My Story
For a long time, I thought my problem was motivation. I knew exactly what I needed to do to improve my health, but I just couldn't seem to do it.
I found myself caught in cycles of smoking weed, doom scrolling, binge drinking, jumping in and out of relationships, and withdrawing from friends, family and work. I wasn't living the life I wanted, but I couldn't understand why I kept returning to behaviours that I knew were making me unhappy.
At the same time, I carried a heavy sense of hopelessness about the world. Climate change, political division, the cost of living, relentless advertising, ultra-processed food, social media, and the constant pressure to consume all made me wonder what the point was. Even if I sorted my own life out, I'd still be living in a world that felt overwhelming and disconnected.
That mindset affected everything. It even convinced me that I didn't want children because I didn't believe I could create the kind of life I'd want to bring them into.
Retreat
Although mindfulness wasn't new to me (I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with my amazing Buddhist grandparents growing up) I didn't truly understand what it meant to care for myself until I reached burnout.
At 23, I sold my barbershop and travelled to Bali, where I spent a month at a silent retreat. For the first time in years, I slowed down. I ate fresh food grown on the land, moved my body every day, meditated, slept with the rhythm of the sun, spent hours in nature, and allowed my nervous system to properly rest.
The change was incredible. I felt calm, energetic, connected and genuinely joyful. My digestion improved, my skin cleared, my body felt strong, and my mind became quiet. More importantly, I experienced something I hadn't felt for years - I felt healthy.
Coming back
Returning home was a different story. Within weeks I found myself slipping back into old habits. Looking back now, I realise the retreat didn't fail me, I simply hadn't learned how to build those habits into everyday life. Everything changed around 2024.
This time I didn't try to transform my life overnight. I focused on small, sustainable changes instead. I quit weed. I stopped binge drinking. I gave up smoking and vaping. I removed ultra-processed foods from my diet. I deleted social media. Most importantly, I started building routines that supported the person I wanted to become rather than relying on motivation to save me.
That's when everything started to click.
What I learned
I realised that when your daily life feels stable, your relationship with the wider world changes too. The problems facing our society haven't disappeared, but I no longer allow them to dictate how I care for myself.
I've learned that while we can't control everything happening around us, we can influence the environment we create within our own homes, our daily routines, our relationships and our bodies.
That's where real health begins.
My work
Today, I'm training as a health coach because I want to help others discover that same sense of stability and confidence. My work isn't about chasing perfection, six-pack abs or the latest wellness trend, it's about helping people reconnect with their real lives.
It's about creating routines that actually work. Learning to nourish your body instead of punishing it. Reclaiming your attention from technology. Building a home and a lifestyle that leave you feeling grounded rather than overwhelmed. Because health is about far more than nutrition or exercise. It's about being able to trust your body. It's about creating a life that supports your wellbeing, even in a world that often feels chaotic.
You don't need to escape to a retreat in Bali to change your life. You don't need perfect circumstances or to wait until you feel ready. Real transformation happens in the small choices you make every day, and those choices can completely change the way you experience your life.