Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Garland.
Hi Hannah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Richardson, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, and was a very shy but creative and curious girl. I flitted from interest, a jack of all trades, you could say. I attended the Culinary Magnet at my high school for 3 years because I loved cooking and baking, and when it came time to graduate, I wasn’t quite sure what to do, or what I could commit to. I applied to the Fashion Design program at The Art Institute of Dallas, but never went because I couldn’t make sense of paying that much money for something I wasn’t completely committed to. Instead, I went to community college, and after taking Psych 101, I knew I found the thing!
Eventually, I transferred to Texas State University as a Junior, and majored in Psychology with a minor in Anthropology (both things I love). But working to pay rent made it really difficult for me to keep up with the class load, so I dropped out. In the meantime, I moved from San Marcos to Austin, and worked my way around town, absorbing all the experiences my little spongy mind could get my hands on. I’ve been a baker, a pastry chef, a cake decorator, a retail sales manager. I worked in the deli at a coop, I made gelato and sandwiches, was a barista, a line cook, a prep cook, and waited tables.
But then my dad got ill with cancer. My parents had moved to Pflugerville, and unfortunately, things were getting financially difficult for me, so I moved in with them to get back on my feet and to help my mom with my dad.
After going through chemo and radiation, my dad became somewhat obsessed with nutrition and what he put in his body. A big ol’ light bulb went off in my head! What if food is medicine and if changing what we eat could potentially keep us mostly out of harm’s way?
I have my dad to thank for giving me the motivation to go back to school, once again, for Nutrition/Dietetics with a minor in Psychology at Texas State. But similarly to the last time, I decided to leave once again. Something about the way the program was written didn’t really align with something in my heart and soul. I didn’t want to be another white dietician telling people what to do, or police their eating behaviours, or “quantify” them scientifically.
Before finding out what I wanted to do, I landed a Business Development/Health Coaching position and that just made my path even more clear. I realized that I loved people, connecting with them on a deeper level, and I always have, but wanted to help them in some form. What if I could take my empathy and compassion and psychology background along with my nutrition background, and put them together?! It was an eye-opening experience and one that I will always carry with me. Growing up, I never felt that I quite excelled at anything, but this? This came so naturally to me.
I found another route, a route that felt much more deeply aligned with me, and that was becoming a Certified Health Coach at IIN (Institute of Integrative Nutrition). After putting off enrolling because of the “I don’t have the money, how dare I” excuse for so long, I took the plunge and enrolled. During my time there, I ran a Vegan Non dairy business where I wrote all the recipes that included cream cheese, sour cream, cashew milk, queso, cheese, yogurt, etc. I also did all of the production, marketing, advertising, and networking with other vegan businesses in the area.
To fast-track the story, I eventually graduated from IIN, and in the meantime, I have created a podcast called New Moon Wellbeing, and it has been a very special project of mine. I have strayed from being a “health coach” but rather an “Intuitive Wellbeing” counselor. The podcast covers all kinds of topics, from nutrition to mental health, to be creative and nonviolent. I have an episode coming up with the author of Becoming Cliterate. It really just is a passion project that I hope makes people feel seen and heard, and validated.
I’d also like to take a moment to acknowledge that I am deeply privileged, as I have access to opportunities that not everyone else has access to. Yes, I have had to pay for all my schooling, and certifications and “cost of living” but being low-income can definitely make fighting for your dreams and passions feel almost impossible.
Nonetheless, I am so grateful for all my experiences, even losing my dad, because they brought me here and brought me closer and closer to what my gifts are and what aligns with my heart and spirit, and how I can use all of those things to support my fellow human beings, and making them feel loved and seen and heard and cared for. I wouldn’t be here, doing what I love, without the support of my community. I deeply believe something grew inside of me when I was taking care of my dad, and the more I water it, the more it grows.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been smooth. Luckily, I never expected it to be. Struggling to pay bills, family emergencies, trauma, self-doubt, mental health struggles, etc. My motto is to just “ride the waves”. Take rest when you can. Things can’t be great all the time, and difficult experiences will always pass. I am grateful for the struggle because they teach me things about myself and the world around me. They help me connect with my community. Isn’t that what we all want? Connection?
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I know most people who aren’t “professionals” don’t like to coin themselves as “artists”, but I have no problem doing so. I’m an artist in every area of my life. My podcast is art, and my music is art, my art is art, and the way I engage with others is art. If I focus on my podcast as the main thing that I do, I would say I specialize in being vulnerable and authentic. I am a curious person, and deeply introspective person, and I like to look at things from a different perspective and share it with others so that maybe if they feel similarly if they vibe, some part of them feels more seen and heard and loved and NOT ALONE. I do this with my weekly newsletter, Cat’s Cradle, as well, or at least I hope so.
What I am most proud of is that I always come back, I always get back up, I always tell the truth. Life is hard, there is no doubt, and I have never pretended to have it all together. But I am proud of myself for continuing to be optimistic, empathetic, and compassionate towards myself, but most importantly towards others. I want to hear you. I want to know you. I believe that is what sets me apart from others. I don’t want to sell you something, or manipulate you. I want to make space for you to be you, the dark sides and the light sides, because both are important.
Making art, whatever kind makes you happy, and loving kindness towards ourselves and others, are both acts of resistance that I am a big advocate of.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The biggest lesson I have learned due to the covid 19 crisis is that we need each other, we need community, and we need support. We don’t have to go through things alone, but we are actually stronger when we join together. People are afraid to ask for help in fear of being judged. But I believe there is great power in asking for help when you need it, and great power in showing up for someone when they need it the most.
I also think the crisis taught most people that the way we were living was just not going to be beneficial long term, or worse, not working out at all. I think our priorities changed because we saw what happened when sh** hit the fan. I think it just brought everything to the surface, and made us take a really good look at it. Even if uncomfortable, I definitely think it was necessary. I know for sure I learned a lot about the ways that I was living that really weren’t in my or my community’s best interests.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hpgarland.wixsite.com/newmoonwellbeing
- Instagram: instagram.com/newmoonhannah
- Other: catscradle.substack.com
Image Credits
Hannah Garland
