“We are pushed by pain until we are pulled by a vision.”

-Reverend Dr. Michael Beckwith


I worked as a production manager for an architectural hardware manufacturing company in New York City for a little over twelve years. I excelled in my work but at the cost of my health. The stress that accompanied that position did some serious damage. I was relatively healthy when I started but within a year, I developed a cough that lasted nine months, a combination of acid reflux and post nasal drip.
Within two years, I was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism and thyroid cancer and within six months of those diagnoses, the L3-L4-L5 discs slipped in my lower back. Though the worst was over (or so I thought) chronic stress and debilitating pain continued to rule my life for nine long years. My body felt broken but I pushed myself to keep going. I struggled to get out of bed every morning hurting from head to toe with even the slightest touch being painful. I walked with a limp and on a really bad day, I couldn’t even walk, let alone getting out of bed. I couldn’t decide which was more uncomfortable, laying, sitting or standing. Everything I ate upset my stomach and I never left home without Ibuprofen, antacids, Tiger Balm, and heating pads.

I visited an array of practitioners: doctors, physical therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists, to name a few. I had undergone surgeries and procedures and was prescribed treatments, steroid injections, pain meds, herbal meds, and tonics. I eliminated foods that upset my stomach, maintained a balanced diet, remained physically active as much as my body would allow but no one and nothing offered me long term relief. Regardless of how tired, powerless, angry, and isolated I felt, I went to work and kept going through life, suffering in silence.

Then, the pandemic hit and the topic of health, immunity and mortality was at the forefront. For me, like many, it was a break, a time of serious self-care, self-reflection and soul searching. The world stopped and so did many of my pain treatments. I read self-help books and studied transformational stories, and listened to different types of coaches.

What I learned was that health and wellness are not only about working out and healthy eating, although they are key integral parts. Overall health and wellness incorporates functioning well in your career, relationships, and spirituality. I adopted and embraced a holistic approach to healing that focused on all these areas rather than focusing solely on physical symptoms and ailments. By using the mind, body and spirit connection and being guided by a vision of what I would love in all areas of my life, I was able to discover the most effective wellness routines for myself and heal while working my high stress job. Along with modifying my diet and work out routine, I incorporated and practiced a variety of nurturing tools and relaxation techniques, re-patterning thoughts and evolving my perception of stress in my everyday life.

The world is not perfect, and my life is not without challenges, but I can now function and thrive regardless. I am more resilient, healthy and happy, choosing to live from love. I smile and laugh more. Getting out of bed is easy as my body is strong, energetic, and flexible. I no longer leave home with my entourage of pain relievers. Noticing the need for help dealing with chronic stress and pain in the workforce, I now share my knowledge to empower and support others struggling with similar challenges and health issues, to successfully incorporate positive lifestyle changes into their busy lives to do the work and live a life they love.