I was a skeptic

Welcome to my holistic health journey!

The only thing I really knew about natural health was that vitamin C was good for a cold and aloe vera helped with sunburns. At this point of my life, let’s just say I wasn’t exactly the poster child for holistic wellness! 😂

A Glimpse into a Different Way of Living

I remember my first trip abroad as an exchange student in Germany. My host family bought their milk from a local dairy farmer. One afternoon, Manuela and I rode our bikes to his farm to pick some up. I watched as he ladled fresh milk from a large stainless-steel vat into our glass bottle. It was raw, unprocessed, straight from the source.

When we got back to the house, everyone poured themselves a glass. I hesitated. I couldn’t bring myself to try it! Instead, I opted for the familiar, store-bought milk. Looking back, I realize how deeply ingrained my skepticism was when it came to food and health.

Fast Forward 20 Years

By this time, we were living in Alaska, and I was homeschooling our daughters. Somewhere along the way, my curiosity about health started growing. I found myself reading books by people like Dr. Andrew Weil and studying biblical teachings on "clean eating."

By the grace of God, I had broken a serious addiction to fast food and lost nearly 100 pounds. I was focused on healing—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I attended a raw food seminar and was intrigued. Before long, I was hosting raw food gatherings at my house with a group of friends. None of us were experts, but we were all learning, sharing recipes, and experimenting together. It was a special time—a season of discovery.

My First Encounter with Essential Oils

I had heard little things about essential oils here and there, but they didn’t interest me. I had no frame of reference for what they were or how they worked. Maybe the book I had been given was too advanced, or maybe I just wasn’t ready. I remember reading something about rosemary oil, feeling overwhelmed, and tucking the book away.

Then, something happened that made me pay attention.

We had a big health scare with my oldest grandson. A friend of my daughter’s gave her a couple of essential oil samples- one was an oil blend designed to support the respiratory system. I’ll be honest—I was skeptical. But when we saw how quickly it helped him, I couldn’t deny that something was happening. I wasn’t a believer yet, but I was… curious.

The Moment Everything Changed

Then one day, I felt a headache coming on. My daughter, got out the other sample she had been given and asked me to try it. It was peppermint oil. I wasn’t expecting much, but I figured it couldn’t hurt.

She placed a drop in my hand, and I applied it to my temples.

Oh. My. Goodness.

The relief was almost instant. I sat there in disbelief—how could something so simple work so fast?

That moment was a turning point.

A New Way of Life

Looking back now, that was the spring of 2013, and so much has changed in how I approach health and wellness.

I no longer feel powerless over my own well-being. I’ve learned how to support my body naturally. I’m not an expert, but I have books, resources, and a community that helps me find the answers I need. dōTERRA has given me a way to keep learning, growing, and sharing what I discover.

And that’s why I keep sharing—because I know there are other skeptics out there. People who haven’t yet had their own experience. People who, like me, just don’t know what they don’t know.

If that’s you, I see you. I was you.

And I can’t wait to share more of this journey with you. ♡