What you should know about me is that I am not just my credentials or the education that I received. They count for a lot, but I also share with you my inspiration, motivation and intuition about how to make the most of your life. Let me explain.
“The Secret of Life is Learning to Laugh at Yourself.” Earl Winemaker
My father, Earl Winemaker, lived by this motto till the day he lost his life to ALS – Lou Gehrig’s disease, at the young age of 63. It was only when, I too, embraced his motto that I pledged to follow a journey of self-love. Through persistent personal growth I have acquired a zealous love for learning.
Out of high school, I was enticed by the fashion world, and earned a diploma in Fashion Design, but very soon after realized that an education in nutrition would serve me better. I was born with a rare congenital bone disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Type 1, which, at times has presented challenges to overcome, both physically and emotionally. Emotionally, the disease has caused me much inner turmoil. In my early teens, this turmoil manifested itself through food, weight and body image, leading me, to yet, another force to be reckoned with. In my early 20’s, I made a conscious decision to follow my inner guide, and enrolled in the Nutrition and Food Science Bachelor of Science program at Ryerson University. I kept moving forward, and at times backwards, learning and growing at my own pace, with patience and perseverance. Somewhere along the way, I developed the awareness that the eating, food and body image challenges were my way of creating safety in a scary world of uncertainty. I thought that these challenges were a curse, but in fact, they were a blessing. Today, I embrace my fears and emotions; I trust and believe in myself that I can meet life’s hurdles with confidence and bravery. I have found my calling, and exude an intense passion for helping others overcome their own obstacles around eating, food, body image, health, lifestyle and much more.
“Living a life of bravery is not always easy.” Brene Brown
My life was forever changed after my beautiful daughter, Olivia Wise (AKA Liv), lost her life to brain cancer at the age of 16. The trauma of this loss led to immense grief. Initially, what helped me work through this grief, was recalling Olivia’s unwavering love, courage, positivity, strength and hope. She used every ounce of energy she had to pursue her dreams and desires of becoming a pediatrician, marrying and having children, even while her prognosis was grim. She was a fighter, a true INSPIRATION! Though she was unable to achieve her goals, her zest for life has strengthened my soul. Liv’s greatest passion was singing. While she was dying, she was given an opportunity to record Katy Perry’s “Roar”. It became a YouTube hit that was viewed by millions around the world, and not only, did this experience enrich my life, but it enriched the lives of many. This was the beginning of the legacy that she left, and can be viewed at www.livwisefund.com. Olivia and my three other children have been my greatest gifts, my motivation and have given me my purpose, “to support and encourage others to LivWise.”
“Through darkness, comes light, through fear comes love and through pain comes triumph.” Mary Paleologos
As the grieving process continued, I was overwhelmed with constant thoughts surrounding every detail of Liv’s illness, from the diagnosis to her death. This triggered several frightening questions. How was I going to live another day without my precious Olivia? How was I going to be the Mom my other children needed? How was I going to avoid letting my old eating patterns numb me from the excruciating pain? Where do I go from here? These questions set me on the most profound path of self-discovery and transformation thus far. Organically, the books started flowing in, and my quest for answers set in. A pivotal moment occurred through my readings. It spoke to the fact, that throughout my life, I consistently felt depleted and undernourished, in spite of eating the healthiest foods on the planet. There it appeared like a news flash, “food is not the only source or form of nourishment, that we, as human beings, REQUIRE”. Instantly, I realized, that until I was able to nourish the other parts of me that deserved attention, I would never feel whole. This one basic “aha” moment led me straight back to my passion, and I began to embark on a journey for a deeper knowing in holistic nutrition, functional nutrition, eating psychology and health coaching.
I am a graduate of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating as a Certified Eating Psychology Practitioner, and of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition as a Certified Holistic Health Coach. I am dedicated to continuing education, and I am excited about life! I am thrilled to be able to guide you along your journey to LivWise. I want to help you to restore your health and well being, so that you, too, can have the strength to live life to the fullest, to follow your dreams and live with confidence and bravery. I will support you step by step in achieving your best health. Now that you know about me, I look forward to getting to know YOU!
WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION,
KARI
