Transformation From the Ruins

Driving into the office this morning I was reflecting on a life-changing event that occurred one year ago today. As I reflected, I was reminded of my recent visit to Rome. I remember walking through the Roman Forum, which was once the heart of the city, and feeling truly humbled. I remember thinking about all of the powerful people and leaders who had walked down the Via Sacra that I was now placing foot on and seeing all of the grand architecture and intricate statues that had been built without computer systems, heavy machinery, or any other modern technologies. Where I was standing had once been the site of one of the largest and most powerful empires on the earth, but all that remains of it now is an intoxicating history and jaw-dropping ruins. The Roman Empire has influenced many aspects of today's society, such as democratic government practices, language, literature, art, infrastructure, city-planning, and the spread of Christianity. But we wouldn't be seeing any of these influences today if there hadn't been transformation from the ruins. 

A year ago today, after having had a record Saturday, I was told by my employer that I no longer had a job... I was fired. "Fired" is a tough word to swallow, it can bring about feelings of shame or embarrassment or being less-than, but here's what I know to be true. God will break us to promote us and to move us to our right place. And when He breaks us, He always does it with grace. Sometimes we wait for what feels like the "right time" to close a door and God has to intervene and close the door for us. Other times we are able to close the door ourselves, as I've observed multiple friends do with their jobs and situations this year. Regardless of how a season has come to an end for you, I just want you to know that you are celebrated! It's in the closing of doors and crashing of empires that we have the opportunity to transform from the ruins to the riches that God has called us to. Cheers to transformation!

Growth in Surrender

** As you read this blog post, and probably the next few to come, you may be asking yourself "What does this have to do with chiropractic?". Full disclosure, it has absolutely nothing to do with chiropractic, but it has everything to do with life and taking every opportunity we can to grow and make the most of this time we have on earth! My hope is that Renew & Restore Wellness will be seen as more than just a business. My hope is that I create a personal connection with each person who comes in contact with me and my company and that through these interactions people would experience hope and encouragement! I just got back from one of the greatest adventures of my life (to date) and wanted to take this opportunity to share some of my experiences and reflections. **

7/25/2018

As I sit on a plane headed to Rome, reviewing basic Italian words (I speak absolutely no Italian), I start thinking about my 4-year-old self on the first day (or week) of Kindergarten. I was sobbing on my teacher's lap because I didn't want to be left by myself with an entire room of strangers. I think about my 12 year-old self panicking and on the verge of puking at the mere thought of staying overnight at a camp. Here I am, 20 years later headed to a foreign country for 3 days and 4 nights, completely by myself!! Am I nervous? Absolutely! But I'm not sobbing and I'm not nauseous... so I'll chalk that up to progress! 

A question I’ve asked myself a great deal recently is what was I so scared of in the past? Why was I so terrified to step into an unknown situation without the comfort of control and familiarity? As I sit looking out the window I make a decision, I could spend the entire plane ride (and trip for that matter) trying to figure out why this has been my past experience or I can choose grace.

These fears have controlled me for as long as I can remember. And as I reflect, I realize how absolutely exhausting it has been to live in fear and continual hunger for control over my situation. Author Erin Loechner, describes it as a lion within us, always hungry for its next meal. So with that, I choose grace. I am making the decision to show up and experience life for what it is and for who I am, right now! I’m done living a fear-based life. I choose to be present, I choose to trust, I choose to seek joy, I choose to surrender to the only one Who is truly in control. My God is a loving Father Who is the only constant source of comfort I will have in my life. I think if my younger self had understood that, my experiences with unfamiliar situations may have been different. 

Through God's grace I’ve been given an incredible opportunity to step out on this adventure with Him. God has a funny way of redeeming everything in life and I pray that I would walk into this trip with wide-eyes and a child-like faith to wander in wonder as He redeems those parts of my life where I let fear steal my experience and my joy. 

If you feel like you are making decisions out of fear or struggle with the need for control, know that you aren't alone! Keep pressing in and little by little you will find the strength to surrender just a bit more. I've by no means got it perfected, but I can tell you that the more I loosen my grip, the more I've been able to experience the amazing gifts that God has in store for me. 

 I would love to hear your experiences of growth through surrender!

Time... What Are You Doing With Yours?

Time… it seems to be a topic that comes up often these days! “Busy” or “slammed” or “swamped” are words that I hear and read repeatedly, and I know they come out of my mouth too! What is common knowledge, yet so intriguing to me, is that we’ve all got the same 24 hours in a day! And what’s even more interesting to me is that each individual person has different things demanding those 24 hours, depending on the season of life that they’re in. A newly wed couple is learning to shift the focus of their time to each other and figuring out what married life looks like for them. New parents are learning to shift the focus of their time to take care of a baby and all of the changes that come with no longer being just husband and wife. A new business owner is learning to shift the focus of their time to the growth and development of their business and not just everyday tasks of a job. These are all perfect examples of different people with the same amount of time, but completely different demands on it! 

It is easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the different elements being thrown at us throughout a given day or week. Our plates become so full that eventually something has to give… and in my experience/observation, self-care and wellness are the first to go! If we take the three examples mentioned above and compare how those individuals would function with and without good self-care and wellness, who do you think would be able to make the best use of their time? Take the newlywed, the new mom, and the entrepreneur and they are ALL going to be more efficient and more effective at whatever their role is when they are taking care of their mind and body! That bride will be able to be more in-tune with her husband and communicate more effectively. That new dad will be able to enjoy his child and care for his wife on a level he would have never imagined. That entrepreneur will be able to show up to her business full of energy, creativity and drive in order to grow.

This may look different for each individual, but some factors that I would say are essential for every single human being are physical exercise, proper nutrition, healthy thought-life, and a well-functioning nervous system. This list may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! In the video below, I talk about how little time it takes to ensure that your nervous system is functioning well with chiropractic care, there are effective workouts that can be done in under 30 minutes, a number of resources exist for meal-planning and meal prep to make healthy eating a breeze, a healthy-thought life can come from a variety of practices, habits, and choices. 

In addition to these essentials, we each have certain habits that ground us and just help us to feel at peace. For me this would be a warm bath, time in the sauna, buying myself fresh flowers, taking my pup for a walk, cooking a gourmet meal, having a stimulating conversation with friends or reading a great book. My encouragement to you would be to truly think about what is most important to you, not what’s “calling your name”, but what fills your bucket, makes you a better version of yourself, and allows you to show up in whatever season of life God has you in! Once you’ve determined those things… make time for them! I promise, it’ll make a positive impact in your life and the lives around you. 

And if you’re unsure where to start, ask me… it would bring me great joy to help in this journey of you becoming the best version of yourself!!

Stepping Out

What is it about the first step that is so tough? Is it a fear of the unknown? A fear of failure? Too many other commitments calling our name? A fear of letting go of who we were or how we identify ourselves at this very moment? I think, more often than not, it’s a combination of these things that we use to disqualify ourselves. 

We are our own worst enemy when it comes to believing these fears/lies; letting them hold us in the exact same place, day after day, year after year. I am 100% guilty of it on too many occasions to count! To give you a prime example, it’s taken me over a month just to take the first step in sitting down to write this post!

We’re over two months into 2018 and I’ve been making a conscious effort to shut the fears and the lies down. The product of one of my biggest “steps” to date came to fruition on February 1st; I became the founder and owner of my very own chiropractic practice, Renew & Restore Wellness! 

Taking the first step towards this endeavor was hard, ok not just hard, terrifying! And I’d be lying if I said that the steps following that initial leap weren’t scary as well. There were moments where I was tempted to turn around and just accept one of the numerous job offers I had received. There were, and still are, moments of doubt, where I question my ability to carry out the duties of starting and running my very own company. But here’s what I know, God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). So many times we want to feel fully qualified before we take that first step. We want to feel a sense of perfection before letting others into a process, but at the end of the day, that doesn’t serve us well and it doesn’t serve those around us well either!

Let me ask you a question that a few friends and I have been chewing on for a couple of days… what happens when we pursue excellence rather than perfection? For me, that means I’m defined by who I am and Whose I am, rather than what I do. It means doing my best in any given situation and cutting out comparison to others. With this mindset comes a great deal of freedom because, as Theodore Roosevelt put it, “comparison is the thief of joy”.

So what’s calling your name? What are you stuttering to step towards? Whatever it is, take that first step… it will be worth it!

What Is Strength? A Chiropractor’s Perspective on Health

Photo by CB

I recently accepted a challenge to get into better shape with one of my closest friends. About a week into our new workout routine, she snapped a picture of me doing a cable face pull exercise. Honestly, I didn’t feel very strong that day. But when I saw the image, one word stood out immediately: strength.

As a chiropractor, I couldn’t help but notice something else, the activation of my back muscles, specifically the extensor muscles that support posture and spinal health. In today’s world of desk jobs, phones, and constant screen time, these muscles are often weak and underused. So seeing them engaged was a small but meaningful win.

Pro tip: Exercises like rows and face pulls are excellent for improving posture, strengthening your back, and supporting chiropractic care.

Why Strength Matters for Spinal Health

When most people think of strength, they think of lifting weights or building muscle. But from a chiropractic perspective, strength is also about stability, alignment, and proper muscle function.

Strong back and core muscles:

• Support proper posture

• Reduce strain on the spine

• Help prevent injuries

• Improve overall mobility and function

If you’re dealing with back pain, neck tension, or poor posture, improving muscular strength, especially in the posterior chain, can make a significant difference.

What Is Strength, Really?

Strength isn’t just physical.

According to Webster’s dictionary, strength can refer to:

• Physical power

• Mental resilience

• Emotional endurance

• The ability to withstand stress

And in real life, strength often shows up outside the gym.

Everyday Examples of Strength

Some of the strongest moments in life look like:

• Making difficult decisions

• Asking questions when you feel unsure

• Having uncomfortable conversations

• Trying something new

• Facing fears

• Staying steady during uncertain seasons

Through all of these experiences, I’ve realized something important:

True strength doesn’t come from us alone.

Finding Strength in Weakness

It’s easy to feel strong when everything is going well. But real growth happens when we’re stretched beyond our comfort zone.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9–10, we’re reminded:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness… for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

This is where strength takes on a deeper meaning.

It becomes less about control and more about trust, humility, and growth.

How to Build Strength in Your Daily Life

If you want to improve your strength in a well-rounded way, physically and mentally, start with small, consistent steps:

• Incorporate strength training into your routine

• Focus on posture and spinal alignment

• Add pulling exercises like rows and face pulls

• Stay consistent, even when motivation is low

• Step outside your comfort zone regularly

• Address discomfort instead of avoiding it

If needed, working with a chiropractor can also help identify muscle imbalances and support your overall movement and recovery.

A New Perspective on Strength

Strength isn’t just about how much you can lift.

It’s about:

• Showing up when things feel hard

• Taking care of your body

• Being willing to grow

• Trusting the process

Whether you’re working on your fitness, improving your posture, or navigating life’s challenges, strength is built in those moments where you choose to keep going.

Final Thoughts

My hope for you is that this season challenges you in the best way.

Try the workout.
Start the conversation.
Take the trip.
Do the thing that feels uncomfortable.

Because that’s where growth happens.
That’s where strength is built.

And that’s where transformation begins.

Looking to improve your posture or relieve back pain? Schedule an appointment with our chiropractic team at Renew & Restore Wellness today.