Winter 2018: The Matter-of-fact Issue | Chispa Magazine

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Chispa!

magazine

Eyes of Wonder New Year Ph oto Essays

A Matter of Wor ds Annie F. Downs

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Cri sty ?Code Red? Ni ck el , Tel l i ng Truth : Fash i on I ndustry, A meri ca?s Nex t Top M odel , #M eToo,

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I N THI S I SSUE Editor's Letter 06 Your St rat egy Professional 08 Mompreneur 12 Windy Artist 16 SENIORita 20 Rel at ionships Once Upon a Choice 24 Conversat ions Truth Be Told: America?s Next Top Model, # MeToo, and the Fashion Industry 28 She's Got Chispa Jellaine Dee 34 Hannah Payne 35

Feat ures Are You Totally Stressed Out? 36 The No. 1 Weight-Loss Myth That's Keeping You Fat 40 How East Asian Education Will Help Your Child Excel In School 42 Opioid Crisis: The Nation's Growing Opioid Epidemic Is Presenting Workplace Challenges 44 Cover St ory Trekking With Annie F. Down 60 Cover Photo by Micah Kandros

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A Bet t er You Fashion + Style 6o Health + Beauty 74 Smart + Homey 78 Travel + Culture 80 Through The Lens 90 Bookworm 112 Must Haves 116 Mi Chispa 119

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Edit or-in-Chief Mavian Arocha-Rowe

Execut ive Edit or Mia Guerra

Managing Edit ors Paola Ramirez and Milo SenallĂŠ

Lif est yl e Edit or James MacLean

Associat e Edit or Lucia Rodriguez

Creat ive Direct or Christian Ruben

Direct or of Sal es Scott Rowe

Writ ers Audrey Epstein Lisa Taranto Schiffer Kate Harveston Daniel Henderson Leah Darrow Chris McMahan Maggie Sabatier-Smith Cristy ?Code Red? Nickel Caleb Edward Dr. Cornelius Grove Dr. Deborah Happ

Advisory Board

Advisory Board

Johnny Arocha Pam Black Mario Luis

Paola Ramirez Vivian Reina Maggie Sabatier-Smith

For information on advertising and/ or subscriptions, call 404.793.7743 or email sales@chispamagazine.com.

Editorial questions, submissions, and/ or pitches, email editor@chispamagazine.com.

Vol. 4, Issue 1 Š Chispa Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Photo credits are not given to improperly identified photos.

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EDITOR'S LETTER

Ti me mtboe r Re me

As I was cleaning out the basement this past weekend I found my only copy of Vallarta Today Daily Newspaper from April 19, 2004. On page seven, the writer included a quote from a previous editor?s letter from 2004. And then she wrote the following, ?It?s an amazing journey in a magazine, it?s written by an enlightened alien, who has landed here to take everyone to the place where freedom and creativity and being exactly how you want to be is how you should be and it?s a fabulous world.?

This newspaper article was published right after finishing the first issue for a famed Miami publication. But, let me take you a step further: The morning after ?literally? finishing the issue, I was on my way to work, driving north on the Turnpike when I was hit by a drunk driver and rolled over three lanes with my then Ford Sport Explorer. This accident came during at time when I began to question my purpose at this magazine, which of course, let me to question my purpose for my life. Many in my position would have enjoyed the nightlife and all its tantalizing spirits, however, something inside of me rebuked it.

Should I have been insulted that I was identified as an alien? Actually? it was a praise and I got the answer to my questions. It was a confirmation on my purpose. You see, as a lover of Christ, I somewhat feel out of place in this world. The Psalmist said, "I am a stranger on earth" (Psalm 119:19a). The phrase, "wherever I lodge," in verse 54, literally means: "in my temporary house." According to Hebrews 11, the "heroes of the faith" "admitted they were aliens and strangers on earth" (verse 13). Fast forward to yesterday. My best friend called to encourage me. She knows my parents, who are very close to my heart, just moved 12 hours away. She knows that my son underwent two surgeries four days ago. Because of these life trials, I have procrastinated, one more time with another Chispa app edition.

And, here she was reminding me that each app edition comes with a life trial. Wowzers I thought. She was right. But, why?

Going back through my editor?s letters I came across a journey of seasons: fear, worry, stress, death of a child, anxiety, depression, and now I am trying to be still; trying to

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remember how many times and in how many trials my Heavenly Father has come through. Going back one more time, Facebook just reminded me that in 2011 I wrote the following in my status: ?Jesus portrayed struggle as the entry point into the Christian life, stressing that it would be a daily reality of our faith...? Is this just a coincidence or fuel to spark my current season of remembrance?

Today, Vallarta Today sits on top of my desk as a reminder. Today, I recur the words my best friend said before we hung up: A calling doesn?t make you happy, it?s meant to make you holy. C

Mavi an

Editor's Letter 7

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Four Steps to Hi t th e Reset Button w i th Your Team i n 2018.

Your Strategy | Professional 9

The New Year brings with it the opportunity for change, growth, and renewal. We commit to accomplish new goals or resolve to finally complete old ambitions. Most of us feel more optimistic at the beginning of the year. New Year?s Resolutions are expected. Gym memberships go through the roof in January.

The ?fresh start? feel of each new year is infectious.

What if we could start over with our teams as well? What if we could take the old patterns of dysfunction, of gossip and infighting, or cliques and politics of 2017, and turn them into high-performing team behaviors in 2018? Toxic team behaviors destroy employee morale and engagement, stifles creativity, and stakes personal agendas above team or company goals.

So, how do you reset with your team? Follow these four steps: Diagnose t he current st at e of your t eam. You need to know what?s working and what?s not on your team before you do a full reset. Start your diagnosis by identifying the type of team you currently have. From our research, we know all teams can be categorized into one of the following four team types.

Saboteur Teams: The worst of the worst? team Hell. Distrust, politics, infighting, and gossip are hallmarks of Saboteur Teams.

Win-lose thinking and survival tactics take

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precedence over shared goals.

Benign Saboteur Teams: What team? These risk-averse groups are characterized by lack of interaction, support, and alignment. Typical characteristics include a ?you stay in your lane while I stay in mine? mentality. While team members don?t actively hurt one another, they don?t do much to help either.

Situational Loyalist Teams: Good, but not great teams. Pockets of trust, collaboration, and support exist, but not with all team members. There is more focus on keeping the peace than speaking up, mining for conflict, or driving peer to peer accountability.

Loyalist Teams: Extraordinary teams. On these highest-performing teams, all members feel accountable to shared and aligned goals, and provide honest, candid feedback. They actively work to make others better, trust one another unconditionally, and are loyal to each other, the team, and the organization.

How would you characterize your team? Do you need to move from good to great? Is your biggest issue trust? Are you missing shared goals? Reflect on your team leadership practices and talk with your team to analyze the current state. You can also take a simple and free online team assessment; download a Loyalist Team checklist for a more accurate view.

Set your int ent ion and own your rol e. As a team leader, you have an exponential impact on the state of your team. If you want a team reset, announce your intention to the team.

Take ownership for your role in allowing, or not adequately dealing with, the dysfunction.

Create a compelling view of a better work life with a stronger team. Demonstrate commitment by setting up time and resources to develop the team. Loyalist Teams are built over time and with great intention.

Creat e t eam norms. Toxic teams have learned bad habits. Without focused effort to transform this destructive behavior into new, more productive practices, the lingering resentment and negative patterns will reemerge, even with good intention. Work with your team to identify 5 ? 7 new norms of behavior. If you have a Saboteur team, you might want to start with the basics such as: We will: Extend trust and assume positive intent with each other; Talk to each other, not about each other; Respect each other and listen openly to others?views.

If you have a good team you?re trying to make great, you may be ready for more advanced norms around candor, feedback and accountability, such as: We will: Provide candid feedback to each other; Put the toughest issues on the table

and talk honestly about them; We will hold each other accountable to achieving our goals and living our team norms.

Once you agree to team norms, set up check-ins, reminders, and accountability to make norms real and meaningful for the team.

Set t eam goal s. On Loyalist Teams, all team members have skin in the game. They are committed to shared goals? not just their own objectives and agendas. They work hard to balance ego and personal ambition with team or company needs. You can build this type of joint commitment by developing shared team goals. Help team members see the bigger picture through exploring how work intersects and aligns. Share each team member?s goals with the whole team to look for gaps, overlaps, and commonalities. Enlist your team members in setting two or three team-level goals they can all support. When team members engage in planning and problem-solving work together, they practice being a Loyalist Team. They learn the mindset and skills they need to sustain teamwork.

They learn the power of joint accountability and commitment.

The New Year is the perfect time to reset your team. Once you start, you are likely to see improvements immediately. Be intentional in your efforts? and persistent? and you?ll reap the rewards. C Text by Audrey Epstein Photo by Raw Pixel

Your Strategy | Professional 11

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Wh y Fi ndi ng The Ri ght Ment or Can Boost Your Success Your Strategy | Mompreneur 13

Mentors can be incredibly important to our lives for many reasons. They are sounding boards and champions for our success. They are people to learn from and share with, and can become some of the most important relationships in our lives.

This past summer, I helped plan a successful Atlanta women?s event that left me and the 200-plus attendees feeling absolutely inspired. As I looked around the room that evening, I saw the women and the handful of men who attended sitting on the edge of their seats. Empowerment and energy filled the room.

As a woman who has been fortunate to have had a mentor early in my career as a financial advisor, I still find value in the guidance and support she shared. I?ve also been part of a women?s networking group for nearly seven years. What started as business networking has turned into trusted and dear friendships.

We each bring a different perspective to the table, and also discuss how we can help the next generation of women by serving as mentors to them.

The word ?mentor? is often used as a verb that means to advise or train someone, such as a younger colleague. I value using it as a noun, describing someone who believes in you and has your best interests at heart. A mentor is also someone who can show you a

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different perspective, share how he or she made it through a difficult time and illustrate how they conquered their fears.

January is National Mentoring Month, and it gives me the opportunity to reflect again on the importance of my mentor and on being one to others. However, as important as it is, finding a mentor is not something that happens automatically. Here are three steps to consider that might help you find the right mentor for you: Est abl ish your vision.

Take some time to sit down and think about your own goals. Having a good idea of where you?re going can help you come up with key questions to ask yourself in searching for a mentor. What qualities and skills does he or she have? Are you looking for someone in your current organization who can help you grow and advance professionally, or is this person perhaps outside your organization and you?d like them to offer guidance both professionally and personally?

Be proact ive.

Once you have a clear vision for where you?re going and what qualities you need your mentor to have to complement that, be deliberate in seeking that person and establishing relationships with influencers through networking. When you feel you have found an ideal mentor, don?t be afraid to step

out of your comfort zone and share that you?re looking to build a relationship that you hope will provide you some guidance.

Be prepared for whatever response you receive. If it is no, don?t take it personally and keep looking.

Add val ue.

Successful relationships are built on both giving and receiving, and mentoring is no different. Although you may feel that you don?t have much to offer your mentor in terms of knowledge or experience, you can provide value by supporting his or her initiatives. For instance, if he or she is speaking at an event, you could share that information with your contacts to help spread the word.

As you get to know your mentor more, you will likely have a better sense of the kinds of things that would be genuinely helpful and meaningful to them.

As we journey along our paths of success, in our own ways? whether it?s emotional, financial, intellectual or spiritual, or all of them combined? consider how mentoring can make an impact. Seek a mentor or be a mentor. It starts with a relationship of trust that can help enhance all aspects of your life. C Text by Lisa Taranto Schiffer Photo by Raw Pixel

Your Strategy | Mompreneur 15

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Smal l Hacks t o Reor ganize Your Lif e and Boost Your Pr oduct iv it y Your Strategy | Windy Artist 17

The first few weeks of a new year is a great time to be inspired to change your life.

Whether that means making resolutions about eating better and exercising more or spending more time treating yourself, there are lots of ways to improve your life.

For many people, this means focusing on their productivity.

It?s all too easy to get lazy and not meet deadlines or procrastinate. When you?re unorganized, you can be late on work without even meaning to be. Put a stop to that this year by checking out some easy tips to get more organized.

Once you have everything neatly put away and ready to go, your productivity will skyrocket. By just trying a few new ideas, you?ll never have to add organization to your New Year?s resolution list ever again.

1. Invest in a Label er You may feel dorky while you?re in the checkout line, but buying yourself a labeler makes life so much easier. Not only can you label those endless plastic containers in your basement or attic, but you can also name files and folders in your office. You?ll be able to quickly locate anything you might need on a project, whether you?re working on paperwork or pulling holiday decorations out for the new season.

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2. Learn How t o Del egat e To delegate tasks means to put them in order based on importance, due date and project size. People who are multitaskers find this easy, but others may not. Take a minute to learn how to delegate so you not only know how to organize tasks for yourself, but for others too. Taking on a leadership role in your workplace could help launch your career, all because you wanted to get more organized.

3. Use a Whit eboard It may not seem like it, but buying a whiteboard can help you not only get organized and productive, but also stay that way. You?ll find that having a visual, colorful to-do list somewhere obvious in your living space? like a bedroom or living room wall? helps to keep you from forgetting your tasks. Whiteboards have been proven to triple your productivity, so get one and try it out for yourself to see if it can make a difference in your life.

4. Have a Purge Day Spring cleaning doesn?t have to happen just once a year! Whether you?re more focused on organizing your work space or living space, having a day to just clean things out will improve how you?re able to mentally keep track of everything. You?ll make room for your new organizational processes and your

mind will more easily get used to doing things a new way.

5. Do What t he Pros Do If all else fails, the best thing you can do is get advice from people who are already good at what you?re trying to accomplish. This means you can chat it up with someone in your life who you admire for their organization or how much they get done. You can also read up on some tips from the pros if you don?t have anyone to talk to. No matter how you get your advice, people who know what they?re doing will be able to help you turn your new efforts into a lifestyle.

You don?t have to spend years working away to increase your productivity. In fact, there?s no wait time at all if you attempt to organize the areas of your life that are cluttered. This means doing things like cleaning out your desk, labeling what you have and taking advice from people who excel at being productive. Once you get in the habit of being organized, you?ll watch your productivity rise while your stress falls away. C Text by Kate Harveston Photo by Jazmin Quaynor

Your Strategy | Windy Artist 19

ey es of wonder

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SENIORitas, have been there and done that.

We have experienced life?s joys, sorrows, challenges and absolutely get it, ?? there is nothing new under the sun,? says Ecclesiastes 1:9. Our family traditions fill our calendars and we look forward to the familiar. With an eye toward legacy we encourage (sometimes not so gently) our children and grandchildren to walk in our footsteps.

Not! While some of this is true, an ?authentic?

SENIORita is actively pursuing God?s purpose and living a life of significance.

Passion; that?s what I?m talking about. A SENIORita is passionate about all living things and recognizes it?s not over until it?s over.

Let?s consider the words by Pastor Phil:?I?m not retired. I?m re-FIREd!?

A New Set of Eyes If you are thinking? 2018? another year of the same ol?same ol?, then I invite you to consider a fresh new mindset. What if you were to embrace life as an adventure?

Adventure for me represents the unexpected.

It can be as simple as meeting a new friend for coffee or as intricate as a cross-country trip in our motor home. What if you were to look for the miraculous in everyday living? people, places, things? What if you approached life with eyes of wonder? with a teachable spirit, expecting the joy of fresh

new life lessons?

Thursday Af t ernoons wit h Mima My grandchildren are a fresh source of the unexpected. Thursday afternoons with Mima began with Adam 10 years ago. We would plan adventures together? chasing butterflies, playing bouncy ball, stuffing French fries in his Fisher Price farm house. ?Let?s go to the bridge Mima,? Adam would say as he looked forward to riding his tricycle there. This small bridge overlooking a small creek was wide enough for two vehicles and the length of a truck. Insignificant for most adults, but to Adam it represented adventure.

Sammi came along two years later and this little girl added a fresh new perspective. Talk about passion! This child took enthusiasm to a whole new level. I was now witness to big brother paying-it-forward, teaching Sammi how we did things. Sammi, a future SENIORita with her own ideas, soon began to teach us how we ?should? did things.

My Brand-New Leaf Bl ower ?What do you want for Christmas this year?? my husband asked. I asked for a battery-operated leaf blower. What? After years of training him to buy me personal gifts and not appliances, he hesitated. I smiled and imagined him thinking ?This is a trap. I?ll disappoint her if I buy this.? My son was brave enough to buy it for me. What fun! I?ve used

Your Strategy | SENIORita 21

leaf blowers before? gas-operated and electric? but this one, well it brings me joy. I have two acres of leaves to play with!

In His Service Learn from Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her life story was never about her; it pointed to Jesus.

Her mission was to witness the glory of the Son of God from His birth until His last breath.

A willing servant, she trusted God and obeyed His call. What would it look like if we allowed God to work through us? If suddenly our joys came from observing the miraculous in our everyday lives? A new beginning, starting over, reinventing yourself, a life makeover? call it what you choose, we are meant to live a life of purpose.

As I often say, ?Someone is waiting for you to show up in the fullness of your calling.? To do this we must be curious, expectant, child-like, adventurous, creative and most of all prayerful.

What is God saying to you about 2018? How will your actions affect the people, the landscape of your life? Who needs for you to pay-it-forward? sharing wisdom, lessons learned? Go! Go be about the Father?s business. Ask Him to take you to your bridge.

Repeat after me: ?Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.? ? Jeremiah 33:3 C Text by Maggie Sabatier-Smith Photos by Colin Walsh

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Your Strategy | SENIORita 23

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once upon a ch oi ce Relationships 25

Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of all Americans believe in the concept of soul-mates and the number is growing, with 79 percent of idealistic under-30s in love with the idea of a ?perfect someone?.

white horse, rescue you and whisk you off into the sunset of happily ever after? ?Is that really what you desire? How small do you have to make yourself in order to need someone to come and rescue you?? Heer asks.

But according to relationship expert and international speaker, Dr. Dain Heer, the idea of soul-mates is a fantasy? and it is ruining your chance to experience real love and happiness.

?When you conclude that you are looking for Prince Charming, you stop asking the questions that would allow you to create what you really desire. You?ve got to start asking, ?What would be a great relationship for me??Not for anyone else, but for me.

Get clear on what would actually work for you, regardless of whether anyone else likes it or not? Heer advises.

?Did you grow up watching Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty? Have you spent your life searching for the fairy tale relationship believing it must exist somewhere and feeling the disappointment of never finding it?? Heer asks. ?Well, how many people do you know who live happily ever after? Probably not many because fairy tales don?t actually work and trying to live one is not actually living? he warns.

Heer, bestselling author and relationship expert, transforms lives with simple-yet-profound tools. Below, he lists three Fairy Tale myths that disempower and destroy relationships and offers the tools that empower you to create a relationship that works: Prince/ Princess Charming Have you inherited the idea that one day Prince Charming; Mr. or Mrs. Right; the one who can do-no-wrong will come riding in on a

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Fixer Upper Have you ever found someone and thought that maybe, with your help they can change?

That you can somehow fix them? ?People do this crazy thing where they think they are going to fix someone up and turn them into something better? something they think that person should be,? Heer remarks. ?If you treat your partner as a fixer-upper, at some point he / she is going to rebel against that, because nobody wants to be constantly told in front of others that they were less-than when you met them.

You?ve got to be willing to be with the person you?re with; not try to turn them into what you think they ought to be? he adds.

Soul Mat e Are you looking for your soul mate, your significant other, your twin flame, your other half? ?If you are looking for your soul mate, the perfect partner, then you are ultimately going to fail in that endeavor. And then you will start judging yourself? you start looking for what?s wrong with you that keeps you from finding ?the One?? Heer warns.

He advises that, instead of looking for the perfect partner, you can start asking questions. You can ask, ?If I was with this person, what would my life look like? If I was with this person, what would my life be like in five years, in 10 years, in 20 years?

When you ask these questions, you will start to perceive what your life would be like in this relationship. Now, does that match what you truly desire? If not, no matter how much you have decided that they are perfect for you, it won?t be your best choice,? he advises. ?Fairy tales often begin with, ?Once upon a time,?? he says. ?Instead, if we chose to function from ?Once upon a choice?, our relationships would work out a whole lot better. It?s the active choosing of a relationship that creates something greater, rather than a wishing that everything will work itself out perfectly.? C Interview by Mia Guerra Photo by Carly Rae Hobbins

Your Strategy | Relationships 27

TRUTH BE TOLD: America?s Next Top Model, # MeToo, and the Fashion Industry Chispa Magazine

Conversations | 29

It?s no secret that news of sexual assault and harassment is running rampant in today?s society. It seems that whenever you open social media or watch the news, there?s another report of shocking allegations, and it seems that this is only the tip of the iceberg.

As a woman and a Christian, I watched in horror as countless young women (and men) stepped forward to share their stories of # MeToo, and I couldn?t help but wonder.

How did we get here? How do we move forward? And, how do we heal?

I?m no stranger to the objectification of women, as much as I wish that weren?t true.

After my time on America?s Next Top Model, I arrived in New York ready to make my dreams of becoming a model a reality. My picture was still plastered on a billboard in Times Square, and I was yearning to find acceptance anywhere I could. I wanted to prove my worth to the world? and to myself? and it wasn?t long until I got the call that I?d booked a job posing for an international magazine.

wanted, I felt like an object. I felt used. I hated the countless eyes staring at my body, judging me from a whole host of unforeseen perspectives, and? standing in the limelight? I realized that my insecurities rapidly picked away at me until I had nothing left.

While the photographer kept clicking, I found myself looking down and realizing the truth: I?d become empty.

No one talks about the aftermath of being on a national reality TV show. Online trolls left comments on my beauty and my worth, and I was rapidly reduced from a human being to entertainment value.

After ANTM?s cycle, I witnessed this degradation of human worth first hand. I saw contestants promised a multitude of things if they gave something in return. Instead of value, we?d become objects.

I remember picking my outfit? a set of see-through lingerie that, quite frankly, left me humiliated? and walking across the warehouse to the photographer. He wanted me to look sexy and sultry, but I found myself feeling the opposite.

I learned first-hand of the lies of the beauty industry? the idea that life will be glamorous, beautiful, and lucrative? held nothing but false hopes and manipulation. Instead of seeking to enhance existing beauty, these industries are built on our insecurities. They take advantage of our flaws to pay their bills, and we?re left feeling like everything will be perfect if I can just achieve this.

Instead of feeling worthy, beautiful, and

Perfect hair, perfect skin, perfect thighs,

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perfect style. It?s perpetuated by the belief that beauty is a status symbol rather than something that radiates from within all of us, and it leaves so many of us destroyed in its wake. This type of distorted beauty serves only to objectify women on a multitude of levels until we begin to perceive ourselves as such. And ultimately the world begins to treat us as such.

Women, however, are not objects of enjoyment. We are not here to be used and abused. We are made in Christ?s image, and that?s how we should be treated. Let?s stand firmly against these acts of moral depravity.

It is disgusting and heartbreaking to watch as countless people suffer, and it?s only when we come together to find solace and healing in Christ?s love that we are able to move on.

But how? How can we move on and move forward in a world that is crying out with pain and shame?

The first step, I believe, rests in Christ?s love for us and his purpose for our lives. We are called to love one another and treat each other with respect, and it is in this commandment that we find hope for renewal and for the future. We find our freedom in the arms of our Savior, as Galatians 4:7 reminds us, ?Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.?

As temples of the Holy Spirit, we must take

into account that which is inside our hearts and minds far more than what rests on the outside. We need to reclaim our true beauty in Christ, allowing ourselves to be free of the shackles the world uses to hold so many of us down.

It?s critical for us to remember that this toxic abuse of power which so often leads to sexual misconduct goes strongly against Christ?s example for our lives. Instead of proclaiming the words and playing a pretty part for the sake of others, we need to embrace God?s purpose for our lives in an all-consuming way.

It?s not enough to go through the motions.

I think Matthew 23:27 puts it best: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness."

It?s time for us to stop focusing on the external and clean out these horrible behaviors from society, from the Church, and from our lives.

We?re told from a young age that we can do anything we want with our lives. The emphasis is on what we want, but? as Christians? we?re called to a radically different path. Instead of seeking the answers in ourselves, we must turn to God. It?s only in Him that we can find comfort and joy, and it?s only in His love that we can find beauty and healing in an increasingly broken world. C Text by Leah Darrow

Conversations | 31

book. w e n y M

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Me an d my f amil y.

Conversations | 33

SHE'S GOT CHI SPA Jellaine Deeis a successful female entrepreneur and founder of Cherry Blooms, international beauty-hero brand that creates proprietary products for women on-the-go.

She has an incredible story of her journey to success? Jellaine left her corporate advertising job in Australia, moved to the US with nothing but her baby in one hand and a suitcase on the other to attend a beauty trade show. In a few short years, she turned Cherry Blooms into a brand with multi-million turnover. She has notable accomplishments under her belt, including nominee of Cosmopolitan?s Entrepreneur of the Year and winner of Telstra's Young Women?s Business Award.

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J ellaine deeis

SHE'S GOT CHI SPA

H annah

payne

In her junior year of college, Hannah Payne secretly "studied abroad" in Florence? little did her parents know, she was taking drawing and sewing classes to further her passion into a tangible business. She volunteered at a domestic violence shelter and realized that she wanted to create a business that not only supports women, but also gives back to them.

To this day, a portion of every sale from Luba goes back to local women's shelters through her charity the LOVE foundation. C

She's Got Chispa 35

A re You Total l y

stressed?

Out

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You?re trying to get the kids off to school, you can?t find your cell phone, and you?re sitting in traffic. Your hypothalamus, a tiny control tower in your brain, decides to send out the order: Send in the stress hormones! These stress hormones are the same ones that trigger your body?s ?fight or flight? response.

Your heart races, your breath quickens, and your muscles ready for action. This response was designed to protect your body in an emergency by preparing you to react quickly.

But when the stress response keeps firing, day after day, it could put your health at serious risk. Dr. Sanam Hafeez is a New York City Neuropsychologist who breaks down what stress can "do" to the body.

Features 37

Respirat ory Syst em. Stress can make you breathe harder. That's not a problem for most people, but for those with asthma or a lung disease such as emphysema, getting the oxygen you need to breathe easier can be difficult. And, some studies show that an acute stress, such as the death of a loved one? can actually trigger asthma attacks, in which the airway between the nose and the lungs constrict. In addition, stress can cause the rapid breathing or hyperventilation that can bring on a panic attack in someone prone to panic attacks. Working with a psychologist to develop relaxation and breathing strategies can help.

Esophagus. When you're stressed, you may eat much more or much less than you usually do. If you eat more or different foods, or increase your use of alcohol or tobacco, you can experience heartburn or acid reflux.

Stress or exhaustion can also increase the severity of heartburn pain.

St omach. When you're stressed, your brain becomes more alert to sensations in your stomach. Your stomach can react with "butterflies" or even nausea or pain. You may vomit if the stress is severe enough. And, if the stress becomes chronic, you may develop ulcers or severe stomach pain even without ulcers.

Bowel . Stress can affect digestion, and what

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nutrients your intestines absorb. It can also affect how fast food moves through your body. You may find that you have either diarrhea or constipation.

Menst ruat ion. Stress may affect menstruation among adolescent girls and women in several ways. For example, high levels of stress may be associated with absent or irregular menstrual cycles, more painful periods and changes in the length of cycles.

Premenst rual Syndrome (PMS). Stress may make premenstrual symptoms worse or more difficult to cope with and pre-menses symptoms may be stressful for many women. These symptoms include cramping, fluid retention and bloating, negative mood (feeling irritable and "blue"), and mood swings.

Menopause. As menopause approaches, hormone levels fluctuate rapidly. These changes are associated with anxiety, mood swings, and feelings of distress. Thus menopause can be a stressor in and of itself.

Some of the physical changes associated with menopause, especially hot flashes, can be difficult to cope with. Furthermore, emotional distress may cause the physical symptoms to be worse. For example, women who are more anxious may experience an increased number of hot flashes and/ or more severe or intense hot flashes.

Sexual Desire. Women juggle personal, family, professional, financial, and a broad range of other demands across their life span.

Stress, distraction, fatigue, etc., may reduce sexual desire? especially when women are simultaneously caring for young children or other ill family members, coping with chronic medical problems, feeling depressed, experiencing relationship difficulties or abuse, dealing with work problems, etc.

Fat St orage. You can clearly correlate stress to weight gain. Part of that link is due to poor eating during stress, but the stress hormone cortisol may also increase the amount of fat tissue your body hangs onto and enlarge the size of fat cells. Higher levels of cortisol have been linked to more deep-abdominal fat? yes, belly fat. Luckily, exercise can help control stress and help keep belly fat under control.

Insomnia. Stress can cause hyperarousal, a biological state in which people just don't feel sleepy. While major stressful events can cause insomnia that passes once the stress is over, long-term exposure to chronic stress can also disrupt sleep and contribute to sleep disorders. What to do? Focus on sleep hygiene and try a stress-busting activity during the day.

Headaches. "Fight or flight" chemicals like adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol can

cause vascular changes that leave you with a tension headache or migraine, either during the stress or in the "let-down" period afterwards. Stress also makes your muscles tense, which can make the pain of a migraine worse. Beyond treating the headache itself, focus on headache-proofing your home, diet, and lifestyle in general.

Memory. Too much of the stress hormone cortisol can interfere with the brain's ability to form new memories. During acute stress, the hormone also interferes with neurotransmitters, the chemicals that brain cells use to communicate with each other.

That can make it hard to think straight or retrieve memories.

Bl ood Sugar. Stress is known to raise blood sugar, and if you already have type 2 diabetes you may find that your blood sugar is higher when you are under stress. Changing what you eat, exercising more, or adjusting medication can help to keep it under control.

One study of obese black women without diabetes found that those who produced more stress-related epinephrine when asked to recall stressful life events had higher fasting glucose and bigger blood sugar spikes than those with lower epinephrine, suggesting it might raise your risk for getting diabetes too. C Interview by Caleb Edward Photo by Gabriel Matula

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Th e No .1 w eig h t -l o ss m y t h t h a t 's k e e p i n g y o u f a t

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Cr i s t y ?Co d e Re d ? N i c k e l

t el l s a l l

Have you ever seen a fat athlete? Someone who can run marathons, but can?t seem to lose their extra weight? I know exactly what that feels like because I used to be one. After I left professional boxing, I took up century biking where we cycled 100 miles at a time. I was burning over 5000 calories at day, and yet I was still fat. Every time I pushed down on the pedals, my knees would rise up and hit the fat on my stomach. I can remember feeling totally mortified, like are you kidding

me? I couldn?t possibly exercise any harder? why was I still 20 pounds overweight?

I justified how I looked back then the same way lots of people do now. I told myself I was just a ?thick girl? or that I was ?big boned.?

No. I was fat. I wasn?t alone either. My personal training clients were experiencing the same thing. They were working out and getting really strong, but the scale wouldn?t budge. It just wasn?t fair!

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If you?re overweight, and you?re working out till you want to puke, and you?re not seeing any progress, you are not alone. You?ve just fallen for the biggest weight-loss lie? that exercise is the best way to lose weight.

Exercise Can Cause Temporary Weight Gain.

We?ve all heard the saying ?muscle weighs more than fat?. That?s how many people justify the temporary bump on the scale when they start a new workout regime. The truth is weight is weight? a pound of fat Exercise is Good f or You? Unl ess You?re weighs exactly the same as a pound of Trying t o Lose Weight . Don?t get me wrong; I muscle. It?s just that muscle is more useful think people should exercise. I?ve been an and takes up less space. So you look better in athlete for over twenty years, and was a jeans. Yet people go to the gym for a week, licensed professional boxer for almost 8 weigh themselves and find that they have years, so I?m no stranger to the gym. And gained a few pounds. What do they do? there are a million good reasons to exercise.

Except for weight loss. I?ve been a nutritionist, They rationalize. They think they?re putting on muscle, when in reality they?re retaining professional trainer, and athlete for over water. twenty years. Believe me when I tell you that if you?re significantly overweight, exercise When people who do not regularly exercise will not help you lose it. In fact, it can even start working out, their bodies panic. Human prevent you from doing so. Here?s why: beings have a unique reaction to stress. Our bodies can?t tell the difference between Exercise Makes You Hungry. Nothing works stress from a new exercise routine and being up an appetite quite like a heavy workout. chased by wolves. We retain water because People will work out like crazy, because our brains figure we?re going to need it to they?re desperate to lose weight.

Unfortunately, they usually eat twice as much deal with the crisis. But after a few weeks of regular exercise, once your body has become when they get home from the gym. Exercise accustomed to the new routine, it will let go increases your appetite, so if you?re trying to of that water. The problem is most people lose weight, the last thing you want to do is never get to that point. They get discouraged make yourself even hungrier. That post-workout hunger is going to get into your by the lack of weight loss, especially if they?ve been working out for weeks, and they head, too. You?ll drive home past the buffet, just quit. They decide they?re better off eating or your favorite cafĂŠ and you?ll start thinking pizza and watching Netflix. you ?earned? a treat.

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Cal orie Monit ors Lie. Okay, maybe lie is too strong a word, but those little readouts on the elliptical machine or treadmill are not at all accurate. You might spend an hour and a half on your favorite machine at the gym, and you will burn calories. But you probably won?t burn as many as that device says you are.

(And probably not as much as that fancy coffee drink you had that morning).

So, What Does Work? Okay, so if exercise isn?t going to get rid of your spare tire, then what will? The answer is nutrition. I?ve written over 800 nutrition plans for people all over the world, and they all lost weight, so believe me when I tell you that weight loss is 100 percent what you put in your mouth. I?ve had clients who did Crossfit three times a week, and they couldn?t lose weight. But when they dialed in the nutrition, they lost 50 pounds when they started my nutrition plan. Here are three ways to get your nutrition on track, so you can lose the pounds.

Qual it y: Eat ing t he Right Foods f or Your Body Maybe you?ve heard the phrase ?Calories in, Calories out?. This leads people to think that it goes either way; that if they just burn more, they don?t have to change how they eat. And that?s flat out wrong. You want to burn fat?

You?re going to have to eat fat. That means bacon, avocados, butter, and olive oil. Once your body gets used to using fat as fuel, it will

start pulling on those reserves you?ve got stored.

Quant it y: Eat ing t he Right Amount of Food t o Burn Fat . Even once you?re eating that high fat, low carb diet, you still need to eat less than you burn in order to start burning your own stored fat. There?s no caloric intake umbrella number because everybody?s different, but you need to figure out what you burn in a day and dial your meals in to come in lower than that number.

Remember, you cannot outrun your fork. You have to cut back on food intake to lose weight. Nobody can increase their exercise to the point where it outweighs an overweight diet. Exercise can help, in moderation, but the real change has to be to your nutrition.

The Takeaways. Exercise is great for your body and your mind. I encourage you to move your body any way that you find fun.

However, exercise cannot make you lose weight by itself. The key to burning fat and losing weight is good nutrition. That means drinking enough water, eating a high-fat/ low-carb diet, and reducing your daily caloric intake. So if you?re that fat athlete who can?t find any more time in the day for exercise, change what you eat. You?ll be amazed at the results. C Text by Cristy ?Code Red? Nickel Photo by Scott Webb

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How East A si an Educati on Wi l l Hel p Your Ch i l d Ex cel I n Sch ool

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You?re the parent of a young child. You know that a solid education is critical to their future. But, right now, the U.S. ranks 17th in education, behind not only Asian nations but many Western nations too? even Russia. So what, as a parent, can you do?

For your child, you are probably taking all the steps recommended: You read to them; you require them to finish their homework; you communicate regularly with their teacher.

You hope to instill in them, during these impactful early years, the habit of attaining academic excellence.

However. there are additional things you should be doing. But basic to what you do is how you think about your child?s learning.

Americans have a distinctive way of thinking about these things, quite different from how people elsewhere think about children?s learning, like in East Asia. Their children learn more than ours. So how do people in nations at the top of the school rankings think differently?

For decades, East Asian students have excelled in the international rankings. Here are two ways in which East Asians think differently from us: 1. Chil dren shoul d ?f it ? school s; school s shoul d not ?f it ? chil dren.In the U.S. during the early 1900s, the idea grew that schools should ?fit? the desires and interests of their

students. Educators?focus shifted from teaching skills effectively towards teaching them appealingly. Parents began to expect ?child-centered? learning and, recently, began worrying that students are stressed by homework. Americans came to expect schools to adapt to, or ?fit,? their students.

In East Asia, making schools fit students has not been a goal. Citizens believe that what schools teach is very important and must be taught thoroughly. Students are expected to strive for mastery. These beliefs are motivated both by concern for students? futures, and by concern for their standing as worthy members of their education-focused families. For instance, when children finish their homework, they continue studying using parent-purchased workbooks. In these and other ways, parents help children adapt to schools?stringent expectations.

The East Asian perspective leads to parental behavior rarely seen in the U.S.: East Asian parents view academic learning as each child?s most important responsibility within the family.

During each child?s first years of schooling, parents think of themselves as actively sharing that responsibility with their children.

Parents don?t simply encourage children?s studying; they coach, train, and drill them so

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that academic excellence is assured. If a child performs poorly, her parents participate with her to diagnose what had not been done correctly, and then to master that skill.

2. Chil dren perf orm wel l academical l y, or not , depending on t heir ef f ort .East Asians know that individuals have? or lack? a range of inborn abilities, but they don?t consider this important in explaining children?s school performance.

American parents focus on inborn abilities. At first they don?t know what these are, but they think it?s vital to find out. They provide the child with a range of experiences so that unique abilities can emerge. Parents assume that each child must rely throughout life on the abilities he?s been given. They see each child as shaped much more by inner factors than by anyone?s effort.

East Asian parents focus on a child?s effort.

They view children as malleable, which means ?able to be changed, without breaking, into a new shape through the application of effort.?

Parents believe it?s their responsibility to shape each child and direct her onto an advantageous life course. They should do this because they understand their community?s values. They can do this because their child is malleable? and capable of persevering effort.

The East Asian perspective leads to parental behavior rarely seen in the U.S.:

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East Asian parents govern children?s use of time, insuring that a majority of their waking hours are devoted to academic learning.

Parents never pump up their children?s self-esteem; they know that self-esteem grows naturally as the result of outstanding performances.

Parents actively instruct, mold, direct, and train children, insuring that they know the ?how to? of academic skills.

Parents don?t worry that persevering academic effort will harm their child physiologically or psychologically.

As the parent, what can you do? If you believe that masterful capacity to learn is your greatest gift to your child, be guided by East Asians?ways of thinking and remember these five tips: 1.You and your child are responsible for his academic prowess.

2.The habit of persevering study must be set early in life.

3.Insure mastery of basic processes; do not fear drilling.

4.Pay relentless attention to correcting each learning shortfall.

5.Don?t inflate his self-esteem; instead, insure that he or she earns it. C Text by Dr. Cornelius Grove Photos by Evan Kirby

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Th e Opi oi d Cri si s

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Th e Nati on?s Grow i ng Opi oi d Epi demi c I s Presenti ng Work pl ace Ch al l enges

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Like abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs, the nation?s growing opioid epidemic is presenting workplace challenges. The current opioid epidemic has been called the worst drug crisis in American history, reaching every corner of society, including workplaces both large and small. This epidemic involves the use of prescription opioid (pain) medications and illicit drugs, including heroin and illegally manufactured fentanyl.

A survey recently released by the National Safety Council reveals that more than 70 percent of workplaces are feeling the negative effects of opioid abuse. Nearly 40 percent of employers said employees are missing work due to abuse of painkillers, with roughly the same percent reporting employee abuse of the drugs on the job.

Despite the prevalence of substance use and addiction in businesses across the country, only a small percentage of those with opioid or other substance use disorders ask for help or receive it. And that?s costing employers around $10 billion annually from absenteeism, according the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Here?s four ways you can address opioid dependence and substance addiction in your workplace:

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Creat e a non-st igmat izing workpl ace. One way to influence more people to seek help is to convince them that getting treatment is the smartest thing to do. By talking about addiction like any other disease, you silence the stigma and allow people to realize it?s all right to ask for help. It?s equally critical that owners and managers send the message that your workplace is a safe place, and that you?re here to help.

Equip st af f t o recognize t he signs of addict ion. It?s important that management and staff be trained on the early signs of opioid and substance addiction? irritability, poor concentration and declining performance? so they can intervene before the situation deteriorates. Train managers to address performance issues, because that often opens up the dialog to talk about sensitive matters. By showing genuine concern, you gain the trust of your employees, which allows you to guide them to the care they need.

Of f er support t o empl oyees and f amil y members. Just as you would with an employee who has a medical condition, such as cancer or heart disease, offer non-judgmental support to employees with a substance use disorder. Remember, employees who have family members struggling with substance addiction suffer at

work too. Those who are affected by a loved one?s addiction can have increased absenteeism, lack of focus and health problems related to stress. If you don?t already have one, consider providing an employee assistance program for your employees. EAP services can be an effective first step for employees and their dependents to initiate support for nonmedical prescription drug problems, and can offer counseling and referral services; conduct substance abuse evaluations or connect an employee to a qualified substance abuse professional. The best thing about an EAP is that it costs the employee nothing and is completely confidential.

Hel p empl oyees access t reat ment . Ensure that your employees have access to quality treatment for substance addiction. Consult with your health plan provider about a comprehensive plan that covers inpatient and outpatient services. Employees with opioid addiction can often benefit from medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which reduces the cravings for opioids and allows employees to work while in treatment.

Finally, it?s important to remember that employees struggling with opioid misuse or substance addiction are not weak or morally corrupt. Drug addiction is a disease and needs to be treated and talked about like any other disease? with compassion and quality care.

Ov er do s es k il l ed mo r e t h a n 64,000 Amer ic a n s in 2016, up 21 per c en t o v er 2015, a c c o r din g t o f eder a l o f f ic ia l s .

By taking action and implementing these strategies, you create a safe work environment in which employees feel supported and can do their best work. There?s nothing more important than sending a message to your employees that you care about their health and well-being. C Text by Dr. Deborah Happ Photos by Stefano Pollio + Tertia van Rensburgn

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g n i k k e tr w i th

A nni e F. Dow ns O

riginally from Marietta, Georgia, Annie F. Downs is rocking the world of many, including those who work at Chispa Magazine. Her storytelling is filled with authenticity and pizzazz, and it?s no wonder she has become a best-selling author and internationally known speaker.

Now based in Nashville, she neighbors many of the ?it? people yet she?s still the

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down-to-earth Annie who claims to be flawed yet funny.

What do we love most about her? She uses her words to highlight the everyday goodness of a real and present God. By weaving together personal stories, humor, and Scripture into her writing, she invites us to experience a fulfilled life with a God who made us on purpose and loves us deeply.

Photo by M icah Kandr os Cover Story 53

She recently released100 Days To Brave and challenged us to walk with her for three months. A challenge where we encountered not just her voice, but the whispers of our true Creator.

What started out as wanting to buy into this thing called brave, through each daily reading we were actually hit by the image of King David. He didn?t need to know his strength because he already knew the strength of His Creator. So yes, the ride of 100 days to brave dropped us of into the Arms of Love that promise to never leave us or forsake us.

Was this Downs?intention? Maybe, perhaps?

Or, possibly this banjo, glitter-loving girl who loves to write books, blogs, articles, and even thank-you notes? was once again used to show how wide, how deep, and how powerful God?s love is.

Well, with no further ado, we present to you Annie F. Downs, our tour guide to our100 Days To Brave.

Fr om t each i n g i n t h e sch ool syst em t o speak i n g i n f r on t of t h ou san ds, w h at spar k ed t h e ch an ge?

I always loved teaching and actually, this really is the same calling just expressed in two different ways. What I do on a stage or in a book is not that different than what I did as a 5th grade teacher? entertain the audience

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long enough that they learn something.

That is always the goal. As some opportunities for speaking at events started, while I was still teaching, it was easy to balance both.

But then as the writing and teaching began to require more of my time, I knew I needed to decide if I wanted to try this other career or not.

W h at w as ?you r br eak ? i n t o t h e w r i t i n g an d speak i n g i n du st r y?

So many people have given me opportunity to share my stories that there really isn?t one that I would consider a ?break.? Each author/ speaker has a different story of how they got where they are today. For me, there were youth group leaders who gave me a chance to teach, publishers who gave me opportunities to write books, and friends who pressed that little follow button, believing that I have something of worth to offer on Instagram or Twitter. So, every day that someone shows up to my work, the moment they open themselves up to what God might have for them through my writing or speaking, that?s the big break I?ve been waiting for.

W h at son gs best descr i be you r l i f e t h en (bef or e speak i n g an d w r i t i n g), ver su s n ow ?

Being a Nashville resident, I absolutely love

this question! I can?t think of specific songs, so I?ll talk seasonally about the music that shaped me. My favorite albums when I was teaching school were ?Woven? and ?Spun? by Nichole Nordeman (particularly the song Legacy) and I loved anything by Dave Barnes and Matt Wertz. I listened a lot to Hillsong United albums and Phil Wickham when I was transitioning to a new city and a new career.

Now I build playlists constantly on Spotify.

Worship music, country music, anything with a banjo is going to have my heart. I listen a lot to Lady Antebellum and Maren Morris. My very favorite band is Mumford and Sons? their lyrics and sound move me to write like no other music does. JOHNNYSWIM is a favorite, as is Ellie Holcomb. I still love all the artists I used to listen to, especially the Nashville people. It?s so fun to think about all the artists I listened to before this career and living in this town, and now, many of them are my neighbors!

How h as Ch r i st i an i t y af f ect ed you r w or l dv i ew , you r ch oi ces, an d you r pu r pose?

I was raised by Christian parents and made the choice to accept Christ for myself as a child. So being raised in the Southern evangelical culture certainly shaped my worldview and how I made decisions. I am so grateful for the Biblical groundwork my Buckhead Chur ch Singles Ser ies: Fear less

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Photo by Ashley Hylber t Chispa Magazine

parents and church laid in my life and the love for Jesus that was cultivated in me from a very young age. As I have grown up, I?ve wrestled with a lot of the ideas and culture that exists in the church today, and that I knew my whole life, but the best part is the Bible remains true and God remains near and when we seek Him first, everything else that is right gets added.

W hy Jesu s?

I just have never found another answer that makes any sense or brings peace. I?ve asked a lot of questions? to God and about God and around the idea of God? and there is no other story or person that matters to me like Jesus. I have read the stories in the Bible, I have been to Israel and walked where He walked, and for years now I have built my life around following His teachings and believing that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Having Jesus in my life has not taken away the troubles or pain, but it has assured me that I am never alone.

I s t h er e a speci f i c per son or per son s w h o h el ped pave you r cu r r en t w al k ?

My parents are significant voices in my life, and I?m so grateful for that. Their support and leadership while I was growing up shaped me.

As I went off to college and began my adult life, I invited lots of older women and men

into my life to help mentor and walk with me.

Whether it is giving me advice on spiritual matters or in the kitchen or in dating, having more seasoned believers speaking into my story and life has helped me avoid some pitfalls. And, it has helped me walk in a healthier way than I would have on my own.

Fr om t h e book s you h ave w r i t t en , w h i ch best appl i es f or t h e cu r r en t -day-m edi a-f r en zy?

I think100 Days To Brave truly speaks to where we are and what we are called to do and be right now. Choosing courage, even when it doesn?t feel easy or fun will always change you into the person that you want to be. No matter what is going on in culture, you can choose the kind of person you want to be.

It?s about you, not your circumstances.100 Days To Brave walks with you for over three months and touches on every area of life. It?s a companion to help with the easy and the hard decisions.

W h at st eps do you t ak e w h i l e you ar e w r i t i n g you r assi gn m en t s?

Usually the books I write have already been existing inside of me for a while, bubbling and stirring around. I?ll notice a theme in my life, something that seems to be the center of what God is doing, and I?ll start jotting little moments down in a notebook I keep with me

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en c e, in N as h vi l l e, A pr i l of '17 , wi t h t on s of at t en d ee s!

the wall and the finished book that people get to hold in their hands, but that outlining process, while it may take a month or more, is absolutely necessary and drives the entire project.

all the time. I don?t write about a season or a theme while I am living it, I tend to wait until afterwards to get a better (and fuller) perspective, but I don?t want to forget the little moments.

When it is time to really start writing it, I will get those HUGE white sticky notes and hang them all over the walls of my office. I use one to write theme ideas, one for questions as we go, one for title/ subtitle options. And then for all those little stories I?ve collected, and other ones I want to tell, I write those on regular size sticky notes. Then, I start arranging and rearranging until we see the theme arise or a structure come out of the stories/ ideas. I invite a few people into it with me, my agent, manager, maybe some friends, and everyone looks over the outlined book hanging on the wall to see if it is the direction that I want to take it, and the direction that feels right for the work.

And then I sit down and start writing! A lot changes between the days we outline on

How do you deal w i t h col l eagu es t h at cl ai m Ch r i st i an i t y yet act an d pr ocl ai m di f f er en t t h eol ogy f r om w h at t h e Bi bl e decl ar es?

All I can control is me. I want to listen to my friends and love them well, as we all do the best we can to walk this life with Jesus. That?s what they are doing for me as well. I tend to think the right next move for me is always a move toward love. That?s where God is.

Last l y, h ave you r each ed you r l i f e?s pu r pose?

I sure hope not! I have so much more I want to do! I?m not sure there is such a thing as a singular life?s purpose. I?m more inclined to believe that each day has purpose for me and when I lay my head down at night, I want to make sure I did right by God, myself, and my people, for that day. Did I reach today?s purpose? to work, to rest, to play? whatever it is. That?s what I?m asking each night. Also, the Westminster Catechism says ?Man?s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.? I don?t want or have much more purpose than that. C Interview by Mavian Arocha-Rowe

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Ever yday S T Y L E

Regardless which generation you belong to, this season's fashion sense is filled with feelings of optimism and confidence, while driving in the fast lane of comfort. The landscape of denim, blacks, and neutrals are back by popular demand. We invite you to get pretty yet comfy. C

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FI V E TI PS et u r n i n g

F or R r e t f A s s e n t t o Fi s y a d i l o H e th Chispa Magazine

Christmas holidays? wonderful time spent with family and friends while being surrounded by tons of various delicious foods you simply cannot refuse. Many claim that the holidays are a time of indulgence and we completely agree with that, but what about your body? Have you been stuffing yourself with food beyond any reasonable measure?

How are you going to undo the damage and get back on track? Have no worries, we might be able to help you with our tips.

Meal schedul e.

Eating on schedule maximizes your metabolism, levels out your appetite and regulates your blood sugar and insulin levels.

Therefore, you should eat breakfast within an hour of waking up and then eat again every three to five hours. Of course, eating on schedule means nothing if you only eat junk food. Do not cut back too much because starving yourself will backfire. If you cut back, your body will start to conserve energy and therefore burn fewer calories. To make things even worse, cutting back way too much will make you lose muscle mass and it will also slow down your metabolism.

Wat er int ake.

This may be common knowledge, but proper water intake helps regulate and optimize your metabolism. On top of that, various studies claim that drinking more water actually

suppresses appetite and food cravings. Water rids you of excess sodium, making you de-bloat faster and it kick-starts your digestive system which directly relieves constipation. How much water do you need to drink on a daily basis? Go for 2 to 2.5 liters i.e.

8 to 10 cups.

Exercise rout ine comeback.

It is normal that you feel out of shape after a period of indulgence and little to no exercise.

But, you cannot get back to your standard exercising routine right away. You have to take things slowly. Start with shorter training sessions and low-intensity exercises. Then bump up the intensity and duration of the sessions over the course of time. And you should know that there are no magical supplements that will rid you of excess weight. Feel free to try the appetite-suppressing weight loss supplements, but you have to work out on a regular basis too. Without exercise, you won?t achieve anything. You definitely shouldn?t push too hard immediately because that significantly increases the risk of injury.

Act ive l if est yl e.

It doesn't matter whether you are regular at the gym or not, daily activities are something you should do no matter what. You don't have to push yourself if you don't want to. Going for a walk is a daily activity. Health

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professionals worldwide recommend we take 10,000 steps each day! And let's be honest, majority of us don't even come close to that goal. But, this goal can be easily achieved through short walks. Once you start this habit of being active on a daily basis, things get easier and you stop seeing these walks and hikes as burdens. If you want to kick things up a notch, you can even find an outdoor gym and do something more challenging.

Fridge organizat ion.

Put those holiday cookies away, hide them in the back of the fridge and put those veggies and fruit up front. You'll be less tempted to eat them if you can't see them. On the other hand, that healthy food will be within the reach and you'll have easy access to it. You should also stock up on healthy foods. When you get over with those holiday leftovers that are nothing but junk food switch to high-fiber veggies and foods rich in lean protein. We aren't saying that you should dispose of all the good stuff, but you have to start getting rid of it as soon as possible.

Stop thinking about that delicious holiday food and start the comeback! Damage can be undone and with our tips, you'll be back on track in no time. C Text by Luke Douglas Photos by Brooke Lark

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going

Natur al

Neutral color schemes are such a timeless and versatile interior design trend and they've been increasing in popularity. By keeping a neutral base with a few soft browns, creams and whites, transform any room to suit your personal style with just a few key pieces. Keep the room interesting by adding touches of texture: grained woods and carved furniture; knitted textiles and textured fabrics like canvas, velvet or embroidery; mixed metals, fabric curtains, and wicker pieces. And for a farmhouse touch, add a splash of color and some bright accessories with some interesting details like pompoms or cotton spears. C

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Cuban Under gr ound

Photos by Brett Danielsen

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Communi sm i n f ul l - f or ce, i t s evi l doer s cont i nue t o r i p voi ces, t ear dr eams, shat t er homes, and st omp on r el i gi on and l i ber t y.

Under neat h t he ol d car s, concr et e st r uct ur es, and vi nt age gl ass wi ndows, t he voi ces of t he past echo t he f r eedom sur r ender ed. A cul t ur e l ef t f or dead i n i t s own pi ece of l and, Cubans ar ound t he wor l d, young and ol d t el l t he st or i es of t he Cuba l ef t behi nd. May hope f or a new Cuba r i se, onl y, and onl y when, communi sm and i t s soci al i st ment al i t y di e and i t s peopl e choose one nat i on under God. A Better You | Travel + Culture 81

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A Better You | Travel + Culture 83

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A Better You | Travel + Culture 89

CHASINGSUNRISE

y o es s a t o h p is h F or t h m ed u p wi t a we t e r i s e, a n u S g Ch as i n n i t y t h at u c om m t t he a p u o g et s n to g w a d of c r ac k t t h ey a h w a f t er se t h e a h c an d t h er . wan t e g o t e s un r is

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Photos by Chasing Sunrise members Julian DeSchutter (founder at Chasing Sunrise), Wendy Shepherd, and Ivan Calderon

Through the Lens | Chasing Sunrise 91

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quiet f r ontier

Photos by Brett Danielsen

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M ak in g ou r Hal l m a r k dr e am s a r ea l i t y , t h is ph ot o es s a y al l owed us t o r ec l a i m pu r e r om an c e as we m e t h e st et i l l n es s of wh i t e s n ow.

Through the Lens | Quiet Frontier 101

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setbacks pave

the

com eBacks

Gigi Stetler?s story is one of resilience, courage, and beating the odds. A story she now feels compelled to share with others. ?I believe openly talking about what I went through can help encourage others,? she says. ?Our battles might be different but it helps to know you?re not alone.?

Thirty years ago, Stetler, now 55, was stabbed nearly two dozen times by someone she was trying to help. She found a homeless man living in the basement of an apartment building she bought in Miami and moved him into a unit in exchange for painting/ maintenance services. Not long after, he attacked Stetler and stabbed her 21 times. Doctors didn?t expect her to live, much less go

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on to fully recover, but she did. ?I had more than 200 stitches all over my body and my left fingers were nearly cut off,? says Stetler. ?But I?ve always had the mindset to overcome obstacles, it?s who I am.?

Doctors released her from the hospital after just eight days and Stetler got right back to work managing properties on Miami Beach. A short time later, she entered the luxury RV business in Broward County, FL and eventually became the first female to lead a Recreational Vehicle company in the country, RV Sales of Broward, where she remains today. Now entering her 31 st year in the industry, Stetler has persevered to become a highly successful businesswoman in what is a very competitive, male-dominated industry. ?It?s not a career path women typically choose, and although I?ve had my challenges dealing with sexism, I?ve always been determined to not let it bring me down,? she says. In fact, Stetler?s entire life has been a series of overcoming obstacles: she has just a 10 th grade education and coming from a very difficult family life, she took to living on the streets as a young teen, doing what she had to do to make it.

She survived that potentially fatal attack, made a challenging career choice, and raised a son as a single mom. Despite it all, Stetler has become a successful entrepreneur, accomplished author of a book, Unstoppable!

Surviving is Just the Beginning, and is a

featured keynote speaker and guest on radio and television shows nationwide.

Today, her biggest passion is sharing her story and encouraging others, particularly women, to never give up. ?I want others to believe in themselves and know they can overcome odds and succeed despite their circumstances and what happens to them,? she says.

In her free time, when she has it, Stetler is an avid equestrian and competes throughout the country in show jumping. ?It?s something I?m passionate about, and I?m lucky I?m able to combine horses and work since much of my business is with the equestrian community,? she says. ?Most people hear my life story and always say I have the worst luck but I think I?m the luckiest girl in the world.? C

Bookworm | Gigi Stetler 113 Bookworm | Sharif K. Rasheed 99

Abducted.

Imprisoned.

H opeful.

Survivor.

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In the fall of 1994, 21-year-old Elena Nikitina disappeared. Drugged and kidnapped by a group of Chechen gangsters, she was driven through the night to Chechnya.

Kept prisoner in a tiny room, she waited while her captors tried to ransom her to her mother. ?I had no idea what was happening,? she says. ?I was out at a restaurant and quarreled with my boyfriend. I went outside to walk the short distance home, and woke up hours later in a rickety old car, surrounded by strange men.?

Events went from bad to worse. A few weeks after the abduction, war broke out between Russia and Chechnya. Life became very cheap, very quickly. Tiny Chechnya became an apocalyptic killing zone. All contact was cut off. There was no electricity. There was no telephone service. There could be no negotiations for Elena?s release. ?Everything changed when the war started,?

Elena says. I was always in darkness, always under threat. I saw and experienced some terrible things.?

invader. Soon, Arab mujahideen flooded the country to fight the Russians. ?One Chechen fighter took pity on me and tried to protect me,? Elena says. ?But he was killed in battle. I believe I was sold into slavery after that. They were waiting for the fighting to slow down to send me to my new master.?

Through eight horrifying months of captivity? witnessing atrocities, surviving bombings and sexual violence, and trapped in a land where countless people were dying every day, Elena fought desperately to stay alive, stay sane, and not lose the one thing that kept her going? her hope. Today, she tells of her story and is already receiving much acclaim for her book, GIRL, TAKEN. ?This book will astonish and inspire you,? says author Brian Whitney. ?It is the harrowing tale of a young woman who saved her own life through nothing more than courage, determination, and inner strength.?

Co-written with American author Patrick Quinlan, GIRL, TAKEN is available in paperback and ebook platforms everywhere.C

Elena was powerless, and at the mercy of hardened criminals who now fancied themselves patriotic freedom fighters. And she was their enemy? the face of the Russian

Bookworm | Elena Bookworm | Sharif K. Nikitina Rasheed115 99

M UST HA V ES, ETC.

t e e B . r D

Studies have recently shown that beet juice is the new it drink for anyone that likes to increase their heart rate, whether you?re into lifting or training to be an Olympic athlete, beet juice has been shown to improve overall muscle performance by allowing the body to exhibit almost twice as much energy out as the oxygen taken in.

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What?s cool? Biotta Juices, a USDA Organic and Non-GMO verified juice company, offers 10 different juices, six of the juices which are vegetable and the other four which are fruit juices. Each juice provides functional health and wellness benefits, as well as providing a delicious source of vegetables and fruits.

M UST HA V ES, ETC. You've all heard: working out is only half the battle? eating right is key. And while this part can leave you feeling deprived of your favorite foods and snacks, it doesn?t have to.

Being mindful of your portion sizes is a long term solution that allows you to eat what you like, but in moderation. Livliga, a leader in the portion control category, takes any guesswork out of the process with its newest collection, Celebrate.

Celebrate?s porcelain set features sleek black and white designs, along with etched illustrations of healthy foods and phrases that motivate users to ?celebrate? a healthy lifestyle. Also using Livliga?s visual illusions concept, Celebrate plates feature built-in markers to encourage ?right-sized eating? with each recommended food group. C

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IN AWE AT CREATION...

IN THE CREATOR WE TRUST. Mi Chispa 119