Hey guys, I thought I’d post a little update. I’ve been super busy the past week getting ready to return to college. I’m currently on the way to Bristol and writing this blog post from the train. There’s something I love about train journeys; they allow you to gather your thoughts. The views are great. All in all usually smooth and enjoyable (unless you make a fool of yourself and fall asleep on a stranger’s shoulder) and yes, I have done that and yes, it is just as embarrassing as it sounds! Haha Anyway, it’s probably just as well I’m sitting up and typing today.
Naturopathic nutrition is the course I’m studying and I’ll be attending lectures on average twice per month at weekends. Naturopathic nutrition differs from conventional nutrition in its approach. An emphasis is put on natural, organic whole foods and how food can really enhance health. So it’s basically a more holistic way of looking at nutrition and suits me perfectly.
Last March, whilst working full time at a cool, gastro pub in Falmouth I began to feel depleted. I felt as though I needed more. I needed to change up my routine which consisted of working most days and chilling with friends. This sounds fine but… I wasn’t doing anything to really inspire me or ignite my passion. I enjoyed my front of house role as it involved interacting with different types of people on a daily basis, as well as serving delicious food that was easy to be passionate about. My work colleges were lovely and it really felt like a team effort. However, being a waitress isn’t my soul calling by any means. It was a handy way of making money for a while and I did care about the place and the people involved but the work was tiring and stressful at times.
Deciding I needed a quick break, I enrolled to do a food photography course in London at CNM (College of Naturopathic Medicine). It was just a two-day short course and one of my work colleges kindly let me stay at his family home in Central London. The weekend was a wonderful change and the time out gave me space to think about my next step.
Once I returned to Falmouth, I began to seriously consider my options. I found out that CNM also do diploma courses, including Naturopathic nutrition. I’ve been really interested in this area for the past few years and my knowledge has been growing since 2006 but most notably over the past five years after becoming really sick from taking Accutane. I had read and read; books, papers and online articles.
A couple of phone calls and a consultation later, I was officially enrolled and a student at CNM Bristol! Although the course had started back in January and I had missed two weekends worth of lectures, I was told I could enroll as a late starter and make up the class time quite easily. I figured it would be challenging to integrate my job and college, especially the commuting side of things but I felt like it would be a positive decision. At this point, I just longed for more of a sense of purpose in life. I also wanted to have some academic work to sink my teeth into and provide intellectual stimulation.
Unfortunately, the stress of my job including late nights and commuting to Bristol was too much. My health took a hit, I was physically and mentally overstretched and burnt out. I developed a skin infection from being run down where I had sores all over my face that would weep clear fluid and then scab over. It was really sore and made me feel super self concious especially in my customer-based role at work. This persisted for several weeks and would become a little milder then flare up intermittently. In addition to this, I felt extremely stressed and could cry at the smallest thing. Enough was enough, I went to the doctor and was signed off sick from work for a few weeks. Antibiotics were prescribed for my skin as I developed a really nasty sore on my left forearm. The doctor swabbed it and the results showed it to be a bad staph A bacterial infection. All in all, I just wasn’t myself. I knew I had no choice but to defer my course.
Impetigo/ Staph A infectionSo.. Fast forward one year. I took some time for myself and left my job at the pub and upped my game even further regarding diet and exercise and kept stress to a minimum. I’m now feeling super healthy and enthusiastic about this year and the next chapter in my life. I feel as though I am back to being as healthy, probably healthier than before I took Accutane and this is incredible.
If someone had said to me in 2012/2013 “You’ll definitely be better again” I wouldn’t have believed them. After taking that medication, I thought I was broken in more ways than one. I cannot believe that it’s almost exactly five years since I first became ill and that I’ve been on such a journey. Starting this blog makes me feel a whole heap of emotions ranging from joy to sadness to relief but most of all it makes me feel grateful.
I feel grateful beyond belief to be in such a great place, both within myself and in my life right now. To be healthy after having your health taken away from you is literally like being given the best gift ever. It is priceless.
2017 feels different already, in a very positive way. I’m truly blessed to have such supportive people in my life and feel thankful that all I have been through has shaped me into the person I am today. Now I’m ready to study hard, blog regularly and embrace new experiences. I’m so excited for what’s to come! On that note, I think I’ll leave it here for today. I’ve had a busy week and haven’t slept well for a few nights, plus I have ‘school’ tomorrow so it’s bedtime.
I won’t be posting on Sunday because I’ll have lectures all day but I’ll post during the week. Look forward to chatting more soon. I’ll be speaking more about the side effects of Accutane and the various things I did to help my body heal and recover as well as putting up some more delicious recipes đŸ™‚
Catch you all soon, have a lovely weekend.
Rebecca
knowledgetonourish 