We had the good fortune of connecting with Vanessa Fitzgerald and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I find that risk typically has a negative/scary connotation attached to it, however, I wouldn’t be where I am today had I been afraid to take risks. Playing it safe and keeping myself small never served me. It was always through total disruption and reinvention, that I achieved my greatest accomplishments and so I’d like to think of risk as opportunity. For example, I was raised to believe that health and wellness was not a real career and that venturing down said career path would be too “risky.” I began to associate risk with being broke, scarcity, and irresponsibility, so I chose a corporate job that paid very well and made me miserable. I would spend my days researching what I love and holding hope that where there’s passion, there must be purpose. As my misery grew, my self pity propelled me to find a life coach. Long story short, I spent a lot of money and time to find out that I was the only person/thing standing in my way. I had to believe wholeheartedly that I would succeed as confidence and optimism are the keys to unlocking any doorway. Fast forward, I quit my job overnight with no plan and was unemployed for almost 2 years. It was during those 2 years that I fully leaned in to all that I love (nutrition, health, wellness), which gave me great joy. The law of attraction is definitely not something to be taken lightly, as the more joyous and passionate I became, the more opportunities came my way. So I implore anyone who has that burning desire, to begin to define risk as opportunity. As Frank Scully said, “Why not go out on a limb? Isn’t that where the fruit is?”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I had to stop overthinking and doubting myself in order to clear the path toward embracing who I am and what I love. I had to overcome old stories that I had embodied due to my upbringing and various circumstances throughout my life. The more I stopped trying to fit into a box, the more opportunities came my way. Was it easy? Not always, however, I am a firm believer that if you let go of trying to control every outcome and situation, what is meant for you will stay and what is not meant for you will leave.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
This is a hard question to answer due to the current COVID climate, but let’s pretend for a minute that COVID doesn’t exist. Outdoor activities, self care, and eating good food are what make me happiest and would be the things that inspire my itinerary. I would probably start off my taking them to Erewhon one morning for a fun tonic and some treats. LA’s hikes are some of the best, so I would hit up Temescal afterward. The Brentwood Country Mart is fun for a little outdoor lunch and shopping. Platefit in Brentwood is a favorite workout of mine and only 30min, so it’s easy to squeeze in when you are trying to back in a full schedule. Hey Day in Brentwood gives quick, high quality facials. If it’s a Brentwood Day, then dinner at Toscana has been a staple growing up. One cannot come to LA without seeing Malibu. I would probably take my friend to hike Solstice in Malibu followed by a relaxed brunch at Soho Malibu where you can take a stroll on the beach or dip in the ocean. Cross Creek shopping center in Malibu has excellent stores. A skinny margarita at Cafe Habana is always fun. I’d probably finish off the day with dinner at Taverna Tony’s – an upbeat authentic delicious Greek restaurant with like music. Venice favorites include a stroll down the boardwalk, lunch at Gjilena or Gjusta, dinner at Gran Blanco, shopping along Abbot Kinney, dinner at Tasting Kitchen, and a drink at Roosterfish. West Hollywood stops would include a Barry’s Bootcamp workout followed by a cryotherapy session on La Cienega. Lunch at Avra in Beverly Hills and dinner/drinks at Tower Bar.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate this to my SOT Chiropractor, Dr. Gareth Monks, who taught me a lot about nutrition and helped me get off of pharmaceutical drugs. I’d also like to dedicate it to Dr. Beth Forgosh who inspired me to go to school for Nutrition Response Testing. Lastly, I would like to dedicate this to my dear friend Jesse Israel who continuously encourages me to follow my joy, always be curious, and to not let fear stand in my way.

Website: www.veeshoney.com
Instagram: @veeshoney

Image Credits
Chris Clinton

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