Five personal lessons on making lifestyle changes that stick — When I set out to improve my health in my mid-twenties, one of the hardest realizations was that I needed to change more than how I ate — I needed to change my entire life. After all, I wasn’t just giving up alcohol, dairy, soy, sugar, and fried foods —…

A mindset shift to create more fun and meaningful connections — Finding Community in a New Country In October of last year, I moved across the world to Germany on my own. I only knew two other people in Berlin and unsurprisingly, my first months of Winter were painfully lonely. Each weekend as I searched for “Events in Berlin” online, I found a rotating selection of techno…

The surprisingly simple practice that resolved years of food sensitivities and digestive issues Introduction: A silent epidemic Over the last few months of training to become a nutritional therapist (NTP), I’ve gotten a reaction from friends I never expected. Each time I jokingly ask if they have any health issues requiring nutritional support, the…

And what it taught me about culture and belonging — Introduction Though my 30th birthday fell on Easter Sunday, I didn’t plan anything ahead of time apart from a small breakfast with a few friends to celebrate. I just moved to Berlin, I don’t know that many people, I’ll enjoy time alone to reflect, I told myself. The morning of, I…

The revolutionary benefits of brain training — especially for those with chronic conditions — Introduction During my first week at work in January, something inexplicable happened. Between friendly meet & greets with my coworkers and reading new documentation, I became increasingly stressed to the point where my hands barely worked. …

And what they’ve shown me about growing up in America Introduction One of my initial surprises after moving to Berlin was how multicultural the city was. Not only is English the default language, but all Germans seem to be well-versed in American culture and life. …

Five playful and unexpected ways to make new connections As a six year old, I was an expert at making friends. At recess I would brazenly walk up to other kids and just ask, “Wanna play?” …

The beliefs that kept me stuck in place — and what I replaced them with At a low point in my health late last year, my Dad suggested I see a therapist. In the state I was in, the comment stung — after years of dismissive doctors and struggling to…

Reflections on the good, the bad, and the idea of living abroad for life A few evenings ago, the sight of a glowing church at sunset made me stop in awe. …