Embracing Change: My Journey to Living Nature Wellness

I like to think of myself as someone who not only embraces change but invites it with open arms. From a young age, I was always looking for ways to mix things up, whether by rearranging my bedroom furniture or decluttering my space. Little did I realize at the time, this wasn’t just about tidying up—it was about creating space in my life, both physically and mentally. When we clear out the old, we make room for the new, whether that’s through simple acts of mindfulness, breathing, meditating, or literally clearing out junk.

The past five to six years of my life have been a whirlwind, and I now see that many of the changes I’ve experienced stem from the opportunities I’ve created by making space. At 28, I felt stuck in a rut—my relationship, personal development, job, and life in general all felt stagnant. Despite checking off all the boxes of conventional success (career progression, owning a home, having a relationship), I wasn’t fulfilled. I was suppressing my inner turmoil with unhealthy habits, spending weekends drinking and smoking, only to feel shame and hangovers.

Then, things began to shift. I attended a hot yoga class to shed some weight from my lifestyle habits, and I felt a visceral change. That class left me feeling good in a way I hadn’t experienced before. Around the same time, a student gave me a journal as a gift. Unsure how to use it, I turned to Pinterest for inspiration and started a healthy habits journal. Over time, it evolved into a space for gratitude, hopes, dreams, and my deepest thoughts and feelings. These simple habits of yoga and journaling began to create space in both my mind and body.

Six months later, I found the courage to end my relationship. I wanted more out of life—I wanted to travel and experience the world. After a painful but necessary untangling, I was free. I secured a job in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and my journey of self-discovery continued. My point is that creating space in your life can pave the way for change and new experiences.

After my time abroad, I returned home, armed with knowledge and wisdom from my experiences in yoga training, healing arts therapy, green education, and a shift in my lifestyle. Feeling empowered, I decided to add another string to my bow and completed a master’s in creative arts psychotherapy earlier this year. With this new knowledge, I launched Living Nature Wellness. Along this journey, I found a partner who shares my values and mission of serving the world. Together, we dream of connecting with others and making a positive impact.

With my master’s completed and a teaching contract finished, I now have a lot of space opening up in my life. This is both exciting and frightening. We traveled to Vietnam to host a retreat and planned to kickstart our vision upon returning, only to discover that the space we created allowed for something even greater than we anticipated. We are now expecting a Living Nature baby in February 2025.

Change can be scary, unexpected, and unpredictable, but it’s also exciting. Despite the unstable circumstances as we launch our business, we know this gift will change our lives forever. We will continue to create space for this new arrival, welcoming it with love and faith that everything will be okay.

Because in the end, it will be.