Category Archives: cancer

Miracle Mushroom Powder: Shine With Original G·E·M·S

Posted on April 1, 2025 by The GEM and currently has Comments Off on Miracle Mushroom Powder: Shine With Original G·E·M·S

When we say “supplement” your mind might flash to fish oil, turmeric, or vitamins. And while we love those wellness warriors, we bet there is one magical, miraculous, medicinal supplement you didn’t know about: mushrooms!

And before you ask — no, not the psychedelic kind. We’re talking about everyday mushrooms with extraordinary medicinal benefits. And they’re an easy and delicious way to check off your Shine daily practice as part of your Original G•E•M•S Life program.

Ready to feel the magic of our Miracle Mushroom Blend? Order for pick up now!

Mushrooms are not only antioxidant-packed and immune-boosting — they’re also brain-powering, heart-loving and disease-fighting dynamos!

That’s why we created our very own GEM Miracle Mushroom powder blend! Keep reading to see why these fabulous fungi deserve a starting role in your Original GEMs Life Program — and how to add them to your daily practice.

What’s in Our Miracle Mushroom Powder Blend?

We packed our blend with four super-powered mushrooms that bring major wellness benefits: reishi, chaga, lion’s mane, and turkey tail. Together they create a powerhouse formula designed to:

balance and restore immune system
increase oxygen flow to cells
amp up your mental and creative sharpness
regulate blood sugar
lower stress levels
promote restful sleep

The Superstars of Our Mushroom Blend

The unique attributes of the four medicinal mushrooms in our blend make for a powerful energizing punch!

Reishi Mushroom: The Chill Master

Improves Sleep
Reduces Stress
Alleviates seasonal allergies
Boosts immunity

Reishi is your go-to for staying forever young! It fights oxidative stress, protects your DNA and keeps your energy levels high. Plus it has incredible ability to boost the immune system and keep you from sneezing up a storm from seasonal allergies.

Chaga Mushroom: The Beauty Booster

Keeps skin GLOWING and hair GROWING!
Lowers inflammation caused by stress
Wards off the common cold

Chaga is LOADED with antioxidants — one dose = 30 pounds of carrots! Like reishi, chaga has. With melanin and zinc for radiant skin and reduced inflammation, it also boasts astonishing immunity-boosting powers. Compounds in chaga can boost the production of white blood cells that regulate the immune response to infectious microorganisms.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom: The Brainiac

Protects your nervous system
Boosts memory and concentration

This restorative little genius is brain-food at its finest. Lion’s Mane is believed to repair and regenerate neurons, improving cognitive function and helping to combat neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. It also boasts anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Turkey Tail: The Warrior

Helps heal infections
Packs major anti-cancer power

Turkey Tail is immune system GOLD thanks to two of its unique compounds PSK and PSP. These super powers can regenerate white blood cells and stimulate the activity and creation of T-cells, and natural killer (NK) cells, enabling the immune system to ward off and destroy pathogens.T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells that fight off harmful invaders.

Turning Miracle Mushroom Powder into an Original GEMs Practice

There are SO MANY ways to stir Magical Mushrooms into your daily routine. Just do one each day as part of your daily Original GEM’s routine and your SHINE practice is done! We know you’ll be hooked as soon as you try it.

Coffee or tea: Stir it in and let the magic happen.
Smoothies: Blend it for an extra nutrient punch.
Soups and Stews: Earthy, cozy and delicious.
Salad: Sprinkle on top, or mix into dressing.
Oatmeal, marinades, pasta sauces — even baking!

The possibilities are endless. Stop by The GEM or order for pickup today to get your hands on one of these jars of miracles!

Build Your Own Original G•E•M•S Life Program

Ready to feel like the STAR you are? Commit to one practice in each Original G•E•M•S Life category (Gratitude, Eat Clean, Move, and Shine) and keep adding more practices as you go — watch yourself SHINE BRIGHTER than ever! Learn all about it!

The Game-Changing Benefits of Morning Water Therapy!

Posted on June 25, 2024 by The GEM and currently has Comments Off on The Game-Changing Benefits of Morning Water Therapy!

Looking for a simple change to boost your health? We are excited to share the incredible benefits of water therapy and how it can transform your well-being!

What is water therapy?

The healing powers of hydration. It is a GAME CHANGER and so simple! “Water therapy” as it is sometimes called should be practiced everyday. We GEMs do it every day. It is quite a simple concept: Drink 32 ounces of filtered, fluoride-free water on an empty stomach immediately upon waking. The results are remarkable — amazing therapeutic effects for a multitude of health conditions ranging from pain to asthma to cancer.

This unpretentious morning regimen originates from ancient Ayurvedic medicine. Drinking water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach purifies the body’s internal system. A particularly important result of this treatment is that it cleanses the colon, making it easier for the body to absorb nutrients from food. This is achieved through the production of new blood. This fresh blood has an immense restorative effect in the body and can even cure existing ailments. There are secondary symptoms of dehydration which include: constipation, skin eruptions, colitis, kidney stones, “hunger” pains, headaches and lots more. Daily water therapy alleviates these issues.

Continue reading →

Are you Vegan-curious? Your Questions Answered

Posted on May 15, 2024 by The GEM and currently has Comments Off on Are you Vegan-curious? Your Questions Answered

What exactly is veganism? Could it be for you? With so much talk — and noise — around the term, you may be a little unsure. So we’re here to shine a light on this vibrant way of eating.

What is Veganism?

Veganism is essentially a type of vegetarianism. While the terms are often used interchangeably, vegetarianism is a diet that doesn’t include animals, like meat or fish. Veganism, on the other hand, excludes all animal-derived products including meat, fish, dairy, eggs and even honey! A vegan diet is 100 percent plant-based and consists of grains, beans, nuts, tofu, fruits and vegetables.

Should You Go Vegan?

We can’t answer that question for you. But if you decide to go vegan, you should be clear on your “why.” That will keep you motivated when that dairy-based cheese is calling your name. There are a number of reasons to go vegan, but some of the big ones include

1. Animal ethics
2. Environmental concerns
3. Health benefits

At The GEM, the health benefits are the primary reason we stick with vegan products, but environmental concerns and animal ethics also motivate our choices as well. If you’re thinking about going vegan, you may be wondering how best to do so.

Is a Vegan Diet Healthy?

When implemented properly, a vegan diet CAN be very healthy. However, one must be conscious to strictly follow the rules of a diet with non-processed, protein rich food sources. Junk food is out. Thoughtful, well-prepared foods are in.

Covering Your Essential (Vitamin) Bases

Plant-based foods are rich in anti-inflammatory, cancer-fighting, and metabolism-boosting components. And while a strict vegan diet provides an abundance of essential vitamins and minerals, you may want to consider adding some supplements. For instance, incorporating vitamin B12 supplements helps bridge the nutritional gap typically filled by animal products. At The GEM, you also always have the option to enhance your plant-based smoothies boosts like spirulina or E3 Live for that extra nutritional punch!

How Do You Get Your Protein When Vegan?

It’s important to know where to get proper nutrition from plants. Otherwise, you will be hungry, even unhealthy! Protein and fat are critical. If you don’t get enough of both in your diet, you’ll crave sugars that will put your diet in a tailspin. Nourish your body with intention and focus.

Plant foods can be surprisingly rich in protein. The best sources include lentils, chickpeas and tofu. Whole grains such as oats, whole wheat pasta and quinoa can also be great sources of protein. Nuts and seeds will provide the high-fat content your body needs, helping with brain functioning and keeping your belly full!

It’s important to remember that there is a learning curve when deciding to go vegan. (And that’s perfectly normal!) Be smart about it.

What is the GEM POV?

Almost all of the GEM’s options are vegan — the exception being our exclusive organic bone broth crafted by our friends at Stocks & Bondy. After co-owner Leslie’s cancer diagnosis, she followed a vegan diet and remained mostly vegan for several years afterwards. Finding a source of authentic organic vegan food was nearly impossible. Hence the GEM was born! While not strictly vegan today, the GEM remains a safe haven for those searching for the cleanest, organic, nutrient-dense soups, salads and smoothies.

Together our founders Leslie & MK embrace the 80/20 lifestyle, filling 80% of their diet with the good stuff—vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes. The remaining 20%? That’s the clean, organic, responsibly-sourced animal product foods (and a few naughty snacks on occasion)! It’s all about balance at The GEM, where every aspect of healthy eating is celebrated.

If you decide to go vegan, you may see incredible results from a vegan diet. And you may want to stick with it for a lifetime — or for shorter periods of time. Our bodies change, thus our needs do too.

Vegan doesn’t have to be a scary word! A proper vegan diet can bring vibrant transformation into your life. Whether you choose to dive fully into veganism or not, there are undeniable benefits to adding abundant plant-based foods to your diet.

Order your favorite vegan snacks online for pick-up now!

Rise & SHINE: We’re on WFAA’s Good Morning Texas!

Posted on October 29, 2021 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on Rise & SHINE: We’re on WFAA’s Good Morning Texas!

See how a breast cancer diagnosis 12 years ago inspired co-founders Leslie Needleman and Mary Kathryn Bass to open The GEM in an exclusive interview with WFAA’s Hannah Davis on Good Morning Texas!

ORDER ORGANIC GREEN BITES, JUICES & SMOOTHIES FOR PICKUP & DELIVERY !

In 2009, more than 100,000 people were diagnosed with breast cancer — and Leslie Needleman was one of them. Despite this devastating news, Leslie decided to take the lemons she was handed and make juice…literally. She and disco soul sister Mary Kathryn opened Dallas’ first free standing organic juice bar in 2012, inspired by Leslie’s cancer journey and a desire to take charge of their health.

WFAA’s Hannah Davis recently interviewed the co-founders on Good Morning Texas to find out more about their journey to starting The GEM. Check out the full interview below.

A Letter to My Cancer Warriors

Posted on October 12, 2021 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 6 Comments on A Letter to My Cancer Warriors

Dealing with cancer is a scary proposition. Like a sucker punch to the gut scary. I know this because it happened to me. At 40, I was diagnosed with breast cancer that spread to my lymph nodes. Scared doesn’t even scratch the surface of the emotions I felt. Faced with this fear, I immediately made changes to my diet and my life to make sure that once my cancer was gone, I would do everything within my power to make sure it didn’t come back.

EXPLORE MORE TIPS FOR LIVING AN ANTI-CANCER LIFE.

I am often asked to share advice to those facing the same uncertain journey. I certainly DO NOT have all the answers. What I do have, however, is my own insight and what worked for me.

These tips below include simple actions that I took — and some that I didn’t realize until later. These are applicable to any major illness or challenge you or a loved one may be facing.

10 Cancer Warrior Tips from a Breast Cancer Survivor

Take care of YOU. Not the time to worry about what others think. Also, NO thank you notes (unless it makes you feel better in the moment). Those that care about a note are helping for the wrong reasons. Write special notes when you are healed.
Educate yourself about your illness. Get a notebook and write it all down. Make your decisions to the best of your ability and then be confident in them. It’s your diagnosis, your journey.
Eat clean and vibrant. It’s another way to cleanse your body and fuel it with cancer-fighting nutrients. Incorporate daily, organic green juice into your day, even when you don’t feel like it. You will feel its power immediately. Cut the sugar. Period. Bone broth, clean protein smoothies and all of our offerings are rooted in anti-cancer principles. The GEM was created as an oasis for supporting a healthy, healing, anti-cancer lifestyle. The goal should be not only to heal during the treatment, but to make changes to ensure that the cancer never returns. You have to change the environment on the inside.
Get some good super-soft button down pajamas. Especially helpful for post surgery. A cashmere wrap for your visits and chemo sessions. You spend a lot of time with nothing but a cold, crinkly hospital top on while folks poke and prod. You will thank me.
Accept all support that doesn’t have strings attached. You will need all of it. Ask someone to be the point person to set up MealTrain.com. This site helps manage food and even carpool schedules.
Tell your friends what you want and need. Be specific. They want to help and aren’t sure what to do. Set boundaries with energy vampires in your life (those who suck the energy out of you). You DO NOT have to respond to their needs. You will find incredible people who seem to come out of nowhere.
Exercise every day. Even if you just stretch for 10 minutes and walk around the block for 20. You will feel better.
Use Caringbridge to communicate. That way you only have to say it once. Plus it can be a great place to document your journey. It helps keep those energy vampires out.
Breathe. And do it deeply. For those new to it, it sounds corny. To those who understand it, it is imperative. Also try mediation by downloading Headspace and Calm apps and begin to see what it is all about.
Love. Every. Minute. Life is important. Make yours count.

“Let Food Be Thy Medicine”

As far as specific food items to help you through your cancer journey, our Green Glow is a great place to start for daily juicing. I consumed large quantities daily of that particular green juice back in the day (with additional kale and ginger). It made all the difference to my energy and overall healing. Hot drinks like Matcha Lattes, Ginger tea, smoothies such as the Tahitian Pearl (no dates) or Cameo with protein, and our soups and Immunity bone broths offer amazingly nourishing sustenance. Using homemade cashew milk instead of dairy will help keep inflammation at bay. Food as medicine is SO powerful.

I am grateful that so many people reach out to me about their own cancer experience. It is a scary time for everyone. Throughout my cancer journey, the most amazing people came to my side. AND I KNOW YOU’VE GOT SOME BADASS SUPER HEROS IN YOUR LIFE FOR THAT TOO! But of course I am always available to talk, answer questions, whatever!

Sending you good vibes and prayers for the scans, tests, treatments, and transformations. It will be a whirlwind, but YOU’VE GOT THIS.

I hope this helps. ☀️

Peace, love & healing,

Leslie

Recommended Reading List:

Kris Carr: Crazy Sexy Cancer, Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips, Crazy Sexy Diet (www.kriscarr.com)
Dr. Kelly Turner: Radical Remission
Dr. Keith Block: Life Over Cancer Book (www.blockmd.com)
Dr. Susan Love: Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book
Jen Rozenbaum: What the Fuck Just Happened? A Survivor’s Guide to Life After Breast Cancer

The Gratitude of 10 Years Cancer-Free

Posted on November 1, 2019 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 16 Comments on The Gratitude of 10 Years Cancer-Free

Today was graduation day for me. At my 16th boob check-up, I got the news: another beautifully clear, cancer-free scan — marking 10 years cancer free. Complete remission.

My oncology surgeon — the truly brilliant, and amazingly badass Dr. Marilyn Leitch, announced, “This is your 10 YEAR anniversary. This is a big deal, and a long time coming! How are you going to celebrate?”

The truth is, I won’t. Not in a typical way with balloons and confetti anyway.

What I will do is celebrate this anniversary with intense gratitude for what the disease brought into my life, just as I celebrate every day. I am thankful for the beauty that emerged in the darkness. The disease revealed an amazing community of GEMs. AND, above all else, it brought me humility for the beauty of Life. For better or worse, I learned I am not ultimately in control of what life brings my way.

These three things are gifts that take my breath away each day.

Gratitude. An appreciation for my health and a better perspective on life are at the forefront of the gifts I am forever grateful for. Survival brought me the ability to see my children grow into amazing teenagers. I’ve taken breathtaking trips with my husband. I’ve learned how to be a better friend, parent, human. I’m grateful for the gift of a new career path that allows us to help others by sharing a positive lifestyle — inside and out. Without my cancer journey, I would not have known the POWER of food on my physical and mental health. The disease propelled me into the GEM — the manifestation of my new view on all that nourishes me — and into this amazing community of GEM-my people.

A GEM-my Community. Little did my soul-sister Mary Kathryn and I know, our new-found passion rooted in this journey would evolve into a community of GEM lovers. You whole-heartedly dove into this GEM-inspired life, turning it into a disco-filled movement I couldn’t even have dreamt of.

Humility. The greatest gift I received from this journey is humility. Yes, I worked hard to get myself cancer-free, but so many others have done the same work with a far different outcome. What’s humbling and so very apparent, is that ultimately, I wasn’t in charge of what disease did or didn’t do. My remission was decided not just by medical treatments and lifestyle changes, it was also decided by something much more powerful than you or me. A Higher Power. While I did everything within my control to get healthy, ultimately, it was in the hands of something greater.

Celebrate Others

So, in “celebration” of my 10 year cancer-versary, I humbly commit to honor my beautiful friends who are no longer with us by spreading authentic goodness and healing opportunities, inside and outside the GEM each day. Sadly, there are many. For my sweet friend Kristin, for Charlotte, Chris, Chad, Brandice, Chuck, Bobby, Michael, Genia, Polly: We know your stories. We miss your life forces. Your smiles.

And to those who are still fighting. Jennifer, Jessica, Marjorie, Padgett, Andrea, Sally, and so many others…keep your eye on the prize of healing. You have amazing support teams around you — and all of us at The GEM are part of that band of warriors.

The beauty of your life is humbling — look for it. I hope you’ll share this gratitude with someone else: a friend, a family member or a stranger. You never know how much your kindness could turn the dark into the dawn.

“Even in darkness, blossoms will bloom.”

Arm Yourself Against Cancer: The #HonestlyOrganic Way

Posted on October 16, 2019 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 1 Comment on Arm Yourself Against Cancer: The #HonestlyOrganic Way

This one’s for you, Cancer. My fight against cancer for the REAL family jewels (the breasts) led MK and me to create the ONLY organic juice bar in Dallas. My multi-prong, cancer-free plan of attack included eating only whole, CLEAN, organic foods — pesticides, toxins and processed artificial ingredients HAD TO GO.

At the GEM, we know firsthand: This nasty disease is no joke. One more cancer sufferer is one too many. So we’ve made it our mission to provide only the BEST organic juices, smoothies and green bites with no compromise to help protect YOUR family jewels (prostate, breast, and colon) — and give you diamonds on the inside, too!

Order your #HonestlyOrganic green bites and juices, on our app!

From the first diagnosis of breast cancer, I made a conscious decision to learn and do everything within my power to keep me cancer free. One of the first things I changed? My diet. Being scared into EATING straight is a real thing, people! This meant whole, CLEAN (organic) foods — no more artificial or processed junk, and absolutely no more pesticide-ridden fruits and veggies.

But eating organic is only the first step to living a cancer-free life. Keep the treasures safe with these essential lifestyle changes:

10 Ways to Keep Your Family Jewels Cancer Free

MOVE TO A WHOLE FOODS, PLANT-BASED DIET. Eat fewer things that have feet (ie, animal protein) and eat more green plants. Read The China Study. Mind-blowing research about cancer and animal protein.
ELIMINATE PRESERVATIVES AND CHEMICALS from your food. We can’t say it enough! That includes artificial sweeteners, flavorings and colors, nitrates, MSG, and more. And while we’re at it, replace those vegetable based oils (like canola, corn and soy) with healthier and whole avocado, olive and coconut oil. Fats are good for you, but only when they come from healthy, clean sources. By the way, did you know, there are no vegetables in vegetable oil? True story.
FIGHT THE SUGAR DRAGON: Not only is this ingredient highly addictive, it’s also known to increase cancer-causing inflammation! You can find added sugar snuck into almost everything: Corn syrup, rice syrup, dextrose, sucrose, lactose…the list goes on.
READ YOUR INGREDIENTS: You’d be surprised at what you’ll find in some foods — even an innocent bottle of salad dressing. Hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, nitrates, artificial colors and more.
DRINK YOUR GREEN TEA. The active ingredient in green tea – antioxidant compounds called catechins – reduces cancer occurrences. Our Forever Young Green Tea and Matcha Latte hit it head on!
RELAX. Daily breathing exercises, meditation, and more decrease stress hormones released into your system, preventing cancer-causing inflammation. This stuff WORKS.
ORGANIC BERRIES. Delicious, delicious berries contain significant antioxidants that help reduce cancer risk AND contain ellagic acid, which has been shown to slow the growth of some tumors (insert twig and berries joke here!).
#SHINEBRIGHT WITH VITAMIN D. From safe exposure to sunshine, D3 supplements and leafy greens, Vitamin D suppresses the formation of new blood vessels that nourish the growth of tumors. The rates of breast, prostate, and colon cancer are lower in climates that have the most sunshine. Bring on the Hawaiian Tropic!
TURMERIC & SELENIUM. Curcumin (active component) has been shown to interrupt the normal progression of cancer cells. Also great for arthritis/joint pain. Turmeric Lattes or straight shots of pressed turmeric — just do it. Selenium is a potent antioxidant or scavenger of carcinogenic free radicals. It is HUGE as an anti-prostate cancer warrior. Our GEM Remix has you covered.
GET PHYSICAL. By adding energizing, stress-busting exercise to your daily routine, you can lower the levels of estrogen and insulin in your body — hormones which can increase cancer development and progression if left unchecked.
STAY BOOZE-FREE. Women who had 4-5 drinks per WEEK had a 38% percent higher risk of breast cancer recurrence. THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS. Leave the competitive drinking games in college where they belong! NO EXCUSES! Try replacing your daily glass of wine with meditation, exercise, a dose of Natural Calm or a cozy Turmeric Latte. Alcohol is full of sugar and calories as empty as a Big Mac.

Wearing pink, purchasing yogurt with a ribbon on it and regular screening just won’t cut it anymore. TAKE CONTROL. We are the sum of all of our tiny little decisions — good and bad.

Go on, be a GEM and give a big squeeze of love to your family and your family jewels. But above all else, remember to surround yourself with shiny, happy people and places that lift you up. See you inside The GEM!

Why We Live #HonestlyOrganic

Posted on September 12, 2019 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 4 Comments on Why We Live #HonestlyOrganic

Organic or non-organic: why does it matter? More than a lifestyle, honestly organic is a way of thinking and a commitment to your health. Here’s the serious side of non-organic: PESTICIDES + GMOs = CHRONIC DISEASE & INFLAMMATION. You heard right (and there is science to back this up). Truly organic food, grown without harmful pesticides and non-GMO, is a major weapon in your arsenal to maintain health and well being.

Order your #HonestlyOrganic breakfast or lunch, on our app!

Organic is NOT a trend, a fad, or a when-convenient habit. A nutrient dense, ORGANIC (read: clean), plant-based diet is THE way to eat and live. (P.S. This doesn’t include trendy organic super-processed junk food. We mean WHOLE FOOD). Staying organic when it’s not convenient is hard and why so many businesses aren’t able to do it 100 percent of the time. But YOU ARE worth it.

When you choose organic, you unleash the superpowers of clean, whole foods that produce a positive environment on our insides and on our earth. These foods kick start your body’s natural defenses against illness, inflammation, disease and almost every health issue.

Want to DISCO your way into a whole new lifestyle? Here are 5 more reasons why choosing organic is oh-so-critical to your overall health:

SHE’S A BRICK HOUSE. Organic boasts more nutrients per square inch. Non-organic agriculture results in larger crops with lower nutrients — it’s known as the dilution effect. Organic methods improve soil and that leads to healthier plants—and healthier humans.

STAYIN’ ALIVE. REDUCE YOUR TOXIC LOAD. Toxins are cumulative—stored in our fat and liver cells, compounding on each other every time we consume them. Certain conventional foods contain these types of pesticides . So why keep adding toxins to your body?

Le FREAK. THINK ANTI-CANCER. Organic means non-GMO. Genetically Modified Organism. It sounds like a creepy science experiment, because it IS a creepy science experiment. GMOs often have cancer-causing toxins like glyphosate sprayed on and injected into the DNA of the plant—and hence, into yours.

BOOGIE WONDERLAND. IT’S WHERE WE LIVE. Choosing organic is MUCH better for the environment. Less toxic runoff, more healthy water and soil. When we choose organic, we are also choosing to love Mother Earth.

ROCK YOUR BABY…AND PROTECT YOUR KIDS. Feeding our children organic, whole foods is VERY important. The American Academy of Pediatrics says “Children have unique susceptibilities to the potential toxicity of pesticides…and chronic health implications from exposure continue to emerge.” Our kids have enough to worry about as it is. Help them live their best HEALTHY lives by choosing organic.

In brief, all of us—adults AND children—should be eating organic as much as possible to promote health and longevity. There’s a quote on the wall at The Gem by Hippocrates that we live by every day: “Let Food Be Thy Medicine.” We’ve lived by it from the beginning…and our story doesn’t veer from this principle.

Cancer DOES Define Me

Posted on October 30, 2018 by The GEM and currently has 34 Comments on Cancer DOES Define Me

Full disclosure. I’ve worked really hard over the last 9 years to put my cancer treatment and journey behind me. I am really a master, it seems, of compartmentalizing (almost all) experiences that were traumatic in my life. A great coping skill to eliminate emotional baggage. After fighting cancer, I liked to say, “I will not let cancer define me.” And I was adamant about it.

But the truth of the matter is cancer has defined me. The experience truly made me who I am today. I can’t deny it. I am brighter, shinier, stronger. It is the reason The GEM is here.

I came to this realization while recently attending a luncheon honoring a fabulous GEM friend and cancer survivor. This event raised millions for the fight against breast cancer — providing access to advanced diagnostic equipment, innovative clinical research, and most importantly, safe, quality, compassionate care for those fighting cancer. Awesome. The theme was about acknowledging all that cancer brings: anger, fear, hope, love, courage, commitment and acknowledging that together we are strong and together we can do it. I expected that. But as I pushed around the almonds on my banquet arugula salad, something rocked me like a hurricane.

I experienced something profound. And unexpected.

As I listened to the stories of others affected by cancer, I became overwhelmed by a sense of immeasurable gratitude. Gratitude for the experience fighting cancer brought me. For the incredible care I was afforded in Dallas. The love and care shown me by friends. This support system is the reason I survived. The reason I thrive.

CANCER CHANGED MY LIFE

Fighting cancer impacted my life in 3 three ways:

Made me more grateful and mindful of the blessings in my life: My husband who is solid gold. My parents’ unwavering support. My cadre of Rockstar friends. My health. I FIND GRATITUDE in every moment. That kind of positive perspective changes the reality of things.
Changed how I responded to conflict. I breathe deep and know I will GATHER MY PEACE. Because at the end of the day, is it really worth it to stress and blow over big and small stuff? Hell no.
Transformed how I looked at FOOD, and the POWER of it on my physical and mental health. The GEM is the manifestation of my new view on all that nourishes me.

FIGHTING CANCER CONTINUES

To continue my cancer-free life, I now do these three things every day to launch a preemptive strike in the fight against the disease:

Wake each morning to 32 oz. of water, deep breathing, and organic green tea. This routine includes listing three things I am grateful for. This changes my situational perspective. (Here’s one way you can use your morning routine to brighten your day.)
Surround myself with shiny, happy people and places that lift me up. I find all of that
inside The GEM community!
Eat GREEN and CLEAN. Drink my celery juice first thing. By 11 a.m., I’ve already knocked back a kickass cup of MVP soup. (That means I’ve had seven servings of veggies before noon!). You can start by adding one extra green to every meal. It makes a big difference in my energy, mood, and waistline.

The truth is I’m grateful for what cancer has done in my life and the person I’ve become. Cancer does define me. And I’m proud of that. Thanks for allowing me to be honest. With you. With myself.

Inspired to Change? Share Your Transformation

Posted on October 8, 2017 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 4 Comments on Inspired to Change? Share Your Transformation

“It’s not what happens to you, but how you handle it. If Life gives you lemons, make lemonade. If the lemons are rotten, take out the seeds and plant them in order to grow new lemons.”
~ Louise Hay

There are life altering challenges that hit you. Good things and bad things. Most want to focus on the “what.” But it’s not really WHAT happens that is important. It’s HOW you respond to it that counts.

My story of transformation began eight long, juice-filled years ago. You possibly wouldn’t have liked me before October of 2009. Or at the very least, not recognized me. I was my own version of a lemon. Don’t get me wrong, I was loads of fun if you were with me at a party, but daily I was overly stressed, unnecessarily impatient and invariably cramming fairly toxic food and drink down my throat on an all too often basis.

Well, 19 days into “Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” I got that rotten lemon thrown my way: I was diagnosed with breast cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes. Whaaaaa? Me? This was the sucker punch that woke me up to transformation.

With three small kids, a kick-ass husband and a CADRE of warrior friends, I was still frozen with fear. What would I do? Control?

I needed someone to light the path and guide me into a healthier lifestyle – one that managed stress, incorporated green veggies and JUICE and excluded toxic people and thoughts. As I researched, I found folks I could follow – folks whose stories and background I could trust. Folks who could help me plant those seeds. The first book I read was about a super groovy girl named Kris Carr whose toxic life was also blindsided by a cancer diagnosis.

The book was Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor by Kris Carr. Holy Batman! I literally scoured every page for knowledge, inspiration, guidance and understanding not just how, but WHY I needed to change. This lit my fire to learn more — do more — be more. With her incredible, unicorn-filled thoughts and info, I finished my treatments and decided to dive deep, changing not just my eating (which was jacked up and toxic), but my thoughts (same), my work (same), and my life. Kris is an inspiration — my lighthouse that brought me to my Peace, my Happy and my Healthy.

With some of that knowledge and inspiration, we opened the very first organic juice bar in Dallas (The GEM) with my disco BFF Mary Kathryn, complete with disco ball and Donna Summer tunes—all as a result of this new-found knowledge and lifestyle and need for change.

Everyday, we share this knowledge with any GEM who wants to FEEL BETTER and BE BETTER. It has become our daily passion.

We hear your stories all the time of how The GEM has transformed you – helped light the path and guide you into a healthier lifestyle. Sure do hope so, because as much as this groovy community inspires YOU, YOU continue to inspire and transform us every single day. Let us hear more!

Have we inspired a transformation for you or your family?

We want to be encouraged by those of you whose lives have been changed, inspired by your stories of hope and transformation. Do you have a story of how The GEM has inspired you and your family in some way? LOVE to hear it. Please share the love with us and others of how you’ve made specific changes to your life.

And if you are at a place in your life where you feel stuck and unable to change course, it is through the act of moving forward with your best intentions, those grounded in profound love and respect for yourself, that you will make the changes needed to transform your life. If I can decide to be healthier, lighter (literally and figuratively), brighter … so can you.

“If you don’t like where you are, MOVE. You are not a tree.” Jim Rohn

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The Official Blog of The GEM.