Like many practitioners, my journey as a Board-Certified Clinical Nutritionist began with my own health challenges. I was working at Disney as an airbrush artist, blissfully unaware of the toll paint fumes were taking on my body. I experienced heart palpitations, weight issues, severe hypoglycemia, and relentless headaches. By the afternoon, I felt like a walking zombie!
At a young age, I often worried about my future health. I was living a toxic lifestyle, fueled by stress, coffee, and junk food. My heart palpitations had become so frequent that I’d jokingly ask friends to punch me in the chest to reset my heart rhythm—yes, really! And my family doctor, the chief cardiologist at Santa Monica Hospital, wanted to put me on phenobarbital, a highly addictive barbiturate, just to slow my heart rate.
Then I stumbled upon a remarkable chiropractor and nutritionist in Malibu who changed everything. She asked if I wore a mask while using the airbrush. I blinked and said, “A mask? No, how could I smoke!” She then asked how much coffee I drank, and when I sheepishly admitted to six cups a day, she helped me cut back. Would you believe that my heart palpitations vanished? Turns out, I wasn’t phenobarbital deficient after all!
This nutritionist opened my eyes. Her solutions were so simple, yet so enlightening. I thought, “Why didn’t I know this before?” We often overlook our own common sense in favor of conventional medicine. Over time, I transformed my lifestyle, adopting a clean diet, meditating daily, and exercising regularly. I now feel better at seventy than I ever did in my twenties. Inspired, I wanted to share this knowledge with others so they could avoid the pitfalls I encountered.
As my art career took off, I found myself at a crossroads. I had a fantastic offer as an art director with a starting salary of $60,000 (which was quite a bit back then), plus benefits, a company car, and annual trips to Europe. Or I could test urine in a lab for fifty bucks a week. Hmmm… what was I thinking? I needed to talk to my mom about this decision. She had always believed in my artistic talent, and I was nervous about telling her I wanted to switch gears to something she might consider “airy-fairy.”
When I visited her, she was sitting at the table playing solitaire with the cat. “So, what did you decide about your job offer?” she asked, flipping cards without looking up. “I think I want to study nutrition,” I replied, my heart raced. To make my case, I added, “My portfolio was stolen.” Still not looking up, she calmly replied, “I had my portfolio stolen once. All my awards and original artwork… gone.” After a moment, she looked up at me and said, “You’re not your portfolio. That’s what you do, not who you are. You need to do whatever makes you happy.”
That was our last conversation I had with my mother; she passed away suddenly the next day. It was a moment that made me realize the true difference between a job and a vocation. The inheritance I received helped me go back to school to study clinical nutrition, leading me to earn my graduate degree and certifications.
For thirty-six wonderful years, my holistic practice thrived. My mission was simple: to help patients restore their health and create a supportive, safe space where they felt cared for. Hearing patients say they felt safe and valued was the best reward; it made my work a true vocation.
Today, I get to educate and support anyone who needs me. While I offer professional-grade nutraceuticals, I’m not a vitamin salesperson. I love researching, vetting manufacturers, and finding solutions for various health concerns. I create educational content and engage with clients both by Zoom and over the phone all over the country.
Being able to care for others, solve their challenges, and serve my community gives my life meaning. Turning a job into a vocation nourishes my soul and helps heal the community. That’s what life is all about—being there for someone and making a difference!
