December is a time for reflection, celebration, and looking ahead. As we wrap up the year and celebrate Jesus’ birthday, I’m reminded that wellness isn’t just about physical health, movement, or nutrition—it also includes the spiritual part of our lives. For me, tending to spiritual wellness has shaped how I handle challenges, relationships, and even everyday decisions. That’s why, this month, I want to share my personal journey.
I’ve attended St. Helena’s Anglican Church since the 1970s—mostly because my mom brought my brother and me along. I was baptized as a child but never confirmed, and honestly, for most of my adult life, church wasn’t something I showed up for regularly. I’d go on holidays or when I was visiting home, but spiritually, I was pretty checked out.
The Wellness Wheel Reality Check
When I left my teaching job at Port Royal Elementary and began my training to become a certified health and wellness coach, I was introduced to the Wellness Wheel. It’s a tool that shows how balanced or unbalanced different areas of your life are—physical, emotional, social, environmental, financial, and yes, spiritual.
When I completed mine in January 2017, several areas were noticeably low—especially spiritual, social, and relationships. Seeing it in black and white was uncomfortable but also revealing. I could encourage clients to build whole-person wellness, but I wasn’t tending to every part of my own.
That was my wake-up call.
Starting Small
I made a simple commitment: attend church on the first Sunday of every month. Nothing dramatic—just consistency. And every time I went, I felt better. More grounded. More aware. That small step became easier to take, and before long, I attended weekly and eventually got confirmed.
Around that time, I ended a long-term relationship and reconnected with an old friend, Kyle. Our daily walks turned into deeper conversations, especially about faith. One afternoon, he asked me three biblical questions he said his future wife should be able to answer. I couldn’t answer any of them. Normally, I would’ve called my mom for guidance, but my parents were out of town with no cell service. There was no “phone-a-friend” option.
Turning to Prayer—for Real This Time
With nowhere else to turn, I prayed. Truly prayed. I got down on my knees, not because I felt especially holy, but because I needed direction. I don’t remember my exact words, but I remember the peace I woke up with the next morning. I knew what I needed to do.
I spent the entire day studying God’s Word—from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. When my parents returned, I told my mom everything. My mom, who had quietly been praying for this moment for years, handed me a study Bible.
Learning to Trust
At 39, I was single and afraid of being alone. I was new to health coaching, finding my footing, and trying to build a life that felt meaningful. I prayed for guidance and told God I would give this new career three years. I didn’t know what would happen, but I trusted that He would use it.
A year later, Lee came into my life, and my spiritual growth continued in ways I couldn’t have planned or predicted. Looking back, I can see how God was gently nudging me long before I ever paid attention.
Why This Matters for Health
What I’ve learned is that whole-person wellness isn’t just about food, sleep, or movement. It includes the parts of us we can’t see—the areas that give us peace, purpose, and grounding when life shifts. For some people that’s faith, for others, quiet reflection, time in nature, or simply feeling connected to something bigger than themselves.
But however it looks, tending to spiritual wellness supports every other part of our health.
The Ending You Chose
For me, the Wellness Wheel ended up being more than a coaching tool—it was the spark (plus a single guy) God used to get my attention and draw me closer to Him.
How has He been working in your life? How is your spiritual wellness?
