Administrative Assistant
Location: Ringwood, New Jersey
What I do:
I am currently an intern and CAPP Student at The Flourishing Center where I am learning so much. I love to share what I learn, especially involving topics like health, mindfulness, and self-care. I am fascinated with how these aspects contribute to how we think, feel and behave and in turn, allow us to do our best and contribute to the world. I love to share through writing for a lifestyle blog called Cultivé Lifestyle and on my website shanabananawellness.com. I feel that I found CAPP at the perfect time, and I am excited to be learning more in-depth about many of these topics that I am so passionate about. I feel that CAPP is going to boost my self-awareness and my knowledge of how I can contribute to the world.
Professional Experience:
I have been a lifeguard, a camp counselor at a nature-based program for preschool-age children, and was a server at a yoga retreat center in the dining hall where I gained an interest in Ayurveda. I earned my B.A./B.S. in Psychology from SUNY Plattsburgh where I was also an intern at the Traumatic Brain Injury Center and Third Age Adult Day Center on my campus. I am also currently a part-time server at a smoothie, juice and health food cafe.
My Story:
I grew up in many different places between upstate New York and New Jersey and went to school in four different places before college. I feel that these transitions gave me the gift of being like a chameleon. I learned to be around many different people and how to adapt to different types of environments, which I see as a blessing that still serves me today. I am always looking for the bright side of any situation, and when learning traditional psychology I often felt like there was a missing piece. I now know that what I was missing was the positive psychology lens including things like quality sleep, connections with others, mindfulness, nutrition and exercise and what an impact all of these things can have not only on a person’s physical health but their mental health as well. I hope to learn and share as much as I can about living a full life while practicing what I learn every day to the best of my ability.
Morning Ritual:
On an ideal morning, I love to sip warm lemon water and focus on breathing and centering myself for 10 minutes, learn something new whether through a book or podcast or journal to learn about myself and organize my thoughts, and to get outside. I also really enjoy cooking and baking, so when I can I like to make a slow breakfast and savoring a hot coffee with maple syrup, frothed oat milk, and lots of cinnamon.
A Little Known Fact About Me…
I love the ocean…all year around! So much so that I have completed 2 polar plunges, one in Coney Island and the other in Long Island. I also collect shells and sand in little glass bottles from the different beaches that I visit and hope to have a very large collection by the time I am old.