There’s never a bad time to start working on your financial health. At IQ Portfolios, preparedness is at your disposal.
50 Invest Sense
Knowing your goals is key to financial success. At Charles Schwab, the journey is laid out for you.
FRED LOPEZ
The businesses on our pages make this FREE magazine possible. Please thank them with your support.
If your favorite local business isn’t here ask them why they don’t care about this community. Go ahead, make it awkward!
Want The Local’s unparalleled Winter Garden exposure?
Well, you’re obviously highly intelligent, attractive, smell like fresh-baked cookies, and have a deep love of this community, so reach out to: jamie@emagency.com or 352-425-6400
#localsloverealstories
#communitybusinesssupportscommunitymags
#ifyoujustscrollyoudull
#whoevenreadshashtagsbruh #localsdontreadjunkmailmags
#localsshoparound
#thereissuchathingastoomanyhashtags
#ifyourelocalyoureinthelocal
#idontknowwhentostop
#wemeanlocalbusiness
#awardwinning #bringingiteveryissue #ifyouarestillreadingthisifreakinloveyou #hashtaggedandbagged
I was in the grocery store and overheard a young boy—maybe 4 or 5 years old—ask his mother if he could get some cookies. She said no, to which he inquired why not. She made a comment that they hadn’t had lunch yet, so it would spoil his appetite. He was persistent: If we get it now, he promised not to eat it until after lunch. She said no. He asked why. She said because I said so. He said, but why. You know what happened next. Eventually she acquiesced, and the happy boy got his cookie x. Either the kid simply wore her down, or maybe... it was his line of questioning that made her realize he had a better argument.
There is great power in inquiry—in asking the right questions to seek understanding, create breakthrough change, or improve performance. In fact, I’d argue that nding the best answer lies largely in asking the right questions.
Clearly, I’m not alone in this thinking: Carl Jung said that “the right question is already half the solution to a problem.” W. Edwards Deming warned that “if you do not know how to ask the right question, you discover nothing.” And Oprah has said, “Ask the right questions, and the answers will always reveal themselves.”
Greater minds than mine obviously, but I’d like to add that asking the right questions isn’t merely to solicit an answer. For me, it’s all about provoking conversation and thought. It’s what makes an interview so powerful. And also why they are my favorite stories to write.
This issue, we sat down with a delightful cast of characters—Sean O’Neill, Jason Shelfer, Evan Miklosey, and Kelsi-Ann Bailey — and asked them about work, about life, about failure, about success, about experience. More importantly, we asked, much like the boy in the grocery store, why. Why that experience? Why that choice? What did you learn, what did you gain along the way?
What we uncovered is a captivating mix of wit and wisdom, which we have left unfettered and un ltered, minus an expletive here or there. The essence of their personalities, delivered in bite-sized commentary that is engaging, entertaining, and enlightening.Perhaps their stories will leave you asking your own right questions.
The support from our local advertisers make it all possible. Please consider thanking them with your support.
Abbott’s Frozen Custard
AntiquiTeas @Plant St Market
Axiom Bank Hamlin
Cariera’s Fresh Italian Driftwood Market
Foxtail Co ee Co.
Home State Brewing Co.
Je ’s Bagel Run
Little Greek @Winter Garden Village
Orange County Public Library, Winter Garden
Pammie’s Sammies
Pearle Vision Ocoee
Poke by Gochi
Polka Dotz
Puppy Dreams
Rita’s Italian Ice
Rosallie Le French Cafe
Seacoast Bank
Sweet Dee’s Cupcakery
Thai Blossom
The French Cafe
Three Birds Cafe
Tres Amigos
WG Heritage Museum
Wheel Works E-Bikes
Winter Garden Pizza Co.
Writer’s Block Bookstore
YMCA (Roper) and more!
Heather Anne Lee Editor407-573-6061
Dr. Kim Dawson
Healthcare entrepreneur and owner of Pearle Vision in Ocoee and Hamlin. Kim has been passionate about health and wellness for over 20 years. She received her doctorate in Health Science at MUSC in South Carolina. Kim has lived in Winter Garden for 10 years and is inspired daily by her two children, Symone and Desiree. In her free time, Kim likes to cook, travel, and read novels.
Ralph Disciullo
Founder of Beacon Mortgage, setting the highest standards in the industry by putting people first. Prior to the mortgage industry Ralph played a key role in the startup of several businesses. Originally from Emerson, NJ, Ralph attended USF in Tampa and now resides in Winter Garden with his wife of 17 years, Sandi, and their two daughters Daniella and Avery. .
Becca Lanterman
Bradford Owner of Winter Garden Senior Home Care. Becca is a second-generation Winter Garden resident, and her local roots run deep. She is the true embodiment of joy, and loves living the “bubble life,” where her golf cart is her primary mode of transportation. She has dedicated her life to tending to the special needs of our local senior adults.
Pam Thomas
Owner of Pammie’s Sammies, a “thoughtfully sourced, tastefully adventurous” restaurant in the heart of downtown. She is a passionate foodie with a degree in Wine, Spirits, and Beverage Management at the International Culinary School in Tampa. Pam is a staple of the Central Florida community, having operated in Universal Orlando, Dr. Phillips, and now Winter Garden.
Mark Schmidt
Mark has been a resident of Central Florida for 34 years. He spent over 30 years in the Radio and Television industry and currently works for Boyer Building Corp. as the New Business Development Manager. Interests include cheering on the Bu alo Bills, golf and enjoying the next great glass of wine. He is married to his wife, Gina, and has a “Morkie” named Finley!
July 2023 Vol. 2 No. 09
Jamie Ezra Mark Publisher jamie@emagency.com 352-425-6400
Nicole Spooner Account Executive nicole@mpactorlando.com 407-595-4793
EDITORIAL
Heather Anne Lee Editor heather@emagency.com
Rheya Tanner Art Director
Josh Clark Designer
Wendy Mak Designer
Andrew Ontko Designer Evan Miklosey Web
Fred Lopez Chief Photographer
Heather Luxemburg Writer
Mark McWaters Writer
Angie Layfield
Iliana Ramos
Tracey is a community advocate helping individuals, families and small business owners gain access to a ordable legal coverage with LegalShield, as well as help protect against identity theft through IDShield. She has been a resident of Horizon West since 2007 with her beautiful teenage girls, Averie and Bryce. Cofounder of Horizon West Professionals and founding member of the Rotary Club of Horizon West, Tracey believes lasting relationships start with community.
Local agent with State Farm Insurance. Bryan is a Central Florida native, Founding President of the Rotary Club of Horizon West, Horizon West Who’s Who Award Winner, and Team Captain for All-Pro Dad. He is married to his beautiful wife Angie and they have two wonderful children. Bryan is highly invested in making Horizon West the best place to work, live, and play.
NHA/CDAL
Executive Director at Westminister, a senior living and memory care community in Winter Park. Angie has been in the senior housing industry for over 20 years and brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and insight to local seniors and their families. Though originally from Maryland, she has called Horizon West home since 2016. Angie and her family reside in Village F’s Watermark.
Jones Family, faith, and passion are the three major pillars of Iliana’s life. She and her brothers own Empire Finish Systems, of which she is the active CFO. A retired marathon runner, she has transitioned to the more tranquil pastime of acquiring house plants. When not working, she loves spending time with her amazing husband, Charlie, discovering new food, traveling and quiet evenings on Lake Apopka.
Kirsten Harrington
Kirsten is a freelance magazine writer who just returned to Winter Garden after two years of living in China. She loves to travel and explore new places, especially where food is concerned. You can often find her out on the bike trail, in the kitchen with her family, or checking out the local food scene and sharing her finds on Instagram, @ wintergardenfoodie.
Daniel Granat Social Media
Know someone extraodinary?
Want to write for the magazine?
Got a story to pitch?
Send ideas and images to: thelocalwg@emagency.com
PROUD MEMBERS OF
and watching her play until she was in her 20s. It’s a key part of our life,” Rebecca says. With their heads in the game for over 20 years, this mother-daughter duo knows better than anyone the importance of staying active both physically and socially, and now they are striving to bring that to others as well.
Owners of Striker Sports & Social, they’ll tell you that nothing beats witnessing the impact of sports and community building. “We really love seeing people staying active and meeting new neighbors. Whether it’s in our youth or adult leagues, or at a social event. There are all these kids, and they’re so delighted with what they’ve accomplished. It’s so ful lling to watch the
people. And for the youth… I mean, the kids love it. Our biggest hope is for everyone to have fun, be safe, and connect.”
Woman- and veteran-owned, Striker Sports and Social has been kicking goals in the community for over 10 years. Originally founded in 2010 by Steve and Lisa Crane, Striker Sports found its breath from just a friendly game of soccer. Inspired by their love of community, Steve and Lisa evolved the game into a league, o ering both youth and adult leagues and training. Now, the organization is run by Alli and Rebecca, whose passion for the sport made for an easy transition.
Alli laughs, “We called it Undercover Boss for a
wanted to take the league. “We loved what the league stood for; how it was about staying connected and healthy for as long as possible. It was important for us to keep that in the community.” Striker Sports’ opportunities start at age 3, and there is no limit—anyone and everyone can participate. They even o er an Over 35 League, when possible, with several players over 60 and competing.
“We have a platform where people can play sports their whole lives if they wanted to. We want people to have the oppor-
players, so it has been difcult to be like, ‘Hey, let’s pick up and go to an entirely di erent sport where you use your hands instead of your feet.’ We’ve looked into foot volley, which is volleyball with your feet, in addition to sand soccer. We’ll continue to stay true to our roots, while also trying new things.” This summer, volleyball will take place most Friday nights in July. With ngers crossed, Alli hopes that it will also return for fall registration, which will reopen later this month, along with their popular Youth Academy and fall soccer leagues.
Lucy Jimenez believes that if you want something enough, you can achieve it. And she knows this from experience. Founder of LL Pottery, Lucy’s passion for pottery stems from her steadfast resilience. Like many others, when Covid hit, Lucy felt the urge to try something new. This visualized itself in the form of clay, with a class that was only minutes from her house. “I went into the studio for two days a week and practiced, just making things to put around the house.” Not one of her pieces is the same, and she knows that each one belongs to someone. The way Lucy sees it, they are just waiting for the right person to come along.
Each of Lucy’s hand-formed pieces takes about two weeks to complete, a drawn-out process that is met with lots of patience. It’s de nitely not easy, but Lucy takes this in her stride. “I really love to challenge myself and to push myself to create something di cult that I haven’t created before.” But for Lucy, the real joy comes from selling her art at the Saturday market. “I love having the opportunity to be around everyone. I could sell all of my pottery to one person and make tons of money. But that wouldn’t make me happy. It’s not about the money, it’s about sharing what I love.” Every artist leaves their ngerprint. With pottery, the ngerprints are in the whole piece.
Here we grow again! We’re saying, “This little piggie went to market” as we hit up Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ (@ellielousbbq) in Flamingo Crossing, and “Oui, oui, oui, all the way home” as we dip into Paris Baguette (@parisbaguetteus) for some pastries. “With a cluck-cluck here, and a cluck-cluck there’”, the lights are finally turning on at Cluckerz Chicken Food Truck (@cluckerzchicken). And who isn’t jumping for joy now that Urban Air Adventure Park (@ UrbanAirHamlin) opened just in time for summer break?! The owners of the West Orange Creamery (@westorangecreamery) have opened Oakland General in the concession space at the Healthy West Orange Arts & Heritage Center (@ HWOAHatOakland). Charm Thai & Sushi opened at 13211 Reams Rd. to rave reviews. If all these restaurant opening have you feeling a little extra flu y this summer, try working it o at Crunch Fitness (@ CrunchWinterGarden). Or by hitting up that Stoneybrook friend for a round of golf later this summer at the newly reopened Stoneybrooke West Golf Club And last, but not least, have you seen our amazing new giant-sized racks? You can find them Winter Garden Roper Y (@ymcacentralflorida), Home State Brewing (@homestatebrewingco), and Winter Garden Pizza Company (@wintergardenpizzaco).
MARKET
Founded in Winter Garden by Danny Paltjon, Oceans of Hope Foundation o ers adaptive ocean excursions and equipment, including specialized wheelchairs and customized surfboards and body boards, to empower paraplegics, quadriplegics, and others with limited mobility to safely wade in the ocean and ride the waves.
Karen Adam recently worked with Oceans of Hope and shared her experience with The Local:
On July 8, 2022, I was in a boating accident that left me paralyzed from the waist down. After two surgeries, an ICU stay, and a hospital stay, I was moved to inpatient rehab. My family and I were just beginning to fully process just how drastic a change our lives were facing.
We were an adventurous family that loved to be outdoors, enjoying nature.
Less than a year prior, my husband Gabe and I had begun our section hike of the Appalachian Trail. Now, I couldn’t walk, much less hike. Why me? Why us? What next?
That was when Gabe saw a brochure that piqued his interest: adaptive kayaking with Oceans of Hope Foundation. I was hesitant to even consider the idea, but Gabe decided to reach out.They invited him to take the training to be an adaptive kayak trip leader. Hoping it would make me feel more comfortable getting back on the water, he completed the training and signed us both up for the next kayaking opportunity.
On the morning of the trip, I was still absolutely terri ed to get back on the water. The volunteers tried to put my mind at ease. They o ered words of encouragement and told me to take my time and go at the pace I felt comfortable. They
assisted me in getting in the kayak and slowly, with much patience, launched the kayak into the water.
There were multiple safety guides per athlete and although I was still nervous, I felt safe. Oceans of Hope Foundation helped me get over my fear of the water and get back to an activity I once loved.
I have been kayaking three more times since then and every time, I thank God for an organization like Oceans of Hope. They are giving the gift of adventure in nature, which is truly a blessing.
Karen’s rst day back on the water is proof that truly anything is possible, and will be a day forever remembered. Watch a video of her rst kayak adventure at in.thelocalwg.com/OOHF
When you think of the Winter Garden Village, you might picture its stylistic structures, or the hot deals and cool sales. You may envision the hurried tra ic that’s everpresent, and never easy to navigate. But the Village wasn’t always about the hustle and bustle. Just 16 years ago, the property was the home of Fowler Groves, one of Winter Garden’s oldest citrus homesteads.
After the Civil War, Al Thomas, a Union soldier with the Eighth Regiment of Connecticut ,settled on 160 acres of land in West Orange County. In 1882, he started an orange grove and christened it Almyra Groves, for himself and his wife, Myra (Lamira). In 1884, Thomas moved his nephew Harold down from Massachusetts to assist with cultivating the homestead. After marrying his wife, Isabel, Harold inherited and expanded the property. He later passed the acreage to his son Harold Fowler Jr., who expanded the groves even further, and changed its name to the familiar Fowler Groves.
But their momentum, unfortunately, didn’t remain. Like many other growers in the area, the harsh freezes in the 1980s proved to be detrimental to the groves. With lots of dead citrus trees and crushed spirits, the Fowlers were no longer making a profit, and they were forced to sell their groves and wetlands. The original homesteaded property had been in the same family for more than 100 years. Wachovia Bank now sits where Almyra declared its presence for so long, and if you look closely, you can even see the original sign placed at the top of Bonefish Grill, forever an homage to the Fowlers and their impressive groves.
Ellie the Yellow Lab, 5
Hey! Look at me! See how great I’m doing with my laps? I’ve been practicing ever since we got back from our pawsome West Coast trip. That was so cool!
I hiked to the tip-top of the world! My humans say it was a waterfall, but I don’t know what that is. All I know is that I felt like the queen. I even caught my very first fish! The fishermen were so impressed, and they couldn’t catch anything! Next time I’ll have to show them how it’s done.
But the best part was the RV ride. It lasted forever, and my humans even let me hang my head out the window. I guess you can call me a pampered pup. I have so many fun memories from my trip, but for now, I’ll just keep swimming. Luckily, my humans have a great big pool that I can use any time I want. I think it’s safe to say summer has o icially begun.
Does your pet have a tail to tell? in.thelocalwg.com/tell-tails
A REALTOR® with ReMax Prime Properties, Shelley Dawson describes herself as an upfront, candid person. “I’m an excellent negotiator and I’m nice. I was raised in the South where being nice is an art form, but I’m also a fierce advocate on behalf of my clients. I’m a good Realtor because I am a good listener.”
Shelley sells homes from $400,000 to $4 million, “But it doesn’t matter what the home is like or its price tag. I provide a luxury experience to every one of my clients.” As such, this Certified Luxury Specialist is recognized as one of Orlando’s Top 400 Realtors by Orlando Real Producers. She has
the education—an A.A. from University of Florida, a B.A. from UCF, and a masters from Rollins College—and she has the drive. “I run my business like an intimate boutique. I put in the time. I get to know my clients, and it pays off for both of us.”
13848 Tilden Rd Ste 148 Winter Garden, FL 34787 shelleydawson.com 407-492-1900
Must-read conversations with four of the Garden’s most dynamic personalities, in their own words—unfettered and unfiltered.
Nine years. That’s how long I’ve been doing this. Why? I was sitting on the couch bored, wondering what to do in Winter Garden. I had seen another page called Osceola Rants, Raves & Reviews, and thought why the hell not? I had 10 people join, then 20, then 1,000. And now we’re at 50,000 people. It’s crazy.
I had no idea what I was
rules. Finally, I said to her, complain one more time and I’ll make you an admin. She’s been with me for four years now. I love her to death. She’s the glue that keeps this site together.
You know how they say imitation is the best form of flattery? That’s not true. There are six other pages that started because they got kicked off our page.
Sure, but not about a small business. I’m a champion for small businesses.
I was a restaurant manager before becoming a locksmith and a review site owner. I actually wrote a book called, I Was Finally the Restaurant Manager, Who Should I Fire First? It was an accidental comedy. Kind of like my life. It’s probably sold ve copies on Amazon.
I try to use my page and in uence for as much good as I can. For example, Matthew’s Hope. The rst time I met with Scott Billue, I was like, what do you need? What’s needed in the homeless community? What he said shocked me: Socks and underwear. I’m not even going to lie, I laughed. I thought he was joking. But he said, “Think about it. How long have you gone wearing the same pair of socks and underwear—one day, maybe two? Three if you’re in college. In the homeless community, it could be weeks, or even longer.” That’s not something people think about. Now, I do a socks and underwear drive via the page every year.
For years, I did a drive that helped feed kids in school. Then Orange County Public Schools stepped up and
now they serve lunches during the school year and the summer months.
Doing good for others is always the most fun. And Winter Garden always comes out swinging—All you have to do is ask.
Small business owners are the backbone of Winter Garden.
People ask me all the time about doing advertising or free weekends for small businesses. And I do. Twice a year. It’s like the McRib Sandwich. It comes back often enough to generate interest, but goes away long enough to forget what it tastes like. You take a bite and you’re like, no, it just tastes like earwax. And yet, next winter, when it shows up again, you’re in the drive thru line. That’s how I feel about allowing ads on the site. Less is more.
If there’s one thing that truly makes me happy…. It’s helping other people. My wife and I met in an AOL chat room… maybe that’s why I run a group site. It feels like AOL in some ways. Our rst date was a Chevy’s on 535. We both ordered burgers. I’m sitting there and I take a bite of my burger and
look over at her… and her burger is gone. The woman likes to eat. She doesn’t play. And right then, I thought, I’m probably gonna marry this one. That’s what I did. Fourteen years and she hasn’t left me. Yet.
I don’t think I’m famous. But then again, strangers recognize me on the street and stop to say hello. So there’s that.
Nine years, and I still learn something new about Winter Garden every single day. Just yesterday, I learned that the building behind Burger King on SR 50 is going to be an Amazon Supermarket.
I am an outgoing person. I can talk to anybody about anything. And I think it’s because I’m a good listener. People open up to me in the craziest ways.
Anonymous posts are bullshit. We tried it for ve days and turned it o . If you’re gonna say something, have the balls to put your name behind it.
Doing good for others is always the most fun. And Winter Garden always comes out swinging.
Nthe wind and left my hometown of 29 years, and started an entirely new career in a new state. I thought I was giving up
I had been feeling discontent with what I was doing for almost eight years. I wasn’t doing anything but
restaurant and manufacturing jobs. I wasn’t happy and I desperately needed change. I literally threw my hands up and said, “I’m out of here.” It was a pretty emotional moment for me. I knew there was more for me, I just didn’t know what that was.
Music has always been a big part of my life, and it always will be. I’ve always loved to sing. My dad and brother are both guitar players, and in high
player. But it’s hard when you’re solo, especially when you can’t really afford a manager. And when you’re paying them, it’s hard to pay yourself. I’ve done four-hour gigs for almost nothing, which was garbage. But that’s where that passion really has to come in; no one works for nothing unless they have that passion for it.
I thought I’d be a music teacher. I was a guitar instructor for about four
and programming code. It was time-consuming, yeah, but it kept me busy. And I enjoyed it. There’s so much information out there. There’s a huge swath of it on the internet alone, where I was able to take some courses on my own to develop a portfolio. So that’s what I did.
With newfound condence, I thought to myself, “I could probably take this with me elsewhere and not have to live in Phillipsburg,
The way I see it, there is an Art of Problem Solving that comes with this job. It translates into songwriting too. Whenever I write a song, I never fail to encounter speed bumps along the way, and I must correct them. It’s the same with web… There are a lot of components that construct a website, and not everything I do is going to turn out the way I want.
I feel like this is a really good rst job for me, not
school, I decided to try my hands at it. A year later, I saw a video that changed my life. It was this really amazing guitar player with an accoustic guitar—not singing, just playing. He was doing stu on the guitar that I had never even known was possible. And this was on YouTube, of course, where you nd the best videos. This was almost 15 years ago now.
What I really wanted was to be a touring guitar
years. But when COVID hit and everything went virtual, that became a little harder.
With music, my cup was lled; I loved every second of it. But working in the restaurant and manufacturing business to fund a possible music career felt redundant. I needed something di erent.
I started taking up web design four years ago, doing some self-studies, learning how to make websites,
New Jersey.” But where could I excel? I couldn’t excel there; it was just not for me anymore. And anyway, I was about to turn 30 years old. It was time that I developed a solid career path.
I knew it was going to be a big learning curve, jumping from music to web. I’ve always found that applying and challenging myself would make me a better worker. It keeps my brain fresh and makes me stand out.
just to hone my web skills, but for the other components as well, such as the publishing and advertising aspects. I’m always going to be learning on the job. Working with my team is essential, because they really help prepare my learning curve. I’m growing in that aspect alone.
It’s crazy how much I’ve learned already, and how much I’m still learning. Sometimes it can get a little overwhelming, but
I literally threw my hands up and said, “I’m out of here.” It was a pretty emotional moment for me.
all for a good purpose. You know, just taking each day as it comes, ready to learn. And I’m learning about just everything. What the hell am I not learning?
I’m becoming a more well-rounded worker. I’ve learned some tips and tricks from my coworkers. For me, it’s a goldmine of information. I have an awesome source right in front of me, and I’m gaining experience and knowledge through them.
work with others that are also musicians; people who love to create like I do. I’m in a much better spot now than I was before I moved here. Right now, I’m focused on keeping that momentum going. Making music out of the limelight.
Music has de nitely become more of a hobby. It’s always going to be there. I’m really just trying to get my career path solidi ed right now.
and whatever else can help me excel. I treat this similarly to web—I try to be di erent with what I do, di erent in the style that I do. I’ll take my music in a di erent direction, and I try to bring these aspects into web design as well.
I still go out and do open mic gigs and stu like that, really just for fun. But in terms of going out and touring and making a bunch of records… it just isn’t the time. I would
it’s just a matter of doing the sensible thing and saying, “let’s just get a good stable career going and make a name for myself that way.” And that’s really just my path right now. Anything could happen, but right now I’m coasting along.
I feel very comfortable with how my life is, where my life is headed. All the things that I said I wanted to do four years ago, I’m now doing!
People tell me that 30 is still young, and they say their best years are in their 30s. But still, I wish I could have done all this a little sooner. It’s not necessarily a regret, because I still had fun growing.
Every day I leave work and the rst thing I’ll do when I get home is whip out my guitar, start writing and playing for a little bit. It’s gratifying for me to
I still write a lot of original music. My style of music is energetic instrumental, and it’s de nitely a niche market. I think I just have to nd my audience. It’s just me with an acoustic guitar, which is a very personal instrument. And I pour my heart and soul into every song I write.
I always challenge myself to learn new techniques and new chord structures
like to record like a small demo, which has been something I’ve been trying to do for the last couple of years. I have songs that I’ve recorded, but to actually compile it into an EP… I just haven’t done it yet. I have so much music that I want to get out there, but my focus is on web right now.
As much as I love making music and playing guitar,
Music was the stepping stone I needed to pull me out of my rut and really take a look into what I wanted for myself. I really leaned into the power of knowledge, diving into anything I could that would improve myself. Even though I’m not pursuing music as a career, it brought to me reassurance that I could do anything I set my mind to. Right now, that’s the world wide web.
I try to be different with what I do, different in the style that I do. I’ll take my music in a different direction, and I try to bring those aspects into web work as well.
El Camino de Santiago
Spain’s famous pilgrimage trail has become one of the most popular walking trips and spiritual journeys in Europe. Although pilgrims originally made the long walk to Santiago de Compostela to see the legendary remains of the Apostle Saint James, today people walk the Camino for all sorts of reasons.
Ten days. 115 kilometers. 9366.80 feet in elevation gain. There is a huge capacity within each of us to do great things, to live fully, love daringly, and experience the fullness life has to o er. There is also an invisible fence we create of fear and limiting beliefs. Two of mine were, “I will
get to it someday.” And “It’s not that important.” Even as an elite life coach, I still have a tendency to govern my experiences by putting expectations on the possibilities.
Life gets more full, more amazing, and more limitless the more we allow room for unexpected possibilities and unexpected return on investments.
Understanding what is important to you—what your personal values are—is not only important to how you approach a journey, but how you view the results at the end.
In my opinion, not being clear on personal values at a deep level is where regret is born.
Overthinking and big-picture fears hold us back if we get caught up on not knowing the “how” of everything. It’s like driving a car at night. The headlights only illuminate a few hundred feet in front of us, but if we know where we are going and can see ahead of us, we can keep moving. We slow down and get hyper-focused when tra c gets busy, conditions worsen, or we see multiple exits ahead. Choosing to start and trusting that we have picked a worthy destination—one true to our soul, not our friends, parents, or whomever we have adopted as an approver of our life.
Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know, and that can cost you. Now I say, “What you don’t know can make you broke or keep you broke.”
I planned my whole Camino trip in about six hours. From mentioning I want to
do it “someday” on our daily Virtual Co ee on Facebook, to my wife prompting me with a rm, “Make sure you practice what you preach. If you’re telling clients to have courage, be courageous. Put up or shut up.” Wow! This is why we have coaches also. It’s hard to recognize your own blind spots when you’re missing the mark by just a hair.
We do plenty of things on our own. It’s OK to ask for help; ask for directions.
You may have a long way to go and it feels impossible to keep going, but the next small step is doable and it gets you closer. Once you know where you’re going, focus on the next doable small step.
Once you’ve conquered a big mountain ,the small mountains are a lot easier. Heck, even the bigger mountains are easier. The key is to remember that you have a history of success.
It can get really scary when you believe you are alone, especially if your inner dialogue treats you like a punching bag.
Patience and process can get you through almost anything. My process was called one foot in front of
the other, literally. It was simple and it worked.
When I couldn’t say positive things, I said the process. When everything in my body hurt and I was soaking wet, cold and wrinkled, I lived in the process. Every night this landed me in a place to eat with a bed and ultimately at my destination. There were times I wanted to call a cab and call it quits, but I remembered what I wanted, who I am, and what I do.
The Camino isn’t di cult, but navigating your inner dialogue and staying true to your process is. That’s what The Camino measures— determination and dedication. We all have moments of weakness, moments of hurt or injury. It’s what you do in spite of it. Learning to claim your unique process and then plugging it into the system; it becomes a game changer.
Spending the vast majority of the time by myself sometimes thinking, sometimes not (it’s kind of what guys are famous for). When I wasn’t thinking, my mind was just putting one foot in front of the other. The hypnotic thumping of my hiking boots on the ground mixed with the vibrations being sent through my body,
weakening the emotional walls I had forti ed over the years.
I cried a good bit on the Camino. The rst time, I had been walking in the drizzle for eight hours, by myself. I came upon a really old church where a nun helped me remove my wet poncho and welcomed me in with a warm smile. I broke down in tears; the church’s age, beauty, atmosphere, smell, kindness, connection, gentleness, and grace of the moment swallowed me whole. I felt alive. My “emotional door” had been kicked open and ripped the hinges o on the rst day. I cried at some meals. I cried in prayer. I cried in frustration. I cried in giving and accepting. But most importantly, I cried in gratitude and awe.
Emotions can be a compass. Emotions are available to help you nd what you are looking for and needing most if you get familiar with them and look below the surface.
Don’t let fear stop you from doing something. You will never know what you are capable of until you push yourself. And when you put yourself in situations when you don’t have a choice but to succeed,
you will nd a way. In the normal course of a day, we need to ask ourselves, “Am I giving myself a way out? Am I allowing myself to be distracted from the goal?” Have I become accustomed to giving up on myself and my dreams?
Destinations are the small dots on the map. We spend most of our time and e ort between the dots. What if we lived for the journey... How much more could we then enjoy the destination?
Life is lled with ups and downs—The ups are really only exciting at the top, so don’t forget how much time and action went into creating that moment. If it feels like luck, examine the past events that led you there. You’ll see that speci c things aligned over time to arrive at that circumstance. Everything happens for the right reason at the right time.
Getting o track or getting lost happens in both hiking and life. It’s not a waste unless you de ne it as a waste. My experiences brought me new discoveries, more resilience, better appreciation, and a deeper connection to the knowledge that I can nd myself again, nd my way, have the stamina to go further, and still succeed.
Getting off track or getting lost happens in both hiking and life. It’s not a waste until you define it as a waste.
My mom always said that I know what I like, and I’ll make sure you know what I like. And if I don’t like it, I’ll let you know that, too. It was a joke in my family, but this year, I fully embraced that.
I decided early on that I was going to make my college decision completely on my own.
When I sat down and looked at the numbers, it just didn’t make sense. It was like, spend $50,000 to get my education in state, or spend double or triple at the University of California or Alabama or Brown. I just couldn’t wrap my head around it.
In Florida, UF, Florida Atlantic, and FAMU were all contenders for my architecture major. I visited UF and Florida Atlantic, and I just had a feeling… I didn’t like them. When we went to the FAMU, however, it was vibrant, and everything there is student-oriented.
In the beginning, being an HBCU (historically black college or university) wasn’t a factor. That came later, in the decision process. FAMU has everything I want. They
will better cater to me and my needs, especially as an African American woman. What I’ve discovered is that many other institutions, non-HBCU, can lack not only the understanding, but the resources to our community as well.
When I walked on the FAMU campus, I could see that everyone had school spirit, and everyone was happy. Even if you don’t know anyone, there are so many people to connect with. It just seemed so easy to walk up to someone and start a conversation; it almost feels like family.
If you asked someone a question, like where to nd a building, they’d o er to take you there! And next thing you know, a whole group is walking you to the building, laughing and joking—the vibes were great!
I tried making the decision rationally, but in the end, it came down to a feeling—how I felt on campus. Not how my mom felt, or my friends, or anyone else. How I felt. It was an entirely sel sh decision, but in the best possible way.
I’m de nitely a people pleaser. I’ve been one my
whole life, but I had to make this decision based on my own needs and wants. I had to learn to not be a people pleaser, especially when making these decisions that will impact the rest of my life.
I was nervous telling my mom. She’s a Gator, so I knew she’d be a little disappointed that I didn’t choose UF. But I just sat her down on the couch and said, “I’ve already made the decision. I’m going to
My sister is Ivy League, and she went to Brown. I felt the pressure for a while, especially in my junior year. Everybody was asking, ‘Where’s Kelsi going to go?’ I had a lot of eyes on me. So when it came time to tell everyone my decision, I wanted it to be special. Not just a text message or a million FaceTime calls.
We had a combined graduation/college reveal party. My mom came up with the idea. She rolled up a ban-
mom has three masters and a doctorate. Then my sister has awards from Brown, the city of Orlando, CPS, and all these other things. And then there’s me—I have one frame on that wall, from elementary school. Seeing that every day was a constant reminder to be better. But I can’t lie… it also comes with a lot of pressure.
I’ve always been perfectionist and a people pleas-
I’ll have to make my own decisions. But now that I know what that feeling is like, and the bene ts that I get from making decisions that bene t me, I will continue making decisions for myself.
Making this decision on my own has opened my eyes to the freedom and happiness that come from making a decision for myself and not for others. It was as simple as learning how to speak up for myself.
FAMU.” She was emotional, but in a good way. I think she’s happy. And besides, FAMU’s mascot is a rattlesnake, so I’m still a reptile. We’re just cousins.
It’s funny. After I told my mom, she slowly became obsessed. Every couple minutes, she sends me something about FAMU; it’s kind of ridiculous.
I’m so happy that she’s excited, but I’m going to block her.
ner that had FAMU’s colors and ag. I stood under it and pulled it down while she did streamers and confetti, which was fun. Maybe not for my mom, though, because glitter is still everywhere in the house. I think it’s fun. Every time I nd more glitter, I get excited about what’s coming.
There’s a wall in my house that displays everyone’s diplomas, certificates, awards. My
er, and doing whatever I could to get a pat on the back. This year, I realized how toxic that was—I could have been a much freer person if I hadn’t restrained myself.
I was lacking balance. I was so determined to do good for the family that I wasn’t focusing on what was good for me.
In college, there will be similar situations, and
High school is one big lesson wrapped up in all kinds of chaos.
The biggest lesson of my senior year? That everything is a competition.
Whether it’s to get into a speci c college, earn that scholarship, get tickets to prom, to be rst in line for a ride at senior eld day… everything is a competition. Eventually you have to learn to be
I tried making the decision rationally, but in the end, it came down to a feeling. It was an entirely selfish decision, but in the best possible way.
OK with not only coming in last place, but not even wasting your time to compete. Just go with your ow.
There are many trials in high school, but competing with yourself to be better is the most important lesson I learned. You never really know someone’s situation. You can’t look at everyone else. You have to look at yourself and try to advance and do your best.
Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone has struggles and issues that you don’t know about. No one’s life is perfect, even if it may seem like it on Instagram.
I’ve learned that honesty really is the best policy.
I’ve learned that if I like myself, or if the decision is in my best interest, nothing else matters.
Senior year taught me that the stress will even-
even when it seems like they may never end.
Because once that diploma is in your hand and your cap is in the air, the feeling of freedom is so expansive that it’s overwhelming. But so far, nothing has been better than knowing I have nally made it.
Make room in your life to surround yourself with people who will lift you up.
The person pressuring you is the one making it awkward, not you. Just say no. And remember, “no” is a full sentence. You don’t always have to o er an explanation.
None of us truly know what we are doing, but we’re doing the best we can.
Live in the moment, because high school goes by fast. It’s understandable being caught up with everything, but it is
Your best might just put you in a spot to get that scholarship, or to get a position at the college of your dreams, or to get the internship that you want.
I have to stay true to myself. If you’re not true to yourself, you’ll feel burnt out and defeated, which is what happened to me. It’s better to be happy with where you are and what you’re doing to advance yourself.
tually be rewarded, even when it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It taught me that if you want something, and if you work hard for it, everything will fall into place. Even if it’s not how you originally pictured it. Things always work out.
Most importantly, high school taught me that the never-ending teenage struggles are eeting,
You can be the juiciest peach on a tree, but there will always be someone who doesn’t like peaches. Not everyone will like you, and that’s OK.
It took me a long time to learn that I can say no as strongly as the person who is is trying to make me say yes. Just because I don’t want the situation to be awkward doesn’t mean I should do something I don’t want to do.
important to take time for yourself and make the most of the time you have with your friends.
I love my school. I think that that’s very important. I didn’t fall in love with any of the other schools I viewed. But with FAMU, I see a unique value to what they o er. I feel the community and I love it. I’m happy to say that I’m a Rattler now!
High school is one big lesson wrapped in chaos.The biggest lesson? Everything is a competition.
Whether your teen is earning their own money or thinking about their future independent spending, you can help them grow into a fiscally responsible
Do you remember how you rst started learning about money? Setting up a lemonade stand? Babysitting? Mowing the neighbor’s lawn? Weekly allowance? Or maybe just watching how your parents dealt with household expenses?
Our upbringing plays a big part in shaping our relationship with money, “because our kids see everything that we do,” says Je Forrester, parent, mentor, and
adult—here’s how.
HEATHER ANNE LEE
co-founder of Hi-Lite Coaching & Consulting. Any parent of a teen knows that talking to their child about, well, anything can be challenging. But that doesn’t mean parents should skip those hard conversations, especially when it comes to managing money, dealing with credit, or sticking to a budget. But how can parents broach this sometimes-tricky subject, sans eye-rolling?
If you’re Erica Jackson, you sign your 15-year-old daughter, Sydney, up for a Financial Literacy summer camp intensive—and live with the attitude.
“We’ve been doing summer camps since Sydney was 5, so she’s done all the traditional options.
I think she was hoping for a summer o , but this was something out of the ordinary. Finances a ect almost every area of adult life, so we wanted Sydney to have a solid
BY THE NUMBERS32% of teenagers receive allowances for doing chores.
SOURCE: Junior Achievement
1 in 5 teens have started investing. 55% say “investing is too confusing” and 47% says it feels out of reach.
SOURCE: Fidelity Investments
61% of teens making money have started saving and storing their money in a bank account.
SOURCE: Junior Achievement
45% of teens are concerned about not being able to a ord living on their own.
SOURCE: Junior Achievement
35% of teens think they’ll have $100,000 in savings by age 30.
SOURCE: Junior Achievement
foundation. We have a very open household and we’ve always referred to Sydney more as an adult than a child, so she understood that you have to work to be able to a ord the things you want. But this program was unique in that it was built with teens in mind. So, we didn’t really give her an option,” Erica laughs.
Sydney says, “Yeah. Initially, I was like, there’s no way I’m doing this. Although it was only once a week, it was four hours a day in some classroom learning nances. But my mom was like, ‘No, it’s very bene cial. You have to learn this stu .’ And she’s right. Where else would I learn it? They don’t teach that to us in school. So I went, and from the rst session, I thought, ‘Oh, this isn’t too bad.’ Plus there were some other girls there my age, so that helped.”
The program covered everything from opening bank accounts to budgeting, taxes to investing, credit scores to school loan applications.
“It was really fun and informative,” says Sydney. “Probably the most interesting information was learning about taxes. I didn’t realize that at the end of the year, there’s so much you have to report, and that they take taxes out
of your paychecks. Oh! And budgeting. That has been really good to know. So you
Sometimes I get confused, but I’m beginning to understand the importance of waiting. Don’t just sell when it gets negative. You have to wait. And then you sell your shares. There are just so many ways to make money like this. You’re not even really working. You’re investing and you can make so much money. It’s confusing, but fun.”
Fun is the operative word, Je emphasizes, especially when working with teens and young
adults. “Kids want to learn, but they’ll do it in their own way. They’re always learning, whether they are watching us, their parents, coaches, friends, teachers, mentors. They’re absorbing what they see, even if they don’t react or interact,” says Je . “So it’s so important to meet them where they are. And this generation sees nances di erently than we did. Money isn’t cash anymore; it’s chip money. Digital money. The value is di erent when you hand a kid a card, and mom or dad reloads it each week. Which is exactly why
“There are just so many
a course like this is so important. Establishing a rm foundation about credits and debits, taxes and fees. And budgeting. More speci cally, what it means to live within your means. If you hand your
teen a bank card and tell them to go to the movies, they aren’t thinking about what that means to their budget. They just assume the money is there. If we can begin to build a solid scal foundation at 15,
16, or 17, think about how much healthier they will be when they go to college. For a kid like Sydney, to be investing at 16 years old? To be working with a budget? That’s incredible!”
Much like the other milestone “talks” you’re bound to have with your teen, teaching them about finances starts with an open conversation. “Having honest conversations about money and finances and giving kids skin in the game can really go a long way to building financial independence,” says Je . Here are four ways to start:
Budgeting: One of the most e ective ways to teach the concept of budgeting is by sharing yours. “Sharing the reality of your family budget can help your teen grasp key financial concepts such as delayed gratification for those things that matter most, and thoughtful savings,” says Je . For example, for every dollar your teen earns, give them three di erent buckets to allocate their funds. “An easy way to think of this is to follow the 50/30/20 rule— 50% going toward essentials, 30% personal spending, and 20% savings—an easy budgeting guideline that can be followed at any age.”
Just like losing a tooth or learning to drive, setting up your teenager’s first bank account is a rite of passage. Parents, you probably don’t want to connect it to your own in case
they overdraft their account or their identity gets stolen. But you will want to be the signer on the account so you can see their spending behavior. Remember: This is a great opportunity to teach them how to reconcile their account, keep track of spending, and learn to save.
Wants vs. Needs: One of the most important steps in teaching your teen about budgeting is discussing the di erence between wants and needs. Again, keep it simple. Explain that a need is something that’s required to survive, such as rent payments, while a want is something you can live without, like a Netflix subscription. Start by making a list of expenses. For each one, ask them: Is this something you can live without? This process can help them sort through needs and wants on paper. But you can also use real world
examples or experiences. Backto-school shopping can be a chance to discuss what’s necessary and what’s not if you have a limited budget.
Saving and Spending: If you want your teenager to grow into an independent, responsible adult, you’ll have to show them how to save. It starts by not giving them money for every little whim. (See wants vs. needs!)
Teaching them how not to spend money is also critically important. Just because they have money doesn’t mean they need to burn a hole through their pocket. Teach them about having longterm savings goals. At this age, all they can probably talk about is getting a car. Work with them on creating a plan for their money: what they need to buy a car and what they need to save. Early exposure to goal-setting helps to give them patience and vision, two things they’ll need in life.
it’s di icult to know exactly how to propel yourself toward a better financial future. Accumulating wealth, preparing for retirement, saving a little from every paycheck. These habits are essential for healthy finances, but very few people actually practice them.
In a lot of cases, these issues stem from lack of knowledge and preparation. When it comes to financial health, Andy Ortiz calls on his own experience.
As a child, Andy witnessed his single
“My mom worked so hard for everybody else, never saving anything for herself. I want to help people like my mother and show them how not to become her.”
Your first step? Take that leap of faith and start now.
“Whether you are 15 or 50, today is the best day to begin. Some people get it, but unfortunately, they are rare. It’s never too late to start, but the cost of waiting is HUGE. The sooner you invest in yourself, the easier your financial journey will be in the long run.”
daughter made extra money by babysitting. They showed her how to create invoices to give to her clients, and she did that. They recorded her earnings, she reported her income, and opened a ROTH IRA. Today, she’s richer than any 18-yearold I know.”
If it feels overwhelming, Andy suggests starting with a list of questions.
“You don’t know what you don’t know, so the only bad question is the one you don’t ask. Meet
as you can, and simply start. With consistency, even small moves can make big impacts.”
13790 Bridgewater Crossings Blvd., Ste 1080, Windermere 800-558-7969 iqportfolios.com
If you’re looking to ‘up’ your financial health, there is never a bad time to start. Andy Ortiz thinks so, too. At IQ , financial preparedness is at your disposal.
Charles Schwab began serving financial clients in 1971. And from day one, they’ve stood apart from their competition by adopting a business model based on lower costs and putting the client first.
Michael Wytiaz, Certified Financial Consultant and Independent Branch Leader for Schwab, adds to that by expanding on how they service their clients.
“We are here to service all types of clientele. No matter what their stage of life or
specific interests—retirement, wealth management, investment options—we will build a complete team of financial professionals to help them achieve their individualized goals.”
Marina Borden is a Financial Consultant at Charles Schwab who puts it simply and succinctly: “We are not salesmen. We are consultants and teachers. We can teach clients to trade for themselves if they wish. Or, we can provide guidance along a client’s financial journey.
For those who may wish to leave all the management to the experts, we have a wide range of managed products for them to choose from.”
The company maintains 24/7 presence online for clients who prefer to interact that way. “Of course,” as Marina tells us, “we are here to build relationships with our clients and faceto-face is simply a good way to start. Of course, they can do it all online. It’s easier. I get that. But in my experience, people tend to
feel more secure when we actually meet.”
There are so many ways to access the market nowadays, from online brokerages to financial consultants— and much to learn. Why not start with someone who has your best interests at heart?
Windermere & Clermont
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. schwab.com
352-404-5238
0723-3STB
When it comes to finances, it’s important to settle your goals. Charles Schwab can help.From left to right; Stephen Wytiaz, Michael Wytiaz, Marina Borden, Drew Hoppen, Christian Stanfield
After three decades spent restoring movement to thousands of bodies, Dr. Richard Smith is a true master of his craft. His head-to-toe experience treating musculoskeletal conditions equips him and his team with skills that repair limbs, lifestyles, and lives. It’s what a Smith does.
Also offering expert services on IMEs, CMEs, QTCs, and Medical Reviews. 30 + years performing IMEs 1500 + IMEs performed Deposed/Testified 100 + time Expert Medical Advisor (EMA) June 1998 – present Special Expert Witness (State of Florida)
The whole world is exhausted, and it’s killing us. Particularly me.
Last month, I walked myself into the emergency room with a blood pressure of 185/131, a screaming headache, and heart palpitations. Thankfully, it wasn’t a heart attack, although I may not be so lucky next time.
The doctor sent me home with a prescription for lisinopril and a book: Why We Sleep, by Matthew Walker.
According to both my cardiologist and the neuroscientist-turned-author, I’m seriously damaging my health—and life—by not sleeping enough.
“Sleep loss will leak down into every nook and cranny of your physiology,” he shares. “Sleep, unfortunately, is not an optional luxury. Sleep is non-negotiable.”
The book details all the ways in which sleep deprivation hurts people: it makes you more forgetful, unable to learn new things, more vulnerable to dementia, more likely to die of a heart attack, less able to fend o sickness with a strong immune system, more likely to get cancer, and it makes your body hurt more.
Lack of sleep distorts your genes and increases your overall risk of death. It disrupts the creation of
sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone and leads to premature aging.
Scared, yet? Me, too.
For the past six months, I’ve averaged ve hours of sleep a night, but not consecutively. Every two hours or so, there’s a break, whether that’s the animals (four dogs and two cats!), going to the bathroom, a racing mind, and a partner who snores.
And everyone I speak to seems to have similar issues. Sleep—both its quantity and its quality—is one of the most frequently discussed health topics. How often have you heard a friend or coworker say, “I’m exhausted, I was up half the night”?
So what can we do about it? How can we turn sleep into our superpower?
Matthew Walker has some ideas, which we’ve outlined in the sidebar (see page 56). But to keep it local, we reached out to sleep expert and hypnosis specialist Kellie Smith, owner of Winter Garden Hypnosis.
“It’s one of the most common issues that people come to me for,” says Kellie. “It’s so prevalent in our lives, in our society. And the most common culprit is stress, but we don’t always recognize it.”
From the time we are young, we are constantly adapting to stress in our lives. Whether that’s
An estimated
8% of all deaths could be attributed to poor sleep patterns.
SOURCE: ACC.org
That’s how many people are estimated to have a sleep disorder in the U.S
SOURCE: sleepfoundation.org
People with better sleep habits were
30% less likely to die for any reason.
SOURCE: ACC.org
More than 1/3 of U.S adults sleep less than seven hours per night, on average.
SOURCE: sleepfoundation.org
76% of U.S. adults with a sleep issue or disorder share a household with at least one other person who does.
SOURCE: ACC.org
school or work, health or loved ones, money or social, we store stress in our minds and bodies. And typically, it’s at night when people nally slow down enough to notice how our bodies are feeling and our minds are racing. And whatever the mind is xated on will automatically grow, and in this case, not in a good way.
“So here we are, tense, tired, sore, stressed, but we lay down, and we start internalizing the idea that we need to get some rest. We try to make ourselves go to sleep, and that’s the worst thing we can do. So the number one thing I tell everyone is to stop forcing the issue. Sleep shouldn’t be a stressful experience, so stop making it just another ‘job’ that you have to accomplish.”
Here are some of Kellie’s favorite techniques to improve sleep length and quality.
• Before going to bed, write down everything that’s on your mind. It can be things to do, people you are worried about, trips you want to take, anything that’s circling around in your mind. By writing it down, you are literally seeing it outside of your mind. Your mind doesn’t have to work to remember it because the list
Pain relief with pinpoint precision
Specialized needles stimulate muscles to relax, releasing tension associated with headaches, pinched nerves, and painful muscle and joint conditions. Dry needling di ers from acupuncture in that it’s based in Western medicine and is performed by a doctor of physical therapy.
Notice how there’s always a pill for this? A pill for that?
Pills for heart disease, diabetes, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, IBS, eczema, cancer, depression, etc. But what Big Pharma would rather you didn’t know is that the root cause of many illnesses is Chronic Inflammation, which can be controlled and/or cured by making one or more changes in lifestyle.
We specialize in getting patients off the pill mill and into healthier lifestyles. Want to reduce or eliminate all those meds you take? Want to feel better, live better, be better? And save money doing it? Call us.
exists, and it doesn’t go away. It’s very powerful.
• Elevate your legs. Unless you have heart or medical issues that prevent you from doing this, put your legs up as high as you can, even against the headboard or a wall. This triggers your parasympathetic nervous system to enter a relaxed state.
• Counting backward from 100, or even 1,000, can be very hypnotic, too.
• Practice self-hypnosis. Kellie’s favorite mindbody practice to release
tension is a combination of deep breathing and muscle tension. Take a deep breath in, hold it for several counts, and squeeze all the muscles in your body. Then release the breath slowly along with the muscles in your body. Do this at least three times, but as many as you need to start feeling calm and relaxed. Some people use a 4-5-7 technique, where you inhale for four counts, hold for ve counts, and then release for seven. Others initiate the progressive
tense-relax pattern following the line of the body—focusing your attention on your head, shoulders, and neck, moving down to your back, arms, stomach, and chest, then legs and feet. Do whatever feels most natural for you. The point is that deep breathing combined with tensing and releasing the muscles will put you into a hypnotic, meditative state of calmness.
Experiencing di culty falling or staying asleep can be frustrating. But by pay-
ing attention to your sleep patterns, you can make improvements to your routine to set yourself up for rest. If you’re consistently having trouble sleeping, however, you don’t have to go through it alone.
Talk to a doctor or mental health professional who can identify any potential causes of your sleep diculties, from sleep apnea to restless legs syndrome to medication-induced insomnia. Together, you may come up with coping skills or other solutions for consistent rest.
Disclaimer: The following is not a food review. To be honest, I don’t remember exactly how the food tasted; I was too busy watching my sanity slip away with my udon noodles.
Let’s start from the beginning: It’s a Tuesday night. I’m in Winter Garden Village, parked in a lot adjacent to Volcano Hot Pot. I wanted a discreet, clear view of the entrance so I could see my date before he saw me. (Why, I don’t know. Maybe so I could mow him down if he cat shed me.)
I have no excuse to be this nervous. We’d already been talking on the phone for a week or two when we decided we liked each other
enough to meet in person. He suggested dinner, preferably somewhere more adventurous than traditional sit-down. I told him this new place that just opened up serves hot pot, which I understood as a sort of oneman Stone Soup situation. Getting a cute little pot of broth to ll with anything you want? Sounds like a nice, simple meal that I couldn’t possibly overcomplicate.
He was totally game, so I sent him the address, we set the date, and now I’m sitting in my car plotting to run him over before he even gets here.
Breathe, Rheya. I recognize him walking to the door and work up the nerve to step out and meet him.
expend some nervous energy at the bu et table.
As I reach for a plate, I see a stack of soup spoons. I’ll need one of those, surely. Oh, there are sauce cups, too. I’ll want sauce to, uh, add to the soup? To dip stu into? How do you dip soup? I brush it o , certain it’ll all make sense when I get to the bu et.
I peruse the wide variety of ingredients—many I recognized and a few I absolutely did not—and I don’t know where to begin. How do I nd out which ones work well together? How much should I get in one sitting? Is that something I’m supposed to just know?
You’re ne.
And for the moment, I was ne. He’s great at making conversation, and I’m great at pretending my skin isn’t melting o , so our initial greeting is mercifully unawkward.
We’re seated in one of the booths, which feels a bit like being seated at a kitchen stove. Six square burners are situated around a round grill, complete with its own cute little range hood. The server explained how everything works, but I’m still too in my own head to pay much attention. It’s not like there’s much to understand about soup.
We pick our broth, the server is o , and I’ve already sprung from my seat to
It was here, in the middle of the bu et line, that I realize I have no idea what I’m doing.
What the hell do I put in this thing? Surely the answer is “anything.” That’s the whole point of hot pot, right? I mean, you can’t do a bu et wrong. But you also kind of can, if you don’t know you’re not supposed to drizzle gravy on your coleslaw.
You’re ne, Rheya. I shake the thoughts from my head. Just pick normal stu .
I gingerly stack my plate with my best guesses at “normal stu ”: Bok choy, bean sprouts, a brick of udon, a few of these long, fat mushrooms, a couple lobster lumps, some fried
bread, a jenga block of krabmeat, exactly two shrimps. All deeply normal choices that normal people make.
Once my plate is full, I arrive at the sauce bar and immediately realize I did this the wrong way around. I carefully nest the sauce cup in the middle of the plate and ladle garlic sauce into it—a delicate operation. Maybe I should have set my food down rst.
By the time I return to the table, both my soup and my nerves have come to a rolling boil. I grab my tongs and start chucking things into the soup like bath toys, until I glance over to my date. He sat down way before I did, and yet he’s got a plate full of stu he hasn’t put in his pot yet.
He said he’s had hot pot before, so he probably knows what he’s doing. I could ask him, but asking questions on a rst date is, of course, unacceptable. Instead I watch as he scoops one thing out with the metal soup ladle (wait, so what is this spoon for? as it nishes cooking and
So this isn’t really a “soup,” I surmise. It’s more like a liquid cookout. All well and good if you have even the barest instinct for how long stu takes to cook. Not so much if you consult Google every time you hardboil an egg.
My eyes icker around the table searching for some kind of reference sheet, but nd nothing of the sort. I make a mental note to suggest one if I ever wrote about this place in The Local
“You’ll want to put your mushrooms in now,” a distant voice snaps me back into my body. I look up, realizing it came from across the table. “They’ll take a while to cook. Your udon is probably done, though.”
“Oh, OK,” I say, my smile failing to mask the trepidation in my voice. I add the mushrooms and begin scooping out the udon — or trying to. The noodles are much bigger than I anticipated and keep slipping out of my grasp, as if begging me to make a metaphor about them.
As I continue to be outmaneuvered by noodles, I feel my face ush and the lump in my throat build. Breathe, I remind myself
again. You’re —
I’m not ne.
This isn’t “ ne.” None of this is ne. I’m freaking out about meeting a guy I’ve already met and I’ve managed to be overwhelmed by soup and there’s no reason to make noodles this big and why do I have this spoon?
“I’m sorry,” I say, aware that I’m in visible distress. “This really doesn’t have anything to do with you—”
“Rheya,” he cuts through my apology, almost with a chuckle. “You’re ne.”
There’s something comforting about hearing someone else say it. A breath enters my lungs a little easier and leaves a little steadier. Maybe I am ne.
“Hey, don’t forget your mushrooms.”
“Oh, right.”
What I learned from trying hot pot for the rst time on a rst date was vefold.
First: Do not try something for the rst time on a rst date.
Second: Research new food before you go ordering it in public.
Third: Park in a discreet spot so you can see your date before they see you.(This might be bad advice.)
Fourth: It’s OK to not be an instant expert at something you try. People who know what they’re doing are happy to help you.
Finally: when in doubt, don’t take the spoon.
Getting a cute little pot of broth to fill with anything you want?
14195 W. Colonial Dr., Winter Garden / 407-877-0050 gochijapanesekitchen.com
Since 2007, Gochi Japanese Kitchen has been providing Winter Garden with the highest-quality Japanese favorites. Raw a la carte options like nigiri, sashimi, and rolls, plus uniquely crafted noodles, yakiniku and yakiyasai bbq grill options. Need space for a special event? Ask about our private dining room and catering options!
121 S. Boyd St / 407-730-3212 / pammiesammies.com
Feed the Soul. Craft with Love. Serve from the Heart. That’s the record-setting recipe behind Pammie’s Sammies, a fun sandwich space with funk woven into its atmosphere and baked into every dish. With food that is thoughtfully sourced, earth-friendly, and tastefully adventurous, our menu pairs old family recipes with tasty trends, all to the soundtrack of classic tunes and conversation among friends.
13770 W. Colonial Dr., Winter Garden / 407-347-5091 pokebygochi.com
Poke (pronounced poh-kay) is the bowl of the moment, and no one does it better than Gochi. This fast casual concept by the owners of Gochi Japanese Kitchen uses all the same, high quality ingredients as its sister location, only in a one-bowl concept. Choose from chef crafted options or customize your own with a variety of colorful sauces, piles of crunchy toppings, and a white rice, brown rice, or lettuce base. Always fresh, always your way.
HOURS
Mon-Thu 11am-7pm Fri 11am-8pm Sat 10am-7pm
ORDER ONLINE HOURS
Mon-Sat 11:30AM-7:30PM
HOURS
Mon 11am-6pm
Tue-Thu 11am-8pm
Fri 11am-8:30pm Sat 10:30am-8:30pm
16112 Marsh Rd #417, Winter Garden / 407-654-6625
CaribbeanSunshineBakery.net
Want to take a trip to the islands tonight for dinner? You absolutely can, because sunshine is just around the corner. Caribbean Sunshine Bakery is locally owned and features authentic Jamaican and Caribbean dishes, including beef patties, jerked chicken, oxtail, curried goat, and brown stew chicken are all on the menu. All of it scrumptious, home-cooked comfort food that tastes like paradise.
HOURS
Mon-Sat 11am-9pm Sun 11am-8pm
1041 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden / 407-554-3622 carierasfreshitalian.com
If there’s two things most people can agree on, it’s that a hearty plate of pasta is always a good choice, and the best place to get that fix is Cariera’s. Heavy with Italian tradition, Cariera’s features timeless favorites, such as spaghetti and meatballs to chicken Saltembocca, white Cacciatore to Eggplant Parmigiana. There’s even a lite menu featuring Keto versions of your Italian favorites! Whether celebrating a special occasion or simply feeding the family, Cariera’s strives to make every guest feel comfortable enough to laugh out loud, reminisce, and indulge.
750 W. Desoto St, Clermont / 321-430-BEER (2337)
clermontbrewingcompany.com
Tue-Thu 3-10pm Fri-Sat 11:30am-12am Sun 11am-10pm
HAPPY HOUR
Wed & Thu 3-6pm HOSTING
It’s a brewery. It’s an eatery. It’s home to a rotating selection of handcrafted and seasonal brews for every taste. It’s where artisanal dining creations from sushi to smoked brisket to pizza tantalize a wide variety of passionate palates. But more than any of that, Clermont Brewing Co. — CBC to its fans — is proudest of being the place where the community comes together.
ORLANDO 1580 Buena Vista Drive / 407-917-7440 stksteakhouse.com/venues/orlando/
STK is “not your daddy’s steakhouse”—it’s high-energy dining, combining the quality of a traditional steakhouse with a Vibe Dining atmosphere. Delectable cuisine and upscale cocktails meet chic décor and an in-house DJ to create a memorable fine dining experience. The menu features reimagined classic American cuisine for lunch, brunch and dinner, with traceable, ethically sourced beef that produces the highest quality craveable steaks.
99 W. Plant St. Winter Garden / 407-905-9917 / mythaiblossom.com
Your love of Thai will blossom among fragrant curries, silky noodles, stir fries, and grilled meats. Authentic, flavorful and always cooked to order Thai Blossom o ers some of the tastiest cuisine in central Florida, right on Plant Street. And plenty of options for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals make it the perfect choice for workday lunch, dinner dates, and special celebrations.
RECOGNIZED FOR DELICIOUS, A-GRADE THAI CUISINE.
owadays, I spend the majority of my time looking at a screen. At work, I look at my Big Screen and frown, and at home I look at my Little Screen and honestly also frown. But while I am technically considered a “digital native,” I wasn’t born with a keyboard under my thumbs.
I grew up in that tender transitional era of technology, back when it was all a crapshoot. Back when our only virtual assistant was Clippy and we still had to type www. at the front of everything like troglodytes. Back when guring stu out on paper was still more e cient than waiting until you could get to a computer and log into CompuServe.
So, I spent most of my formative years holding a pencil in my hand. (Pencil, not pen; I’m not ready for that kind of commitment.) Even after I learned to type, I preferred taking notes the old-fashioned way; somehow it made the information feel more “real.” More importantly, you can’t doodle in the margins of Word.
And let me tell you, I was a proli c doodler; I lined the margins of notebooks and handouts with owers and cows and robots and those cool ‘S’ things from the ’00s and comic strips featuring Steev the MutantLizard-Dragon-Gecko (original character do not steal). It made my pages a little crowded, but I always did well on my assignments, and that’s all teachers really cared about
Hah! Just kidding. If there’s one thing teachers hate more than bad handwriting — every grade, every subject — it’s doodling. I stopped hearing a word about my handwriting by seventh grade. But doodle-shaming? That followed me through college.
Looking back, I think it was a coping mechanism. I was able to focus better and stop getting lost in daydreams when I had a pencil to paper. Ironic, because the only thing my teachers saw was evidence that I wasn’t paying attention. And some of them took that shit personally, sometimes going out of their way to discourage me.
God, I’ll never forget this one day in fth grade. We were out at recess when my teacher came across my doodle journal. I’d left it open on my desk. He looked through the many pages, years of drawings — and promptly tore out every last one.
When I got back from the playground, I found them stapled together on my desk, along with a note: If he saw even one more drawing in his classroom, I would nd myself in the principal’s o ce. I was 12. He made sure I knew what a nuisance my art was to him. I was devastated. But I was not deterred. And look at me now, right? I do this stu for a living. All that doodling was preparing me for adulthood way more than Earth/ Space Science ever could. Nowadays, my entire livelihood takes place on a screen, but I still do all my scrawling and sketching the old-fashioned way, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. But who knows? Maybe someday, Google Docs will nally open their margins
