Cupcakes and Om: Makin' Changes

Ok friends, I have been talking about some exciting upcoming plans. As you may or may not know, I'm an attorney here in Seattle and while I enjoy my work, I do have other interests ;-) (As you may have noticed!) More and more over the past two years I have been into exercise and nutrition - it is a way of life! I've noticed how when I eat certain foods I feel fantastic and others make me feel blech. I started getting involved with supplements, leaning what to take when, what not to take and what is safe. I've watched my trainer struggle through fitness competitions, seen friends and coworkers with chronic health problems..... And then the cats saw the vet.

What, you ask? Well.... it turned out one of the cats has GI issues and the other stomatitis. Poor kitty girls! BUT..... guess what? By feeding them a grain free diet and simply changing their food they can feel better! (Well, the stomatitis will also require ongoing dental cleanings but the food helps too!) Food... health.... things were starting to click for me. I was thinking, how great would it be to take some class that focused on this? I don't want to go back to school for another four year degree or even masters degree (I think a B.A. and a J.D. are plenty for now!) Also, I didn't want to quit my day job. So... what to do?

This is when I discovered the Nutritional Therapy Association. AND, you can take a 9 month class and become a certified nutritional therapist! The curriculum is awesome, and I've already read a bunch of books on the reading list! How cool does the program sound? Maybe I'm just a nerd ;-)

But, for everything there are a list of pros and cons. Would I have time? (Well, that's easy, the answer to that is always yes if you really want to do something.) Um, can I afford it? This was a bit more difficult to determine.... Would it really be worth it to me to spend nearly $3500 on a "class"? I decided that if I enjoyed it, the absolutely, yes. Will I want to give up one weekend a month? Ugh... sometimes I'm still a bit worried about this (What if the Seahawks make the playoffs?!!?!?!) But the hardest part for me: What will other people think? Of course I thought this. Here I am, this fairly young professional with a good job... will people think I'm going to give it all up? (Who cares.) Will they make fun of me? (Maybe, but they are just jealous, or so I tell myself!) Tell me it is a dumb idea? Hmmmm...... Doesn't it seem like you should be able to say, screw it, who cares what people think. Well, let me tell you. I apparently care. I struggled with this, even to the point of not telling certain people until I had already signed up and then I would downplay it. I would say things like, oh, it is just a class, I'm just interested in it, it is silly.

But you know what, I'm sick of that attitude. I'm doing it and I'm excited about it. Maybe I'll hate it???? Maybe it will require something I absolutely don't want to do (touch people, ha!) But I will never know if I don't try.

At the end of the day, I'm doing it anyway. I decided that MY interests are important to ME and I'm going to do what makes me happy. Period.

In a weird way I'm SO excited to "go back to school." I realize it is likely to be a huge time commitment, especially along with a more than full time demanding job but I'm ready for the challenge.

So friends, I have to ask you: When you make a big life decision, how much do other people's opinions affect you? Do you think about it but then do it anyway?

Cheers to life changes! I leave you with a picture of yesterday's lunch (4oz cage free organic chicken breast, brussels sprouts sprayed with olive oil.) And yes, that is my beloved planner pad in the background!