Monthly Breakfast Event
How do we focus on the right things and manage to the make the most of what life has to offer? How do we get past the naysayers who don’t believe in us or the barriers placed before us? How do we keep moving forward when we feel broken, tired and alone? None of us can escape the challenges life throws at us or the vast demands on our time and energy. Running a business, having a family, participating in a community and pursing our passions can leave us confused and drained about what our priorities should be and what direction to take, especially when we meet those all too familiar forks in the road. For Dr. Monica Dixon, the wellspring of her life has been the pursuit of passion in everything she does, whether it’s career, marriage, motherhood, friendships or volunteering. Her commitment to living a passionate life has helped her navigate the perilous waters of negative messages, unclear paths, and often seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Her deep belief in the power of listening to our intuition and having the faith required to follow it has helped sustain her through the most difficult and tenuous times of her life. Monica will share with us her inspiring and motivating life’s journey and the roles commitment and passion have played at every stage. Monica’s personal philosophy of “Live, Laugh, Love, Learn, and Leave a Legacy,” is the underpinning of everything she does. It’s resulted in a grand adventure in her own life, yet also improved the lives of thousands of others through her motivational speaking. She will help you identify your most important commitments, give you a map to assist in discovering your own passionate life and help you develop your personal philosophy of living. Join us for breakfast on June 13th and learn how a once homeless high school student became an internationally known author, speaker, business owner and expert in her field as Monica shares her incredible journey to a successful and meaningful life. BIO Beginning as a Catholic-educated Midwestern farm girl, the oldest and only girl of six children, Monica heard there’d be no money for college, and she’d fail anyway. Being one to eternally ask questions of everything and everyone eventually got her tossed out the door, having to survive on her own. Marrying her grade school sweetheart and love of her life got her off the streets, but presented another problem…the life of a military nomad. Continuous moves were a constant barrier to college, but she developed an ingenious business model for cleaning homes during the day, then working third shift in a restaurant to pay her way through a private college to become a Registered Dietitian, a career she’s been passionate about ever since. Early in her career as a university professor, Monica recognized the emerging epidemic of obesity and looked for innovative ways to take action. In addition to speaking to any audience who listened, she expanded her level of expertise through a Ph.D. in Psychology from Saybrook University in San Francisco, graduating top in her class of 80 students. Her unconventional university experience did more than increase her knowledge of psychology, it established a new way of thinking and operating. Monica is now one of the nation's leading experts on obesity. Her first book Love the Body You Were Born With: A Ten Step Workbook for Women, written in 1996, was published in three languages. This event also launched her career as a writer, speaker and trainer. Her groundbreaking work on improving access to healthy food in Washington State earned her the “Creative Leadership by Example” award from the Centers for Disease Control in 2005. Married to a military officer for 35 years (and still, the love of her life!), Monica remains committed to serving our country. She has been actively involved with issues central to the military and has trained many soldiers and their families across the nation to optimize their lives through their many transitions. In her role as a Commander’s wife, she was charged with supporting spouses of those in active service, giving her unique insight into the challenges and lives of military families. Often the solitary caregiver of her two sons, she had to creatively balance motherhood with her other passions of quilting, volunteerism, hiking and kayaking, writing and building a wildly successful catering business. Her innovative solutions to finding this balance prompted her to write Walking the Tightrope: 101 Ways to Manage Motherhood in 2012. Monica continues to focus on improving the lives of others and works in economic development and community building, motivational speaking and facilitating on a variety of topics, including creativity, communication and living the healthiest life. She has been a frequent guest on radio and television and her work has appeared in Self, Marie Claire, Essence, Good Housekeeping and Mademoiselle magazines. She believes deeply in giving back and her many contributions include establishing a scholarship enabling college women to travel, serving on numerous Board of Directors and making quilts for soldiers, children and those suffering from illness and addiction.
JUNE SPONSOR
Carlanne McCrystal
|
