(credit to Kristopher Roller for this awesome photo on Unsplash)
Greetings!
I thought it was high time that I dipped my toe into the proverbial waters and introduce myself!
So excited! I almost ventured into blogging a few years ago, but admit that when social media came, I became more of an avid reader / watcher (OK, I suppose I was a "lurker").
BUT I figured this is a great (fun!) platform to be able to mix the two together! (I promise, I will comment, add positivity, and not just "lurk") :) Pinky promise!
Anyhoo - although I'm a integrative family practice doctor, I'm much much more!
Yes, I do talk about health - oftentimes from a slightly different standpoint (think, integrative, functional medicine, effects of stress, real food - aka, not everything is solved with a "pill")... (currently my day job)
I love cooking (just call me a "home chef") - although this is much more fun when I have time on the weekends.
Newbie gardener (fingers crossed)
Absolutely ADORE mangos (yep, the tropical fruit) and practically every other tropical / exotic fruit! (mangosteen! lychees! jackfruit! durian!! (be prepared to run away the first ten times you try this. I believe it took me 5 times to love it), sugar apples, guava...) (ooh - getting ideas for other posts here!)
Addicted to foodie / travel videos on YouTube! (yep, it's true...where does the evening go?)
Dream of visiting Thailand, Singapore, night markets of Taiwan...and more!
How'd I get to this point? (this may be the boring bit)
I burned out from practicing "traditional family medicine" for over 10 years in an inner city clinic (Even though the Puerto Rican food was awesome, and I did at times enjoy being called "la doctora").
Walked away and had what I suppose we'll call a "mid life crisis". (My family is still cringing that this ever happened.)
Thought I would never practice medicine again...
Sunk a bunch of money into a mind body medicine course (that really wasn't all that I thought it was)
Revamped my entire house (sunk more money!) and realized that I may have been a wee bit of a hoarder with over 100 pairs of pants / jeans (oh dear, I still can't believe that)
Traveled to Argentina / Uruguay
Helped friends start an organic ranch (yes, still in the process)
Returned to medicine "my way" (let's be honest, shall we say, "ran out of money"?) - which has led me into the field of integrative medicine (combining traditional western medicine with a whole body, functional mindset" - all while trying to avoid burnout again.
Nevertheless I am so excited to meet everyone!
Lots to share, lots to see, lots to learn (I have 5 tabs open on how to use the Markdown Editor as we speak!)
Onwards and upwards!
