Miss Donna's True to Life Nutrition

Another year passed, and as expected I was not contented with where I was back then. I was inspired by the people who brought me down, who threw me to darkness, so I had to enroll in the graduate school. I had to prove that I was not dumb nor stupid. I took up Master in Public Health. It was a good experience but not that “good.” As mentioned, I was majoring in “public health” while I was in a private sector. Was it a wrong choice? Was I even ready? So, after two semesters, I got tired. I did not know what to do with my life!

Fast forward, I had another opportunity to open up a business. This time, a food service establishment. I had the chance to customize the structure of the cafe since it was designed to be a kiosk or a food truck. Time, effort and money were sacrificed. Too many doubts… Too many “what if’s”… But I had to move forward. So at last, it finally opened in 2014. It had a rustic feeling in the outdoors. First months were okay. The following months were great! I felt that I was taking the right track. But I also felt weak. I slept late, I woke up late, and already too tired to go to work. Many times, I have had headaches and rashes as induced by stress and lack of sleep. The business could not go on without me, so I had to commit every extra time I had. Then, it came to the point that those “extra times” were already dedicated to my work. As a dietitian, it had become my part-time job. I had to balance everything, I had to get back on my feet, and so I did.

Everything was doing well. People come and go. Customers were satisfied and requested for more. These requests turned out to be an ambition to open up a branch. In less than seven months, I invested in another cafe, this time – a healthy bistro with my nutrition clinic in it. I had doubts – and these doubts became a reality. It only lasted four months. The sad thing is, the quality of the services turned low. The reason was – I was working alone. I could not do it by myself. I was afraid to hire a manager. I was scared that they would not meet my expectations. These fears turned into depression.

Like any other businessmen, I had to take risks so what I did was to save my clinic because I had loyal clients. So what I had that time was the main branch, the clinic, my work, and baking. I was bombarded by customers that I need to have a bigger space. Like what you expected, I looked for and transferred, this time into a building. Again, I had so many doubts because the location was not perfect for a cafe, and the place needed too many renovations. But, again, I took risks. I have sacrificed too much already.

After a month of renovation, it finally opened. The first months were good. We are gaining enough. But for the nth time, I had rashes all over my body. I was too tired. My spirit was willing but not physically. Again, I dropped my clinic since the location was far from my clients. I planned to transfer to a multi-specialty center as this may give me a more extensive range of clients. I wanted to be both an entrepreneur and a dietitian. I needed these both at the same time. But it did not happen.

I was left with the business, work, and my part-time jobs. I needed to give up something, and I have decided to drop the business.

Skipping the other details, as it is what is happening right now, I needed to get out. I needed time for myself. I sacrificed years and years, I do not want to sacrifice more. I recently re-enrolled in grad school under the same degree – a semester more to go, and I’m done!

Well, I want my life back. I wanted to be the person that God wants me to be. I want to be HAPPY and CONTENTED. On the bright side, I may have given up everything at this point in my life, I have learned in every trial that I have conquered, I was given signs. But these signs were reality checks that needed to be faced, and I am proud that I had and presently am.

Donna