Life is a journey. The journey is meant to be fun, interesting, engaging, awakening, and fulfilling. So what happens when that journey conflicts with the need to pay the bills? What happens when the journey looks more like a jigsaw puzzle than a smooth road on a fast track highway? That's kind of what it feels like at this point in my life. I work full-time at the Biltmore Estate in their call center. I love the estate and helping others discover that beauty makes each day worthwhile - but - I really enjoy working with young people and their families. When I can educate a new parent or even a grandparent on simple ways they can change the foods they are eating or what they are serving the young people in their life. When a young person begins to understand that the choices they make have real consequences. That is really awesome, especially when it allows that young person to loose the label they have been stuck with, it allows them to take responsibility for the foods they eat because they know how the food will leave them feeling, how they will behave both physically and emotionally, and how their body will respond when they make that choice. When I see a young person doubt themselves, their self-worth; when they blame a 'disorder', or their parents, or a teacher, instead of recognizing the power they have to change the situation. When I'm given the opportunity to sit down with that young person and their parents I can teach them simple actions they can take that will empower them to take responsibility for their behaviors, improve their communications skills, and leave everyone feeling really good. The next step I want to take is to become a voice that helps change the POV of our government and school officials so that young people are actually served healthy foods in school. The focus has to shift from caloric intake to nutritional intake. No more fake foods filled with artificial colors, flavorings, and ingredients. Real foods for real educational results. The next generation deserves it.