Gwendolyn

Gwendolyn’s five words are Witty, funny, encouraging, empathetic and strong. She grew up in a large Southern city, the youngest of four, the baby of the family, and has one adult child, a daughter. She works for a large retailer, loves to read, shop and cook, works out regularly and considers herself a bit of a fashionista. Her family, she writes, are all pretty healthy, thankfully.

She already eats mostly plant based: a plant-based sausage, eggs and toast in the morning, fish and a vegetable at lunch, a plant-based burger and a side salad for dinner, a smoothie for a snack. Her food words are Purposeful, informed, healthy, delicious, portioned. It began with her mother: Mom always fed us fresh foods and fewer processed pre-packaged meals. Today she listens to her doctor, who promotes a plant based diet and fewer meats, and she shares the shopping and cooking with her daughter. She would not go fully vegan, because it seems very hard to get the proper nutrients. One reading is that her plant-forward plate grew less from a cause than from a mother’s kitchen and a doctor she trusts.

She shared her defining moments as a picture, and in a reply she named them in words: I have experienced loss of a job, loss of a loved one and the painful process of selling my home and buying a new one. Her way through was steady and inward: I had to learn to breathe, meditate and focus on just taking one step at a time to get thru those moments. One moment taught her to be persistent in what I want professionally and to be diligent in growing my skillset. Another taught her how hard work, dedication and supporting those you love can help them to succeed.

The hardest was years ago: I lost my job, the economy crashed and everything seemed really hard. She had to reinvent myself professionally and find help paying her bills until new work came. Her lesson: you never give up, remain focused and keep trying. Her superpowers are Faith, patience, persistence, confidence, trust, belief; her weakness, one word, Doubt. Under stress she meditates, prays and exercises, and her eating, she says, does not change. Her 2 a.m. person is her mother: My mom is always there for me, no matter what! Of her mother’s own obstacles she writes, I truly admire her strength.

Her Day 3 answers look outward. She dislikes that food ads tend to target kids encouraging them to eat unhealthy foods. Her own ad would show someone enjoying a salad, and that person could be of any age/race/origin. For a community event she would want a community garden where everyone could pitch in and grow fresh fruits and veggies. Her ideal world is one where no one is devalued due to the color of their skin, origin, or any other orientation.

On Day 5 she wants more fresh fruits and vegetables. What stands in her way: My own mindset and habits. Her first step is practical: buying more of these foods to have on hand. Her vision board shows kale, greens, apples, oranges and bananas, and she captioned it: I am strong and healthy!!! Her letter praises consistency: I am so proud of you for sticking with your exercise routine and being consistent. Her goal is less a change of direction than another step along a road she is already on.