surgery. That was my “AH-HA” moment! That was the moment I knew I HAD to become a teacher and share this amazing healing modality with others that weren’t finding relief through our traditional western medicine. Read more>>

Courtney Lampkin

At an early age I became very sick, leading me to have my first surgery at just 3 years old. As time progressed my health continued to worsen, causing me to take multiple daily medications for my extreme low back and neck pain, as well as weight gain. Thankfully, my parents met a chiropractor who said he could help, and ever since, my life has completely transformed. Not only did my nervous system begin to function better, but I also was able to stop taking the medications my previous medical doctor told me I would need to take the rest of my life. That is why I’m on a mission to help every daughter, mother, father, brother, sister, and friend take back their health. Read more>>

Melanie Morgan

I was in Corporate America for 15 years. While the money was excellent, I felt that the work was no longer feeding my soul. I had lost two brothers back-to-back in very tragic ways, gone through 6 years of darkness, and then started to go deep into self-healing. As you can imagine, the losses made me question the meaning and value of life, as it has for many trying to manage through grief. It was through the losses of these two precious lives that my deep passion for living truly began. I was no longer satisfied in my corporate role. It no longer gave me a sense of value, worth, and it completely took the life right out of me. There were long hours, in a high-paced environment, but all that busyness felt wasted. Through both the darkness and the journey back to life, I found so much more than just the meaning of it. Read more>>

Pamela Trice

When I think back to my defining moment, it wasn’t a single flash of inspiration but more of a gradual awakening. I had always been passionate about beauty and wellness, but the turning point came when I noticed how much people, especially women, were struggling with hair health—myself included. After years of dealing with breakage, thinning, and just overall damage from harsh chemicals and products that didn’t live up to their promises, I realized something had to change, and that change had to start with me. At the time, I was juggling life as a mom and a corporate professional, feeling stretched thin but still hungry for something that truly fueled me. I started diving into research, learning about the power of natural ingredients, and experimenting with my own formulations in my kitchen. It was both empowering and eye-opening to discover that nature really does have the answers. Read more>>

Cesar Vargas

A defining moment in my life in general was joining the United States Navy. I served in the United States Navy for six years. I joined when I was 18 years old. A piece of wisdom I can give the next generations : just from my own personal experience I would recommended anyone to join the military. The military gave me the leadership tools I need to handle any stressful situation, I got to travel the world and learn about other cultures. Read more>>

Codi Ellis

The defining moment of my career was when I opened my own studio. At the time, I was working full-time managing two spa locations while also doing services. I had a full book of clients, often with a waitlist of a few weeks. I’d been working for this business for several years and was under the impression that I’d have the chance to become a partner and open more locations. It was one of those places where “we’re like family” was thrown around, and the relationship between the owner and the employees often felt more like friendship. Compared to the toxic environments I’d experienced before—bullying, bounced paychecks—this felt like an amazing place to work. Read more>>

Juliet Hurley

Before becoming a Holistic Nutritions, I was self-employed working in the Tax and Accounting industry teaching small business owners how to do their bookkeeping in QuickBooks and performing bookkeeping for some. The moment I was diagnosed with Stage 2A Breast Cancer, my whole perspective on life changed. I became hyper-irritated at the little things that set people off, such as a small business owner wanting to know yesterday about a check that did not clear a bank account. I kept thinking of how mundane and unimportant the profession I had originally chosen is. I kept thinking how rude and abusive some of my current and past clientele was, and I was tired of being yelled at for tax liabilities that were not my fault. In the midst of my personal crisis, I conducted extensive research to find what foods I could use to keep the Cancer from returning or spreading – despite the enormous pressure from Duke Cancer Center to take Chemotherapy, Radiation or Hormone drugs. Read more>>

Jillian Engstrom

I had wanted to be a teacher since my parents brought home an old chalkboard from a yard sale when I was seven. And sure enough, I went to college and got a degree in secondary education and history. My third year of teaching I had a particularly challenging grade of students. I hadn’t been able to create community in most of my classes. And therefore I hadn’t been able to do much teaching. I ended the year feeling hopeless and discouraged. On a whim I participated in a Restorative Justice training offered by my school district over the summer. The two mentors who ran the training, taught a simple but profound way to hold a circle of respectful and heartfelt communication. I left the training with a whole new understanding of what the job of a teacher truly is.  Read more>>

Liz Turner

My journey from general dentist to airway and lip and tongue-tie expert began with my own son’s experience. After a simple tongue-tie release procedure, I witnessed firsthand how it positively impacted his ability to thrive. From that moment, I became deeply interested in how the mouth connects to the rest of the body. With over a decade of experience as a dentist, I’ve treated many patients and have repeatedly seen the link between their airway development and overall health. It amazes me how adjusting something as fundamental as breathing can clear up obstructions and improve well-being. Raising awareness about airway and sleep disorders and addressing their root causes was the driving force behind creating Bloom Center for Sleep and Airway Health, which now goes by the name Untethered Airway Health Center. It’s also why I have clocked countless hours in continuing education courses and advanced training. My goal is to help you breathe better, smile brighter, and live your healthiest life. Read more>>

Daylan West

A key moment in my career was when I hosted a wellness series at a community workspace called Kinfolx. It was the first time I shared my work in person with the community, and it was a powerful experience. I opened up about my personal journey—the struggles I’ve faced, the growth I’ve experienced, and the practices that have helped me along the way. This event helped me see how far I’ve come, but also how much this kind of work is needed in the community. It reminded me that while I’ve made progress, there’s still a lot more to do—both in my own journey and in supporting others. Hosting the series showed me the impact of sharing my story and my work, and how important it is to keep pushing forward, not just for myself but for others as well. Read more>>

Lacey Castilleja Fisher

I am often invited to speak to graduate students in professional counseling programs to discuss working in agencies and private practice and steps they can take to prepare for their futures as counselors. I often share with them that I started out working mostly with children because I was certain in graduate school that I wanted to be a play therapist and work with children forever. I am honest with the students and share that we often tend to serve populations that we are passionate about and can relate to personally. I never thought I would stop working with children, but the tough decision to do so came during the lockdown and after I had experienced postpartum mental health struggles. I had never fully realized the prevalence and impact that perinatal mood disorders had on people and I was completely unprepared for what I experienced during the postpartum period. After some work and healing with a therapist that specialized in reproductive mental health, I decided that I was going to learn as much as I could about supporting parents through this delicate time. The healing journey was long as it was so unexpected and I honestly felt like a fraud because I kept thinking to myself, “I am a therapist, I should know how to deal with this. Read more>>

Alix Rudd

I’ve known I wanted to be a therapist since I was in 9th grade. For as long as I can remember, I envisioned myself working in a hospital, believing it was the best way I could help people. During my Master’s program, I interned in a hospital during COVID, which reaffirmed my passion. After earning my degree and associate license, I started my career in a residential facility for eating disorders, and I thought this would be my path. I loved working with clients and their families, and I found deep meaning in helping those struggling with eating disorders. However, I had a long commute, and over time, the emotional toll of working in such a high-acuity setting started to affect me. I vividly remember one day when I made a difficult phone call to a care provider about a patient. I cried the entire drive home, which had happened multiple times before, and realized how drained I felt. That evening, I struggled to connect with my fiancé, which was happening more frequently, because I was emotionally burnt out. It became clear that this career plan I had envisioned for so long was no longer sustainable. Read more>>

Ilhui Hernandez

I was born in a country facing significant environmental challenges. My deep love for nature instilled in me a sense of responsibility and purpose to dedicate my life to biology, sustainability, and environmental education. In my early years, I worked with rural communities and people advocating for sustainability and wildlife conservation. Later, I left my homeland and lived in various countries. These experiences exposed me to diverse cultures, allowing me to observe the different ways of living. It helped me understand the contrasts between thriving societies and those struggling with challenges in healthcare systems, environmental degradation, and the fundamental pillars of society. I realized that no matter where we are, solving environmental problems begins with healing ourselves first. The core of society is the individual, and if the individual is not well, it is difficult for other aspects of life to be in harmony. We need to redesign our food systems, counteract our sedentary lifestyles, and reevaluate what truly matters for a fulfilling, enriching life and longer lifespan—everything is interconnected.” Read more>>

Jennifer Murcin

Artisan Home Health was born out of the knowledge that both our environment and our genetics influence who we are and who we become. Since my teens I have been drawn to understand the human mind and the circumstantial fabric that influences our ability to thrive. My interest in the human experience drew me to a BA in Psychology and a Master of Social Work, and it was in this clinical role that portals opened into people’s lives and I could see the patterns that contributed to their circumstances. In working with clients I began to see that the scales were not always tipped in our favor for having clean water, clean air, and a safe home. As a nontoxic living consultant in the making, I witnessed again and again that the options that my clients could choose from to raise their families were unsafe, under-regulated, and deceptive. The staple products filling our homes were made with toxins that could harm overall development, mental health, fertility, and long-term health outcomes, but no one was talking about this hard truth. Read more>>