Prior to CCNH, what was your educational experience?
I received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (1979) and a Master of Arts in Applied Sociology (1984) from the University of Central Florida, Orlando.
How did you become interested in natural health/holistic nutrition?
I have been interested in natural health for over 40 years. My mother was a gardener who refused to spray pesticides on her plants. My fascination began with her devotion to protect rather than contaminate our food. Over the years my interest in natural health has expanded from physical well-being to mental well-being, and the factors contributing to a healthy mental state.
I decided on CCNH because the courses offered were uniquely different from the offerings of so many traditional universities. At last, I began to find self-empowering answers to questions about how to prevent illness and promote good health.
How have your studies of natural health benefitted your life and/or those around you?
I enjoy a great quality of life due to the natural lifestyle choices that I follow. The “umbrella effect” is that my knowledge of natural health is also benefitting my family as well as several friends and co-workers. Those around me know of my passion for taking personal responsibility for one’s own state of health. I always prefer to seek the natural health answer to a physical challenge first, rather than just automatically turning to traditional medicine.
I am finding this means of self-empowerment to be especially important because, in gathering data and creating documentation for my dissertation, I’ve seen that stress at work can influence an employee’s dedication to being at work and his/her level of productivity. We hear more and more often about workers taking time off for “mental health days,” to help them cope with the stress they feel in their working environment. Corporations need to be aware of their contribution to the stress their employee experiences.
Who is your favorite CCNH curriculum author, and/or what is a favorite quotation?
My favorite author is Andrew Weil, M.D., who pioneered the concept of integrative medicine: a healing-oriented approach to health care which takes into account the body, the mind, and the spirit.
One of my favorite quotations is: “It is better to stand up for what you know is right, even if you are standing alone.” This is easily applied to natural health. How often have you heard, “So, you’re a health nut!” or had saboteurs urge you to eat ‘just one doughnut?’ When I began my studies with Clayton College, I no longer felt as though I was standing alone. I felt a sense of community for the natural lifestyle I had chosen so many years ago.
What else is on YOUR list, as to “how to best tell the story of you”… ?
I try not to be the “preacher” of natural health, but rather one who sets an example of what following a natural health lifestyle can do for the quality of life that one leads. At my age, so many people are taking blood pressure medicine and/or cholesterol medicine. Although I too have had these two challenges, I choose to address issues naturally through watching sodium intake, increased exercise, and natural herbs. Being my own health advocate over the years has paid great dividends as I have gotten older.
I have learned a lot over the years about natural health, but the exciting thing for me is that it is a lifelong learning program. Balancing the health of the body, the mind, and the spirit will always be a passion for me, and, hopefully, I can continue to share with others the knowledge gained from my educational experience with Clayton College.
This article was based on an interview with the graduate.
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