In The Spotlight: Patricia Stephen, Dreaming Big In Connecticut!
By Chere Harbridge
Welcome to the first in our series of introductions to our amazing Body Enlightenment Coaches! Put on the tea, grab a comfy chair and come ‘get to know’ the amazing ladies that are working to make a difference in their communities, as well as here at Body Enlightenment! We love them, and we know you will, too!
Name: Patricia Stephen
Location: Plainfield, CT USA
Occupation: Speech-Language Pathologist, Body Enlightenment Certified Health and Well- Being Coach
Describe your average daily menu?
My average daily menu includes: a scrumptious green smoothie!
BREAKFAST: a scrumptious green smoothie; my favorite right now:
1 cup coconut water
1 mini cucumber
1 handful parsley
1 banana
1 small Granny Smith apple
1 cup frozen peaches
3 big handfuls of greens
BLEND
LUNCH: a green salad full of fresh vegetables or a cabbage slaw; and a small bowl of warm soup
How do you usually start your day?
I start every day with a cup of warm lemon water and I follow that up with exercise. My exercise generally consists of a run or walk, but it could include a bike ride or a swim.
What are your best tips for boosting your self-confidence when you’re feeling low?
#1 Play with a child!!!! I can’t emphasize this enough. The pure joy you can get by just playing with a young child is the most rejuvenating tip I know!
#2 Turn on some music and move your body!!!!
#3 I have a treasure box of special cards and thank you notes from family, friends, students, and their parents that I have saved through the years. Looking through them reminds me of the impact I have made on others!
#4 Go out to dinner with a friend who knows exactly how to make you feel extra special and loved!
Who most inspires you and why?
My mother. She is 92 years old and continues to live a healthy active life. She is a role model for-old fashion values (honesty, hard work, consideration of others, etc). She believes in giving to your community and continues to knit and donate hats for newborns and cancer patients. She is an amazingly strong, kind, adventurous , resilient woman. For her 92nd birthday she went on a Harley ride and she would like her next adventure to be a helicopter ride through the Grand Canyon.
What unusual things do you keep in your purse?
Hmmmmm….I like to think the things in my purse are usual, but I do have my Creative Wellness journal in there. It is a small journal my daughter gave me to carry with me to write down my ideas and dreams as they pop into my head.
Where did you meet your spouse/partner?
I met my husband (Scott) in high school. My best friend and I worked with him at a Bonanza Steakhouse. Kelly and I were talking one night about how to get these two boys we knew to invite us to the upcoming school dance and Scott chimed in that he had asked me and I had said no. We proceeded to argue over whether that was true or not. I felt so bad that he thought I would be that mean so I said yes to the dance. One month later I knew I was in love with him and the rest is history! We have been together for 38 years and married for 31 of them.
What do you believe is most holding women back from having the health, confidence and life they really desire?
I think it is lack of belief in themselves that holds women back; a fear of dreaming big and thoughts that they just aren’t good enough. I know that’s what used to hold me back.
Do you believe in your dreams? Will you share one with us that you’re currently trying to manifest in your life?
Yes I believe in my dreams. I have a dream that I will run Creative Wellness one day. It is a small center that will cater to the wellness of children and families. Through education, inspiration, and play I will support the growth and development of women and their families to lead lives filled with health, joy, peace and enthusiasm!
Do you have a favorite recipe you’d like to share with us?
Cocoa Bliss Balls
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pitted mejool dates
- 1 cup nuts (almonds or walnuts work great)
- 1/3 cup cacao powder
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- ½ cup shredded coconut
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
Directions:
Soak dates in warm water for 15 minutes to soften. Whilst dates are soaking add nuts, cacao, coconut oil, coconut and chia seeds to food processor and mix. Add dates and process. If mixture is too dry add a little more coconut oil. Let mixture sit for 10 minutes. Roll mixture into bite size balls and roll in shredded coconut. Enjoy! Make a massive batch and store in the freezer.
What do you most want to share with the people who will read this article?
I want the people who read this article to know that they can improve their health and well-being by making one small step at a time. It’s not about being perfect or making huge sweeping changes, it’s about having fun and making small changes that feel right to you. It’s about believing in yourself, finding your dreams, and creating the life you desire!
Can you describe an average day in your life?
CRAZY! Oh I guess you want more detail! I get up at 6AM; have a cup of warm lemon water; and plan my day. Then I head out for a walk or run depending on what day it is. In the summer that may be a swim or a bike ride. I head off to work around 8AM. I work in my local public school in an intensive learning program for young children with Autism. They keep me busy jumping in ball pools, running in the hallways, and swinging on swings for most of the day. 3 days a week when I get home from work I watch my grandson while my daughter is at work. We play soccer, build things, take walks, play in puddles, make dinner, and create exciting adventures. In the evening after dinner and he is in bed I am a health and well-being coach. I do Home Parties in clients homes, do workshops, and coach a class at a local fitness center. On the weekends I like to spend lots of time with the love of my life. Mostly we love the beach, going out to lunch, and spending time with our family.
What do you do to restore your batteries when you’re feeling worn out/overwhelmed?
I make sure I am setting aside enough time for me and using it to take care of me. Sometimes what I need is to just catch up on all the things that need to be done. Other times I need to pamper myself. Either way I’ll take a day and do what I need most!
Is there anything about yourself you’d like to work on or improve that you don’t mind sharing with us?
I am still battling with weight gain from quitting smoking 8 years ago. I take steps forward and I take steps back but I keep plugging away. I call it doing the cha-cha!
What’s the last book you read?
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
What’s the last fruit you ate?
HAHAHA…I’m eating an apple while I work on this!
When was the last time you spoke with your mother?
Woo-Hoo…she just called to thank me for her Mother’s Day present and I stopped half way through this interview to talk to her.
3 things you’d do with the money if a $1000 landed on your head from the sky.
#1 I would put some in my savings account to fund Creative Wellness.
#2 I would buy a book for each of the preschoolers in my school
Tell us more about what you’re involved in right now.
I am very focused on educating women in my community on how to improve their health and well-being and become positive role models for their families. I do not promote any particular diet but I do promote eating lots of healthy fruits and veggies. The one thing almost every diet agrees is essential! I guide women in making small lifestyle changes that are sustainable. We talk about common sense strategies. You do not need to spend a lot of time or money to be healthy. You do need to tend to and nurture all areas of your life (health and beauty; communication and relationships; environment and sustainability; personal organization of space, time and money; and community and contribution). I am coaching a class at a local fitness center to support and guide women in losing weight and taking charge of their health. I run mini workshops before and after school as part of our Biggest Loser contest for staff. I do home parties for my clients. It is a way they can share and build their circle of support for healthy living and earn access to Body Enlightenment programs. I have a Green Smoothie party where participants learn about green smoothies and practice making them and do a short 3 day challenge together as support to each other. Another party is the Spring Detox: How to Detox Your Body, Your Home and Your Lifestyle. This party is a fast paced, fun party with lots of hands on activities and leads women to taking rapidly take steps to start detoxifying.
Why is this important to you – what drives you to do what you do?
I think that healthy eating and living used to be common sense but as our society has become more mobile and our food has become more processed I believe that we all struggle with how to live a healthy lifestyle. It’s hard to know what is good for us and what isn’t! I want women to know that if they trust their intuition and let it guide them in making decisions for themselves and their families that they don’t need to read more books or try the latest fad. They just need to eat more fruits and veggies, exercise, drink lots of water, and move their bodies! We each hold the power to heal ourselves and improve our lives with simple choices we can make each day!
How has coaching changed your life, and/or the lives of those around you?
It has changed my life because I feel a sense of responsibility as a role model to the women I coach. I am seeing women make small, simple changes to their diets that impact their entire families. Each simple change leads to another one and before you know it they add up to huge changes! The biggest payoff for me is that once women get their own health under control they want to change the whole families health and well-being so I see children reaping not only the benefits of a happy, healthy Mom but of sweeping changes to their diets and lifestyle also. The most rewarding for me? My daughters have observed me working on improving my health for the last few years and now they have both begun that journey themselves! The best Mother’s Day present ever is knowing that both my girls truly understand the power they possess to design and live the lives they desire!
Patricia Stephen is a fun loving, health seeking green smoothie slurping speech and language pathologist. You never know what you’ll find when you run into Patricia. She may be wearing rhinestone glasses and carrying a matching sequined bag while out shopping with a friend; sitting in a ball pool playing peek-a-boo with a student; running on the beach dressed like Batman and Robin with her grandson, hanging out on the back deck with her daughters, or kicked back and relaxed with her husband. Wherever you find her, be assured she will be having fun, talking to everyone in sight, and she’ll probably invite you to come along!
Patricia has learned to make changes to her health and well-being by taking baby steps; adding things in, not taking them away; forgiving herself when she slips up; and having fun every day! Patricia has quit smoking, lost 30 pounds, reduced stress and improved her health and well-being by committing to healthy eating, daily exercise, good communication skills, and lots of laughter. After a lifetime of being who everyone else thought she should be, she has learned how import it is to just BE herself!
Patricia strives to educate and inspire women to take their own baby steps to live a life filled with health, peace, joy, and enthusiasm! If you’d like to contact Patricia, her website is www.bodyenlightenment.me/patricias . She is also happy to speak by telephone or email. Her phone number is (860)377-6934 , and her email is [email protected]