Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Gonzales.
Hi Vanessa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sometimes in life, we need to become stronger for someone other than ourselves. I learned this as I helped my grandma and aunt care for my dad. I never knew I’d be put in a place of utter disarray emotionally and mentally. The only thing I had control over was my physical being. One day as my grandma and I were lifting my dad from his bed to his wheelchair, we nearly dropped him.
This changed my whole perspective of who I was and what I was destined to do next. This process was about him; it was about getting him through this last step in his life and onto his next chapter. I built muscle through love. I was driven by passion to help him. When he left me, he left a burning inspiration to continue my journey and a passion to help others begin and go through theirs. I now save myself and others because I couldn’t save him. He’s my life angel; always with me even when he’s not.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The road with my dad’s illness was difficult especially when I had to leave my own household to perform this great deed of love. We had a lot of traumatic end-of-life situations. There were many times I felt, “we’re going to lose him tonight.” Since that was one of the hardest times in my life, it made all other little-life problems easier. Nothing was as grand as that loss that was ahead of me. Little things in life we tend to complain about mean nothing anymore.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
So my main career is working with hearing-impaired students as a captioner. I take down lecture 200+ wpm as a stenographer. I absolutely adore it! I get to be the one who is with them throughout some or most of their academic years. It is so rewarding and I’m fortunate to have found this and I’m blessed to have this as my full-time career. I’ve found that my heart is most grateful serving others. Now my side passion is one that I never expected to have. As my story goes, I wasn’t able to save my dad. There was nothing I could do to change that outcome. There are just some things in life we need to deal with as hard as they may be. I’ve taken that passion and utilize that energy every single day into helping others become healthy and happy with nutrition and activity as a group fitness instructor and accountability coach with AnatoME Fitness and Fitnesa’s Dolls. I’ve been honored to change many lives. With each life I touch, it’s like saving him.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Being personable and genuine has worked for me. People can see right through you.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: fitnesasdolls.com
- Instagram: fit_nesa
- Twitter: fit_nesa
Image Credits:
Alvaro Muniz
