Have you ever "Paid it Forward"?

After the movie Pay it Forward was released in 2000, people amazingly, went crazy performing random acts of kindness! That made my heart very happy! Sadly, I never committed to performing them myself but I've always wanted to! So, I've decided to perform one RAK (Random Act of Kindness) per day that I'm on the Daniel Fast.

As Jesus said in Luke 6:31 "Treat others as you want to be treated."

God wants us to have a giving spirit, not to glorify ourselves, but to
make others feels taken care of. This speaks to me. If you've ever read the book "The 5 Love Languages," (which you can purchase HERE)  I would categorize my way of "showing Love" as a gift-giver. I feel awkward receiving gifts, but I've always loved giving them!

So for my first RAK, I decided to pay for the coffee of the person behind me in the drive through at Heine Bros. Coffee today. My Daniel Fast doesn't start until tomorrow, but since caffeine isn't allowed on the fast- this one wouldn't have been as applicable so I decided to kick it off today.

I wrote a little note for the barista to give the person behind me when they pulled to try to pay, so that hopefully they will Pay It Forward! I added a little "Thank you for shopping locally" note at the bottom also- because I LOVE that Heine Bros Coffee is a local, organic AND fair trade coffee shop. It makes "The Hippie" inside me dance with joy!


The delicious Cafe Miele (honey and cinnamon latte) with soy that I had this afternoon will be my last coffee for 21 days...the image to the left describes my feelings on that matter.... Stay tuned for more Daniel Fast updates!

Are you IIN®?

I first heard about The Institutefor Integrative Nutrition®
when I was working as a health coach for Wellness Coaches USA.  I decided to attend a free digestion workshop at the Lululemon show room in Louisville, so I could better educate my clients.  The speaker of the workshop was an upcoming graduate of the IIN® program and she talked about things I had never heard of! This left me conflicted...on one hand I was fired up about researching the theories she discussed, but I also left feeling very inadequate as I was already
working as a health coach and didn't know these things. A few weeks later, one of my sorority sisters created a Facebook page advertising her health coaching services and started posting articles around some of the same topics I heard about in the workshop! After some Facebook stalking :-), I realized that Haley, was also an upcoming graduate of the IIN® program! I was intrigued now and had to know more about this institution! 

What is IIN®?

(fromthe website)

“The Health Coach Training Program is a year-long online course specially designed for people who are passionate about health and wellness. Whether you’re interested in learning about nutrition, launching a meaningful new career, or even changing the world, Integrative Nutrition will empower you to transform your life and achieve your personal and professional goals.

Integrative Nutrition’s comprehensive curriculum covers over 100 dietary theories and combines counseling techniques with real-world business training. Its unique nutrition philosophy takes a holistic approach to wellness and encourages students to consider relationships, work, exercise, and spirituality as essential to building good health.”

So here I am. Back in “school!” I’m excited for the year ahead and seeing what unfolds for my future in fitness!

What is the Daniel Fast?

I've been going through a rough "season" in my life over the past 6 months.  I know the only way through it in one piece is with a helping hand. I will be participating in The Daniel Fast for 21 days starting Friday, November 1st as a sacrifice to my loving God.





I will be praying and spending time in His Word daily.








Fasting is about the food but it's also NOT about the food, which is why I have chosen to use The Ultimate Daniel Fast, By: Kristen Feola as my guide to daily devotions and recipes during my fast.





Feel free to follow me through this journey and click on the link to learn more about The Daniel Fast.  And if you feel as though God is calling you to participate yourself, I recommend The Ultimate Daniel Fast book!

What is Happiness?

What is happiness? 

According to Merriam-Webster happiness can be defined...

hap·pi·ness

: a state of well-being and contentment

: a pleasurable or satisfying experience

This article from How Stuff Works describes the theories that behaviorists, neurologists and philosophers have used to describe happiness.  But I agree most with the final theory described in this article, " Perhaps the distinction of what constitutes happiness should be left to the individual. After all, anxiety, a contradiction to happiness, might surface when you don't follow your own values -- whatever they may be."

My anxiety has been bubbling up over the past few years and I couldn't quite put my finger on the source. It wasn't until I recommitted to my Christian faith this year that I realized the source of my anxiety. Simply put, I was not living my life the way God intended for me to live it. 

Once I "Let go and Let God," I've experienced a sense of peace. Things in my life are not "perfect", but I finally comprehended that God's plan doesn't always make sense at the time, but it will play out the way he intended. 

One of my favorite contemporary Christian songs right now is Casting Crowns "Already There"-  because of these lyrics

One day I'll stand before You

And look back on the life I've lived

I can't wait to enjoy the view

And see how all the pieces fit

I can't wait to see how my pieces fit, but until then, I choose to be happy with what I have, who I have around me and where I'm going. 

Follow me on my upcoming journey as I embark on The Daniel Fast starting on Friday, November 1st and blog about my experiences along the way!