As I sit down to write this, I’m reminded of a line in one of my favorite songs of all time - “Once In A Lifetime” by The Talking Heads - when David Byrne says, “And you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here…?” It’s pretty wild to look back at the bumpy, treacherous road that landed me in this spot right here, right now, introducing myself to a community of beautiful souls who are deeply committed to health, wellness and transformation. I never would have guessed I’d be here, although when I really reflect, it makes absolute perfect sense, like everything eventually does.
So, how did I get here? Well, my life looked very different just two years ago. I was working my butt off in the music industry, surrounded by energy vampires of the highest degree. Don’t get me wrong, it was a lot of fun, too. I live and breathe music and live experiences, and I had some truly extravagant experiences, but the universe had other plans for me. To back up a bit, I had a history of debilitating depression. There were far more days I wished I could be dead than alive. This began seasonally and situationally, but it didn’t end there. I tried multiple types of therapy and several medications, but nothing moved the needle on my mental health. There was something wrong with me and no one knew what it was. Although I spent more nights than I want to admit researching how to quickly and effectively end it all, there was still a persistence inside of me to find an answer. I’ll save you from all the grueling details of that part of my journey, but fast forward to that answer.
I got a diagnosis. I learned that what I was experiencing made perfect sense for what was actually happening in my body. I had an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto’s, which often comes equipped with depression, apathy, low energy and other symptoms of that nature. I was so relieved to finally know what was causing me to feel as bad as I had for the last four years, but I was also terrified. This news changed just about everything for me. I would go on to change my diet numerous times, adopt intensive healing protocols, work with holistic healers and coaches, read everything I could get my hands on about Hashimoto’s, nutrition, biohacking, wellness, etc., and finally, after six months of sneaking breaks to research health at work, I left my job, and essentially my life, to start a new one.
At first, my new life had no real agenda other than learning and healing. I traveled, went on retreats and enrolled in a nutrition certification program to arm myself with more knowledge and practical tools. The information I was absorbing was life changing - from nutritional science to personal development practices to spirituality and energy systems. I started meeting more people in the health and wellness space, and I found my tribe.
I had to figure out how I was going to make a living out of this. Having worked in events for 10 years, I wanted to keep that part of me alive and apply it to my newfound passion. Human connection has always been a top value for me. So, I started a transformational events company to create containers for people to heal and expand. I started manifesting incredible, inspiring clients and would work with them to produce their workshops and retreats. Then, upon completion of my certification program and practice hours, I launched my wellness concierge practice to offer personalized nutrition and lifestyle consulting. Everything was lining up.
Fast forward again - I met the amazing Kori of Revamp Retreats. We chatted on the phone after connecting in a Facebook group. We later met up in person and quickly realized we had a similar vision for our businesses and our lives. The communication was sporadic at first, and eventually the pace picked up and we started working on various projects together. It was so fulfilling to be working alongside another person, not to mention a totally magical person! I never wanted to fully work alone because I’m quite extroverted, and Kori was looking for more help with retreats. One thing led to another and we decided to join forces. So that brings me to now. I’m extremely grateful for all the hardships that guided me here, and I’m happy to share that my Hashimoto’s is in remission and I am no longer depressed. Rather, I look forward to each day and love my life! Functional nutrition approaches, retreats and mindset work saved me.
Kori and I are now working on planning lots of transformational experiences for you next year and beyond, and I really hope you can join us! Feel free to reach out to me if you or a loved one is struggling and looking for answers. I am fully committed to spreading wellness and helping people optimize their lives. Let’s revamp together.
You can find me at mayajules.co or @my.oh.maya on Instagram. I can't wait to connect!
xx Maya