Words of Wellness with Shelly

Today Is a Great Day: How Our Stories Shape Our Well-Being with Alex Street

• Shelly Jefferis • Season 2 • Episode 120

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Thank you for listening to the Words of Wellness podcast with Shelly Jefferis. I am honored and so grateful to have you here and it would mean the world to me if you could take a minute to follow, leave a 5-star review and share the podcast with anyone you love and anyone you feel could benefit from the message.

Thank you and God Bless! And remember to do something for yourself, for your wellness on this day!
In Health,

Shelly

Speaker 1:

As I just grew up and got more independence around, that I also noticed something that I was grateful You'd find a lot of similarities in that journey. How it all comes back to gratitude and that is such a simple theme in my life is, yeah, like there's a lot that I could want for in this life. There's a lot of ways that it didn't go how I wanted it to go, and yet you know, I have a mantra that I say every day and post, even online most days is that today is a great day.

Speaker 2:

Do you get confused by all of the information that bombard us every day on ways to improve our overall health and our overall wellness? Do you often feel stuck, unmotivated or struggle to reach your wellness goals? Do you have questions as to what exercises you should be doing, what foods you should or should not be eating, how to improve your overall emotional and mental well-being? Hello everyone, I am so excited to welcome you to Words of Wellness. My name is Shelly Jeffries and I will be your host. My goal is to answer these questions and so much more to share tips, education and inspiration around all of the components of wellness through solo and guest episodes.

Speaker 2:

With 35 plus years as a health and wellness professional, a retired college professor, a speaker and a multi-passionate entrepreneur, I certainly have lots to share. However, my biggest goal and inspiration in doing this podcast is to share the wellness stories of others with you, to bring in guests who can share their journey so that we can all learn together while making an impact on the health, the wellness and lives of all of you, our listeners. The ultimate hope is that you leave today with even just one nugget that can enhance the quality of your life, and that you will. We all will, now and into the future, live our best quality of lives, full of energy, happiness and joy. Now let's dive into our message for today.

Speaker 2:

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Words of Wellness. My name is Shelly and I am thrilled to have my guest on today. He is a speaker, a coach and an author, and just an all-around amazing person. I had the privilege of getting to meet him a few years back in a mastermind, and we've reconnected in another one most recently, and so I'm just honored to have you on today, alex Street, welcome.

Speaker 1:

It is so good to be here. I just know that we're going to make some kind of magic or something. I mean, based on the conversations that we have, it's just like a fast friendship and I feel like, yeah, it's the kind of thing I feel like I've known you for years and so you could probably just break me wide open. You asked the right question, as I'm like I'm an open book. Just go for it and I will let it all out. So hopefully it's good and it's helpful and it's transformative. I am just so glad to be here, Shelly.

Speaker 2:

I'm so happy that you are here and I have no doubt we are going to jump into some great, great conversation. And you know, as I was sharing with you, it dawned on me last night as I was thinking about doing this recording today and how, what you do and you are such an amazing speaker and you draw out people's stories and you help people to share their stories and express themselves and it as I was thinking about it, it came to me that that all comes back to our wellness in some degree. And what came to my brain was the fact that, whether someone is sharing their story about a mental experience or emotional or physical transformation, whatever it might be, it was kind of that light bulb moment and I went, wow, what you're helping people express and share is some component of wellness in some way. Right, and I just I was so fascinated because I was really deep in thought last night.

Speaker 1:

I went, wow, this is really cool, alex is really you're helping people share and express themselves and there's going to be some story that relates to their wellness in some way yeah, and I mean, let's let me throw this back on on you, because if that's true, then you are doing the magic work by helping people transform towards that place of wellness. So what you just identified in what I do is, I'll be honest, like it's not just well, like if I was sitting here with somebody who's like I am a vision coach, so I help people create their vision, and they could sit here and they could sit in your seat and they say, wow, every story is all about someone discovering their vision. I'd be like, yeah, but as you, not to minimize what you just said, I want to actually like, expand that because I think it's absolutely true, because every story is about transformation. True, because every story is about transformation. If you don't have transformation, then you don't have a story, and counter that If there has been transformation, then there's a good story to tell. It's already there, you have everything that you need.

Speaker 1:

And so, when you talk about wellness and all those avenues and all those paths, that that you focus on mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, relational wellness if somebody is has transformed in their relationships and their spiritual journey and their emotional journey, their physical, their mental journey, if they have transformed in some way towards this place where they say like I am in a better place.

Speaker 1:

Well then, yeah, there's a story and, yes, in all those ways, so many of our stories are about being what more well, feeling well wealthy in that area of our life, and what an amazing thing. So, yeah, if all the stories like if, as you say, it's like every story is about wellness, I would totally agree. And I throw that back to you and say, as I said, you're doing the magic work by helping people actually experience that transformation from there, wherever they were, to here this place of wellness, and that's the magic. And everyone listening is going to find themselves somewhere along that journey right now and be like, yes, well, I really feel like I'm, I'm at this better place than I've ever been. Or, wow, I'm really kind of in that middle journey of like I'm on my way, or they're like I know I need it, but I am still way over here, I'm in the before.

Speaker 2:

And.

Speaker 1:

I wonder what's going to change to get me there.

Speaker 2:

That's so good.

Speaker 1:

So let's have some fun with this. Let's unpack that.

Speaker 2:

You know it's interesting because I was thinking also last night I went okay, so coming back to I just relating it to my story, because it's like that's what I can relate to, uh, but like for, for what I do now, my love for fitness started when I was in junior high and loved my pe teacher and I. I actually I started loving running and that's where my journey started. Now we're talking a long, long, long time ago, but it's fascinating because I can kind of connect dots and see where it's taken me to this point in my life. So for me personally, it's a combination of not just like the physical part, but it was a mental part to release us and dealing with stuff.

Speaker 2:

As a teenager I could go out and run and kind of release some of all that you know and, and I believe truly with my whole heart for me, I played sports, my husband plays sports, and I think that the other part of that too is it helped us stay out of trouble During those years where we you know parents, we had single parents, you know all that. So I mean I it just there's so much you could unpack with all of that, but I was like, okay, so that my story might be more like that kind of a physical, mental maybe. But when you go, back.

Speaker 1:

When you think about that time, you're like my, my, my journey with fitness kind of began in junior high with that PE teacher. Like, what's the feelings that you associate to that what? What shows up to you, what's the emotion that you can label. You're like, yeah, I remember going and like running track and feeling what. Like, what's that at your best, what's?

Speaker 2:

that at your best. I just think it was probably something that I discovered that could be a way to exercise and feel good and have energy, and I don't know it's such a good question. I can't even really think clearly back to having some monumental moment where I'm like, oh my gosh, this is it. But I just know, well, let's go back, Okay.

Speaker 1:

So this is a great moment. Is this okay? Like I'm playing around in this and I just want to help discover this because I think this is going to be really cool, because what you're doing here and I know we're just jamming out on this, but, like, as you are talking through and saying like, look, yeah, but the thing thing I do, beginning, I remember doing this thing, you know, just a couple decades ago, just not too long ago, and I remember doing that thing and what I'm trying to do is be like, yeah, we have that Like for me. I'm like I remember being on stage at eight years old.

Speaker 1:

I remember following my mom in the theater and I could say, look, my story of speaking and storytelling began by growing up in the theater, which is true, and there's something fascinating about that, and you can see little Alex being in those places, or you can see little Shelly yeah, running her heart out and lifting weights or doing the jumping jacks and the fitness tests and whatever it was that you do, and truly enjoying it. But that's what I want to lock in on is that's what is going to make the difference. That's where the transformation is is what was the feeling that showed up there for me and for like, for you and for me. I remember feeling so clear that, like, this is what I'm going to do. Of course I'm going to do this. Of course I want to be on stage. Of course I want to create that kind of emotional transformation for my audience, Like I see my mom doing.

Speaker 2:

Of course, Amazing, Because I I didn't have the confirmation of knowing this was what I was going to be doing for my career. I had that early on, but it was probably more in my late teens.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Where I was like okay, this is what I want to do early, even early, twenties.

Speaker 1:

Right.

Speaker 1:

But it was like but there was a something that it gave you some sense of again, like what, and if you and if you're having trouble is where I want to lock in is if you're having, you're like I don't really remember then what I felt. I just felt like it was a it was the right thing to do or whatever. Then you can actually go. Let's start here and be like, yeah, but Shelly, when you're doing this work now, like at your best, what does this feel like? When you are doing your fitness, you are on your wellness journey, you are feeling at your best. It feels what.

Speaker 2:

That's so good.

Speaker 1:

Because that can give you a clue to how it's always felt.

Speaker 2:

Well, it's rewarding to help others, but it's also a level of striving, and maybe this is something I will always have in me and it kind of spills out in different areas of my life always striving and I think that's the teacher in us to always be better and always keep striving. So I feel like it's kind of, for me it's just that constant progression growth growth, growth, yeah.

Speaker 2:

And so I think that it was something that I could latch onto when I was a young girl. That could be mine and again, I really think I mean, when I think about those teenage years I think it was such a way for me also to to just process, and it's still that way for me. Now I go for a run in my I get this clear, you know thinking, and I really think that's what happened also when I was a young girl, I'm sure.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, right. And so you see what we're doing, like we're starting to go like oh, you just dig a little bit and you go like, oh, beyond the thing itself which is great, the what you do, there's a why behind that and you said, yeah, like it keeps us out of trouble.

Speaker 1:

Sure, there's something there, but yeah, what you just did. There is such a pinpoint, like a well clarifying moment, that you said, look, no, when I was doing it I had clarity, I I knew I could measure against something my own personal best. I could measure against something my own personal best.

Speaker 1:

I could measure against the weights that I lifted yesterday. I could measure against whatever there was, and there was clarity of process. There was clarity of direction, clarity of decision-making. Clarity just showed up when you go for a run. It helps you process things. You find this clarity so, yeah, if there's like that's there early on, you're like that's absolutely there now, then you just get to go oh okay, what, what got in the way of that? And that gets to be that middle sort of interesting part of the story here where you get to go, oh okay, yeah. But it's not a story of clarity to clarity, it's. There's something that sort of got in the way, some sort of barrier that showed up that started to say, or you started to feel, yeah, but all of a sudden things aren't so clear. Does that make sense? I mean, does that feel true about you? As we just dive in? This feels like a coaching session, first of all, which is just a hoot I'm having a great time.

Speaker 2:

It's great. Well, somewhat maybe, but as you're saying that, I'm just kind of thinking, okay. Well, we're, of course, talking decades I'm not going to say how many decades but we're talking decades ago, right? So it comes back to that decades ago, right? So it comes back to that.

Speaker 2:

Um, just the different phases of life and this has always been a constant yeah for me, and so I'm super grateful for that, because, obviously, you know, life has its moments and it's a roller coaster, you know, know. So I don't know, I just I think that's something, too, that I share with a lot of people and I try and impress upon others that again it comes back to that getting out, getting outdoors, getting fresh air, walking, whatever it is for you, gives you those moments of, perhaps, clarity as well. Or, you know, like I teach a walking class and I stress, with my students, I said this is going to be an amazing journey for you to get into the routine of walking, not just for your physical health, but again, for that emotional, mental health as well. So, again, it's, it's all right?

Speaker 1:

Well, of course, yeah, it's all connected. And this is the thing is is you know, when I, when I do this, work, like I work with people and I help pull out their story and help figure out where you've come from, what's your why, just like, we're kind of playing around in what you do now and it's often towards some goal of like you know, so that you can launch your brand and and or really show up confidently on your podcast or step on stage with a clear message. There's all kinds of goals that people have when they first come to me, and I have to, you know, get out of the megaphone and say this message loud and clear that yes, there's all these goals for why you might do this work, and the most important thing is it's first for you. And the most important thing is it's first for you, your story is first for you, so that you, when you do come up against the barriers and you hit another week or Tuesday is great, but then Wednesday is a slog and you're like, oh shoot, I guess I'm, I guess I'm in the swamp again, maybe I'm not as far ahead as I thought I was. That then, yes, but on Wednesday you can also remind yourself shoot, I guess I'm in the swamp again. Maybe I'm not as far ahead as I thought I was. That then, yes, but on Wednesday you can also remind yourself oh wait, a second, I've already been through this.

Speaker 1:

My story is from confusion to clarity, and though I feel confused again right now, I know that that's who I was, it's not who I am, and so I can get through this, because the story that you've lived through is the story that you're living through. It is your transformation, and if you can remember that, you can grab onto that. It's not just a gimmick, it's not just a shtick, it's not something that okay, now I can take this and I can show up with it. I'm going to stand out with my message and my story and my brand and be apart from others. I really, truly believe this is the deep heart of the work that I do and the impact that I see in people with this work is when you embrace this, shelley, you start to go oh wait, a second, I have changed and I'm going through it again.

Speaker 1:

What a gift. That must mean that I'm progressing again. Like you go back to your. Did you run track? I don't know what was your like. So yeah, yeah, so yeah. So you run and you get a personal best and you're 200 meter and then you grow up a few years. I bet now you can't run what you could run at 15 years old nope right.

Speaker 1:

And so there's this as you get old, there's a different kind of progression.

Speaker 1:

Yes, for sure, but you're growing in different ways. And so there's this oh, I'm not as good as I was, but, holy crap, 15 year old Shelly couldn't have the kind of impact that you're having right now on the other side of this microphone, running the brand that you are and helping women in the incredible ways that you are with your events and your coaching and how you show up. So there's a different kind of clarity now. There's a different kind of growth, and yet it's the same feelings. The feelings are so familiar.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Does that feel more true? Does that feel like there's a? There's this story? Oh there it is again. Oh there it is again. Oh there it is again, year after year, week after week, day after day, moment after moment. It's like I'm going through this story six times in my day as I try to show up, forget about over my entire life.

Speaker 2:

Right.

Speaker 1:

And the more quickly that you can embrace that, the more empowered you are going to feel in every moment to show up as the unique, true, authentic version of you.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and I feel like I do that, like I. Where I get sometimes stopped up is I have a lot I want to share. I'm sure that's how it is with so many people you work with.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 2:

Narrowing down. And again it comes to the, to the audience, and I'm I will share, and I'm fine with sharing anything. I just I think that when I think of like, quote, unquote, the signature talk, I'm like okay, well, it could be this or it could be that, or or just having a few different ones, depending on, again, where you're going to be sharing it. But it's just so interesting and you break things down so so simply and clearly.

Speaker 1:

So what do you think I mean with that? Because that's a good sort of place to be in, or like thought to identify. There is, like man, it feels like I have a lot of stories or a lot to do, or like it's true, of course we do. As I said, we have moments after moment after moment that you could talk about. So is it about finding the one, or is it about finding the best one for this moment? And if it's that, then it must be. There must be something bigger. And that's where I'd say is like, look, if you figure out that main transformation, then you can actually show up and you can you get to pick. Then you get to pick the story, instead of waiting for the right and being like, oh no, is this going to be the right one? And how do I? Maybe it's not cool enough, it's not good enough. I didn't do drugs and I didn't go to jail and I didn't kill anybody or or experience a plane crash that I survived, or the big things. Maybe you did and maybe that is your story, but most likely it's not. And so people go well, it's not captivating enough, then it's not cool enough. I don't know what to tell. And that's where I would say yeah, but Shelly, if you showed up and you said and that's where I would say yeah, but Shelly, if you showed up and you said I remember can I riff on this for a minute? I'm just going to make up a bunch of stuff that I don't know about you, but I'm going to base it on what I just do that I remember being a kid and wellness came easy to me.

Speaker 1:

It was so clear how to show up and that was where I felt like I belonged. That was where I had a clear mission. I saw progression, I saw growth. I loved being in the gym. I loved gym. I loved sports, I loved anything that I could do that was around that idea of physical fitness.

Speaker 1:

And then, as I got older and started to have a family and started to get into work and started to try to just live my life, that became a lot less clear to me. I lost who I was and I forgot how to show up and what to do in my life and the clarity eluded me and it became quite confusing. But now, as I step back into this work and I focus on my wellness more than ever before in all different ways, I am showing up with more clarity at this time in my life than I even had back then. I'm building better relationships better, my mental energy is stronger, my physical energy is stronger, I've got better connections with people and with myself and higher goals than I ever imagined, and the clarity has returned. I went from confusion to clarity, and that's what I mean when I'm helping you with your wellness.

Speaker 2:

Wow, yeah, that's so, so interesting, just riffing on it just making stuff up there. I love it. So most of it, I think it's spot on. I don't, I don't, I don't know that I went through confusion except for maybe not as much focus on it, because I was focusing on family or other things, right.

Speaker 1:

But it's been a tricky kind of summer, Like you know, when you go into it, when you get into those moments, what does that feel like? When you get into like, oh man, it's just, it's a grind. Or like, wow, there's a lot going, what is that feeling? What shows up there?

Speaker 2:

I know, going into the month of August, I knew it was going to be a full month of travel and a lot of different things and um, and I was found myself feeling a little bit anxious yeah but I'm not usually an anxious person, but I found myself kind of feeling that a little bit and I will say like the month was amazing, but I think it was because I was going to be gone a lot from home in a short amount of time, which isn't normal. I mean, we do traveling a lot with our, with our kids and such, but it was going to be home and then gone home and then gone and for almost the whole month, and so I was kind of like woof's gonna be fine, it's gonna be amazing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

But I had a moment, like literally like where I'm thinking about and I shared about this in a post the other day but I literally had that Jeremy camp song. You keep me in the moment. I'm like before the month started. I'm like, just keep me in the moment because's going to be a lot of them, right. Yeah, and there were and everything was great, and then it was more just kind of last week, just kind of again, just kind of recuperating. And I think what happens too is I don't know if you you probably don't experience this yet, alex, but I think me personally at this stage of my life.

Speaker 2:

I need a little time to recoup from a busy three week schedule, and that's last week, and so now I feel like I'm back, refreshed and ready to go.

Speaker 1:

But I had to, yeah, so there's something there about, even like focus and I'm getting the word like frantic, like. There's this you know, I'm constantly looking for that that transformation of like from there to here and anybody that's trying to figure this out and do this work as well is like that's what we're looking for here is like this yeah, so at that, when you're starting to feel anxious okay, anxious is a word, but also there's this, like you know, no, but there's, because we were all over the place, uh, we were disconnected from home for longer than normal, or whatever. There's this like separation, or there's this uh, many different hats, there's more plates than I can hold, kind of feeling, maybe.

Speaker 2:

Well, you know? What else I noticed, too, is I had to remind myself well, shelly, you can still do some work while you're gone, because I'm not a, I don't work a ton, but I have an event coming up and I was kind of feeling a little bit like I need to be able to reach out to people about it and do a little bit of work. So, take your laptop with you. You'll have your phone, you can do stuff while you're away, which I did. However, what was kind of stopping me up a little bit was usually, when I go away like that and if I'm with family, I really focus on being present and I don't do a lot of work.

Speaker 2:

I think, that's where, going into the month, I went okay, I'm going to have to maybe switch that a little bit. I can still be present but take a little time to do some of these other things alongside. So I know that was my, a little bit of my, and of course it all worked out great.

Speaker 1:

Right, and this is the beauty of this is where you get to go and look at this and let's study your own life, examine your own life, which is that your story is first for you and then, as you start to find maybe a little bit of clarity in that, then you start to go, oh actually, and that's what I do for my people, and so sometimes even looking at that then helps bring a bit more clarity to your story and what you do, and so there might be even something there like oh so what do I do for people? Oh yeah, I help them focus. I help them find focus, focus on their wellness when everything else is chaos. Oh yeah, why do I do that so well? Oh, cause that's what I've done all my life.

Speaker 2:

Right, yeah.

Speaker 1:

And that's always been a better focus, Claire, yeah.

Speaker 2:

That goes back to junior high, because I really think there was some chaos in my family. Not chaos, but, like you know, my mom and her husband split, and so I think that was probably something back then that again gave me focus, so yeah there we go and there's the discovery.

Speaker 1:

Right, there's the barrier of like oh, sports were so good, whatever I found so much I could just focus when I was there. But outside of that, because outside of that like life, there's been this like again. Maybe chaos is too frantic or frenetic, or maybe I don't know what's there, but there's the something of this sense of oh, yeah, okay. So, as I sit here today, it's like great, so what do you do with that? You show up and you start to say at its base, you know, as you said, what's your keynote, what's your main message, what's the main thing that you would? Your signature talk, your signature story is right there.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

My signature story is going from chaos to focus, and I'd love to tell you about it, and it's going to look totally different than anybody else's. Even if somebody else is like, yes, fitness helps me find focus too, you're like, great, but here's my story about it and here's my specific situation, and here's what changed me, which is going to be different than what changed you. Here's one moment that shifted me, which is going to be different than what changed you. Here's one moment that shifted me, which is going to be different than what shifted you.

Speaker 2:

I think that this also is such a confirmation to those, anybody who is listening, about wanting to share or maybe not feeling confident to share, and I understand, like sometimes you can go well, what makes my story better than that person? But everybody will say, because it's your story, nobody else is you and nobody else has your story. So that's, that's the uniqueness, and I think that I mean, I sometimes have to remind myself of that and go, you know, it's that, what do we call it? I guess it's kind of that imposter syndrome a little bit but, it's just comes back to.

Speaker 2:

Everybody has their own personal story to share, and it's their own story. Nobody else has it.

Speaker 1:

So and and this is the beauty of that, and where, like again, I will be tireless in this work to to remind people of this that it's not actually actually about the, the moments themselves being better than somebody else's moment. Right, the plane crash versus the conversation with a therapist which one is more captivating?

Speaker 2:

well, I don't know what?

Speaker 1:

what happened? This is a conversation with a therapist could be the question that changed your life and that makes me lean in, because it's more relatable than the idea of being in a plane crash and surviving that, because I'm I'm never doing that. I hope that's not happening to me, but that there, oh, that actually, yeah, I've had that same experience. So the moments themselves don't measure the, the, the weight or the, the don't measure the value of your story on the moments themselves. Don't measure the weight or the. Don't measure the value of your story on the moments that you've lived through. But first start with the clarity of that transformation that you've experienced and are experiencing. That, yes, right, if you stand up there and confidently say, hi, everybody. I am so familiar with the chaotic life, I get it and I get. Trying to narrow that down, trying to add something to that life, seems absolutely impossible. I've got good news for you. I'm also familiar with finding focus amongst the chaos.

Speaker 1:

And that's exactly what I'm here to help you do today.

Speaker 2:

Can I just write this down and that's exactly what I'm here to help you do today. Can I just write this down? It's okay, I'll have a copy of it. I can translate.

Speaker 1:

It's recorded, yes, but do you see the value in that and that again for people to hear, that is that it's so much more simple than becoming this really dynamic, expansive communicator and storyteller. You don't have to start there. Start with the simplicity of seeing that you've already changed. Your story is already amazing. There's already transformation. And if there's transformation, what did I say at the beginning? Then there's a story.

Speaker 2:

There's a story, yeah.

Speaker 1:

There's a story to tell.

Speaker 2:

This is amazing.

Speaker 1:

That's what it comes down to.

Speaker 2:

So I didn't. I mean I'm not going to complain, I didn't know this was going to be a my story and I'm not good. So so let's hear more about Alex's story. And what about? Do you have a personal wellness journey that you've come through or something that you've experienced?

Speaker 1:

uh, when you, when you say that, the first thing that comes to my mind is um, there's like there's a relationship with food that I have. That's that's unique and interesting. And there's, like, when I think about wellness, there's the. There's a whole spiritual wellness journey that I've definitely been on as well. That um is ever I mean, it's all ever unfolding, as I say, but um, um, and we could take. Which route do you want to go? But there's the. When I think like, so I've got a bunch of food allergies, like anaphylactic to dairy egg nuts and seafood.

Speaker 1:

So it's like you know, this is the way it is. You know, I'm going to a restaurant. There's one thing on the menu that I can eat and I probably have to change it, but thankfully, with all the vegan restaurants showing up, I'm like all right we're doing okay. Also, could you add some meat to that, Cause I like my meat, but it's all. That's how I am, and you can imagine growing up in the eighties uh, my mom put me in a bubble.

Speaker 2:

So you were like this is that was my, gonna be my question. That started when you were a youngster.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, infancy, I mean, were like this is that was my going to be my question? That started when you were a youngster, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Infancy I mean, like they tested me, like it was, you know, first time that I had milk. I turned blue and couldn't breathe, and so I yeah, my parents, you know, didn't know what to do. I was. I have one older brother and he was fine. I was here with all these issues as they try to figure it out in a day and age when nobody knows what an allergy is, um, and there was a health food store and so I got, you know, I grew up eating not what every other kid was eating, and yet eating whole natural foods, eating whole natural foods for like 12 years. I mean, that was it.

Speaker 1:

So I look at this is like, by all means, I was not a healthy kid. You look at me like, wow, there's a lot wrong with me. Like I was in the, the Children's Hospital, like 13 times before I was 11 years. Like it's just, things showed up in my life I asthma and and eczema, and allergies, and they're probably all connected in some way. Someone's going to say, oh well, obviously if you change this, then that'll change that, and I get it and it's all working out in my gut and I'm learning all these things now in my life.

Speaker 2:

Right.

Speaker 1:

But back then again, it's this wide open mystery and you'd look at me and think this kid is off the rails. Like what? Just not healthy. And yet also there's no other child in my school that was eating as healthy as I was, as they throw their Halloween candy in their mouth, and my Halloween candy was boxes of raisins and apples and fruit snacks, fruit leather, you know, like good stuff, and I think about that. I think like I felt really trapped Right. I felt really like set apart, different, and as I grew up and got more freedom and learned, I also noticed something that I was grateful in a way, for the food on my plate that I did not see those other people being grateful for. You know, as a kid where I'm like, ah, the other kids get to eat so much better stuff, and now I'm like I eat the food that's on my plate and I'm grateful for it.

Speaker 2:

Be grateful for the fact that you were also eating healthy all those years, because I can relate to that, because my mom was the wheat bread and the healthy. I'd go to the next door neighbors and get white bread, drink Kool-Aid, eat SpaghettiOs all this stuff that my mom did not.

Speaker 1:

But the thing was I couldn't you know, it wasn't even an option Like I would go to my friend's house and I would bring my own food with me. I went to birthday parties and brought my own baked potato and turkey Like it was so weird and yet yeah. So I grew up being really healthy and then discover this like gratitude along the way for it. And so now I think it's this effort of like, like what is food to me now and how do I create that now for myself? How do I inspire gratitude with my kids and not force food down them? How do I also give them a treat but also make sure they're eating a whole food first thing in the day? Like, what is this? When I'm not somebody that has been focused on this? Like, obviously I focus on it. I think about food all the time.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. All the time, cause it's you have, you have to you're you. It's a, it's a, it's a health. I mean, it's a last thing you want to do.

Speaker 1:

It's an emergency situation.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 1:

So, when I'm thinking about all the time, it can be something that's really overbearing, but I've discovered along the way how it is something that, again, I'm just so unbelievably grateful for. We went to let me tell a story about this. We went to the Sequoia Forest Massive experience, obviously near your neck of the woods, and we had driven across the country to get to this point. It was one of the major moments that we were experiencing on this road trip that we did a couple of years ago, where we drove 8,000 miles in 32 days and experienced the wonders of North America. It's one moment. We're in the Sequoia Forest, we get this hotel just outside the National Park and I'm like sweet, we're going to see the trees right outside our window. Turns out we were not as close as I thought, so I was like all right, just before dinner we're going to drive up and see the Sequoia trees, cause I've never seen a furry, massive tree before and I have to see this thing. And we drive up into the park and they're like oh yeah, it's like 40 minutes up the hill. I was like, oh, my goodness, okay, great, it's dinnertime already and we didn't pack any food. We're driving up the hill, my wife, my three kids and up the mountain. The car stalls twice on the way up the 7,000 foot grade or like climb. We stop along the way. I hug a tree, I touch the Sequoia tree. We walked down, we see General Sherman and I'm like the biggest tree in the world. We stand by it. I'm absolutely in awe. We're all hungry but also in awe. It's this marvelous moment.

Speaker 1:

And then we're like we got to get something to eat. So we drive a little bit more up the hill to the very peak where there's, like, this restaurant stop place and we get there at 846. The restaurant closes at 9pm. So we order food. I look on the menu. There's one thing that I order, pizza for my family. There's one thing that I could possibly eat, and it's a salad. It's just a garden salad. Great, fine, I'm okay with that. They bring it to me. I'm starving, absolutely, like just at the end of our rope, and they bring out the salad and then they bring the dressing with it and there's no dressing that I can eat.

Speaker 1:

And so I'm there at the end of this huge trip, this massive time, and I'm sitting there, my family's eating pizza and churros, and it smells incredible and they're, oh, it's so good, after we waited 45 minutes for the food to come out too. And I'm sitting there as I pop a cherry tomato in my mouth and eat a piece of dry lettuce, and I tell you what my wife looked at me. It was like I am so sorry, and these are the words that I said through. I'm sure my face showed a forlorn feeling. And yet I said I am just so grateful that there was even this salad for me to eat. And that moment we still talk about it was like I can't believe. It was a crazy moment. I should just packed a freaking granola bar, goodness sake, like how? Why did I not? I planned this entire 30-day road trip and I didn't think to just throw some food in the car when we were driving up to see the trees Right, and yet that dry piece of you know spring mixed lettuce hanging out of my mouth. I said I'm glad I've got this.

Speaker 1:

And so, as far as my wellness journey goes, it's it hasn't necessarily been an intentional road. And yet, to your point, all stories are wellness stories. There's this journey of going from like overwhelm and frustration around my food situation to intense and constant gratitude for everything that's in front of me that I'm able to feed my body with. That I'm able to feed my body with and, as I see myself going forward, I'm probably going to get more intentional about making sure that that comes back to that sense of like yeah, well, go to the wholeness, go to what you started with. How's that? Does that help Great?

Speaker 2:

It's so fascinating because you were, you were forced into this at a young age and I can't stop thinking about the fact that, like you said, this was back when it wasn't even talked about. Now we can go to a restaurant and say hey, I have this, this and that allergy. Can you make something for me, right?

Speaker 1:

You go to Disney, they treat you like a celebrity if you say you've got allergies.

Speaker 2:

It's treat you like a celebrity if you say you've got allergies. It's incredible, it's yeah. So I just feel for you as a young boy going through that, because that could not have been easy. However, again, you know, with age comes wisdom, right, we can look back and be grateful for what has led us to where we are today and I sometimes think gosh is there, would there be a way we could package some of that wisdom and give it to our younger selves? But that's just not how life works, right? Yeah, thing that happens a little bit later on most of the time.

Speaker 1:

To look back, I do like to go back to, like you know, your old Alexander and give him a hug and say, like it's, it's okay. It's all it's, it's, it's okay, it's all it's, it's gonna be. It's gonna be better than than you could ever make up and imagine. Yeah, it, it's better and that's, that's the journey. I think that's the speaking back, the wisdom that I can bring to my younger self, like, of course, you're still gonna have to fight through this and find your path.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah. But, no, that's great, though that's your story.

Speaker 1:

That's good. I don't know, and you know, like I, the work you do. I don't know that. That's as I say it's.

Speaker 1:

It's a bit of an unintentional wellness experience and yet that's extremely intentional because it's on my mind all the time, all the time and and I, I would love for someone you know who does struggle in that way and maybe sees food as an enemy or sees it as something that's frustrating, something you need to manage and maintain, and, um, I you know, I don't know your situation and how you could. I don't want to speak lightly about something that isn't. But what if we could see this all with a whoa? There's something in front of me what a gift, what a yeah, what a thing to be grateful for that I get to nourish my body and that allows me then to nourish the world.

Speaker 2:

I love that.

Speaker 1:

That's beautiful yeah, yeah, yeah, it's. Uh, this is it again. I don't know where you thought this was gonna go. I don't know where I thought this was gonna go. I'll tell you what, though that is the first time that I have ever told that story or that experience on a podcast, on stage really wow anywhere? I don't think I've ever really talked about that. Yeah, my food journey and so thank you for pulling that out of me.

Speaker 2:

Of course, and the the cool thing I was thinking is that it ties right into your spiritual wellness journey because it's giving you now this moment and moments of gratitude right. So it it ties right in. So how cool is that.

Speaker 1:

Yep Jeez, that's probably a conversation for another. Another podcast going to that because I've got a whole journey of having nothing and then getting into it and then being a youth pastor and then leaving all of that and now finding that's another episode, alex okay, let's get our calendars out. That is going to be another episode.

Speaker 1:

I want to hear all about it, for sure comes back to gratitude, and that is such a simple theme in my life is, yeah, like there's a lot that I could, that I could want for in this life. There's a lot of ways that it didn't go how I wanted it to go, and yet, you know, I have a mantra that I say every day and post, even online most days is that today is a great day, and I truly believe it. That before, before, during and after any experience that you're going through Like are you kidding me? You're breathing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you know you're spinning on this ball in space like let gratitude lead the way and it it's going to transform your experience here.

Speaker 2:

That's so beautiful. I I will often say at the end you know what? Do you have any words of wellness inspiration you want to share?

Speaker 1:

And I gosh, I think that was it right there want to share and I gosh, I think that was it right there. That was great. Take it If it's good. I often say take if it's good, take it with you, and if it's bad, just crumple it up and throw it away. That's fine. We're just having a conversation, um yeah, but that's great.

Speaker 2:

You're, you're, you're the best. How people, how can people reach you, Alex, that want to find out more about what you do and your services and what's the best place for them to find you?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, absolutely, it's amazing, thank you. I hang out on Instagram most of all, so that's at Street Says. On Instagram you can go to my website, alexstreetca, find everything there. You can sign up for my email list where I send you know weekly storytelling tips and tricks and all that jazz. And yeah, I mean, if in any way you're feeling like you want to share your story, you want to find and share the world, then that's the work that I do, mostly through one on one coaching. But I've got some events coming up in October, november. So stay tuned, connect with me, let me know what you connected with in this conversation and we'll keep the conversation going.

Speaker 2:

Well, I to all the listeners. You can hear how amazing it is to to talk with Alex and it's just, it's always like this, it's always such a great conversation and you just speak so well, which, I mean, would make sense with what you do as a profession and I'm just so grateful for you. Speaking of gratitude would make sense with what you do as a profession and I'm just so grateful for you Speaking of gratitude. I'm grateful for you. I'm grateful for you being open to jumping on today. It's been really, really special and I've enjoyed it so much.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so good. Thank you for leading the way and just following your curiosity and allowing for even me to ask the questions back. That's a good place to be as a leader, as a podcast host, to allow that kind of stuff, and I think we just played and kind of showed what was possible here. So thank you for having me and just creating a safe space here, shel.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely yeah, and I wish you could come be at my mom's event. Even though it's all for moms, I'd be willing to have. We have moms, and then we have Alex who's going to share.

Speaker 1:

I'm a dad, I live with a mom, I had a mom and I actually work with. Most of my clients are moms. It is not a surprise, and so it wouldn't be the first.

Speaker 2:

But We'll have to talk about that. Then We'll have to yes, we're going to talk about that. Tie that in Absolutely, absolutely. Well, my friend, I want to be respectful of your time and the listeners' time. Is there anything else you'd like to add before we jump off?

Speaker 1:

No, I mean, yeah, just really take this with you. Today's a great day and your story matters. It really does. Let's use what we've got here and share what we've got with the world.

Speaker 2:

Beautiful. Well, thank you for all that you do and thank you for your time today and to all the listeners. Take some time for your wellness on this day and know that your story matters and that you matter, and today is a great day. And until next time, have a beautiful, blessed rest of your week and we'll see you next time on Words of Wellness. Thank you so much for tuning into today's episode.

Speaker 2:

I hope you gained value and enjoyed our time together as much as I did, and if you know someone who could benefit from today's episode, I would love and appreciate it if you could share with a friend or rate and review words of wellness so that more can hear this message. I love and appreciate you all. Thank you for listening and if you have any questions or topics you would like me to share in future episodes, please don't hesitate to reach out to me through my contact information that is shared in the show notes below. Again, thank you for tuning in to Words of Wellness. My name is Shelly Jeffries and I encourage you to do something for you, for your wellness, on this day. Until next time, I hope you all have a healthy, happy and blessed week. Thank you.