Father Figure

Sunday is Father’s Day. And this Father's Day, I wanted to share a little about the father figures in my life. You can get to know me and a little bit about my life by reading on about two very important men in my life.

But, whether you're married or not, have your father in your life or not, whether these are happy memories or not, I want to pour love and life into you. We all have had ups and downs in life, some higher and some lower. But the truth is that regardless of how things have gone with the father figures in your life, you are worth health and happiness and goodness.

Oftentimes women nurture and give and tend and care and do for others and don't do for themselves only to wake up one day in midlife and realize that things aren't what were hoped for. But the good news is that you ARE worth the investment of self care. You ARE worth health and wellness and happiness and goodness. You are WORTH the investment in yourself. And it's NEVER TOO LATE to change the trajectory of life.

Maybe today is your day to not only honor the father figures in your life but also to honor your own wellness and figure out what steps you'll take to have healthier, happier tomorrows. Because you're worth it.

And now for the father figures in my life…

Meet Jay.
My husband of 25 years is Jay. We have a daughter, Thalia, shown in the photo below, hiking Sedona, AZ. We also have a son, Nathan, who lives in a different state, so we unfortunately don't get to see him as much as we'd like. We are a family of four trying our best to live life with love and adventure. 25 years - wow. That's sometimes hard for me to believe. Our kids aren't kids anymore, they're adults. Adulting. Though we all feel and play like big kids. And we have Jay to thank for being such a strong father to them.

Jay is a family man. He works his tail off, lives out his strong Christian faith in everything he does, gives way more than he receives and provides a loving environment for his family. I am so thankful for Jay and feel so blessed to call him my husband and father to my children. Jay and my kids are my biggest WHYs for living healthfully. I want to be here to enjoy them, do life with them, make memories with them and make the world a better place with them.

Jay has been instrumental in believing in me throughout our marriage, supporting me to the Nth degree in everything I do. Jay wasn't on the plant-based journey with me at first - and now, after sharing all the science and experiencing his own health benefits with this lifestyle, he too is an advocate and example for others.

This Father's Day (and every day), I'm thankful for Jay, the father of my children, my partner in life.

Meet Jack.
My dad’s name is Jack. He and my mom live in sunny Florida. We call him Papi Jack. My dad turned 80 earlier this year. He's amazing.

My dad and my mom are the ones who introduced me to the plant-based lifestyle. Even as an adult, they still poured into me, cared for me, and shared a healthful way of living that provides such freedom and joy. They want the best for me and always have. I'm so thankful for that.

My dad was a college professor, worked several jobs to provide for his family early in his career, worked his tail off in the oil industry as a scientist and now continues giving back knowledge and wonder by lecturing on cruise ships around the globe and in his city. My parents stay young by ballroom dancing, gardening and leading efforts in their community to advocate for the benefits of plant-based living.

Why do I tell you all this about my dad? Because he is an example of living life to the fullest with kindness. That it's never too late to change how we eat to improve our health. And that 80 is just a number.

As years go on, my family spreads out, so the time we do have together is more precious than ever. I don't get to see many members of my family very often, and thanks to the digital age, we can keep in touch frequently.

Love. And love well. Every day.

Jay, Me, Thalia: Hiking Sedona, AZ

My dad, Jack, and my mom, Joyce.