In my early years of life, I was a sickling. By age 8 whilst in Grade 3, I understood quite complex medical terminologies. I knew the hospital corridors almost more than I knew our home. In the midst of the on and off admissions, surgery, different medications reacting with my system, specialist doctors consulting loudly by my bedside, discussing how there’s no hope and without knowing that I was listening and could understand their entire jargon, my main doctor advising my mum to take me home and my mum categorically refusing (What a woman of Faith! God bless her!)…. I was afraid, I was tired of being sick and I afraid that I might not make it but God sealed the deal; I recovered fully.
My stint at the hospital aroused a desire in me for wellness. My favorite pediatrician was a Dr. P.D. Shah in Eldoret. I used to ask him questions that would be termed crazy for an 8-year-old in the late eighties. For example, if I went to hospital with a headache, I’d ask him to explain to me what exactly is happening in my head. “Is it that the body parts in the head had friction, or is it that one organ is swollen and hence squeezing the other, or could there be some fluid leak somewhere in the head, etc.…” With his categorical smile, he’d explain to me that there could be some truth in my verdict but he thinks it’s just a little pressure that needs to be eased with a syrup and a lollipop. God bless him!
While at the hospital, my mum bought me a journal to jot down my activities and to indulge me. I used to draw, color pictures, jot down poems and personal musings in a bid to ‘kill boredom’. I remember thinking to myself that one day I will write books!. I now see that it as a prayer that I made to God and He answered.
As you can imagine, this early engagement with the medical world elicited a deep desire to pursue medicine. My mum had this nursing book that was super amazing to my young brain. It had images of beautiful nurses taking care of patients, different types of first aid, different natural home remedies for the flu, cuts, bruises etc. and I loved to read it. I tried some of the remedies. I learnt how to put together a steaming set up for the respiratory system, I learnt how to exert pressure on a cut. That was no mean feat to an 8-year-old. Don’t you think so?
As expected, my initial experiences helped me appreciate, love, gain a passion for and uphold health and wellness. And as years have gone by, this has become my heartbeat.
Health and wellness is under-rated. It’s sad that most people only discover the importance of health when it’s too late, when it is already deteriorating. Indeed, the late Dr. Myles Munroe was right when he said that “When purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable.”. May his soul rest in peace. Isn’t that how we sometimes treat our health? Something truly valuable yet carelessly handled and misused.
Unfortunately, my desire to be a conventional doctor was not to be. Hey, we plan and God smiles. My career spans across years of practice in corporate and business management: Handling corporate operations and finance, growing formidable teams and enjoying the rewards and the perks while at it. For example, I was privileged to be the main organizer for the Dr. Myles Munroe tour when he came to Kenya in 2013 & 2014. In his last tour he kept insisting both to the public and whenever we met to debrief as a small team that we should all strive to die empty. You know the famous analogy of the graveyard being the most expensive place on earth…. with unwritten books, unsung songs, uninvited concepts etc.? That hit me clear and square and once again I remembered my dream that…I MUST WRITE BOOKS!”
The Gems of Healthy Living aims to explain health from a lay man’s point of view for a lay man to understand. The book explains health devoid of any medical jargon that would otherwise intimidate the reader and cause his/her lack of understanding of this very crucial part of life. I didn’t digress too much from my initial desire to be a medic. So in the year of the pandemic, I decided to get academic! I went back to school to study Holistic Nutrition. I am now a *Holistic Nutritional Therapist* certified by the School of Natural Health Sciences based in the UK.
One of my life’s mantra is this: – *Treat your health as a choice motor vehicle. When all is said and done, in your latter years, be found at a ‘concours d’ elegance’ and not in a junk yard.*
The resources I’m sharing in this book are born from a passion of wellness and garnered over many years of research, study, experiments and practice. I do not in any way intend to disgrace or replace the specialized training and professional judgment of health care professional and experts, but I seek to enhance what we already know from conventional medicine in a bid to have you enjoy total all-rounded wellness. My focus is on preventive functional care of our health and wellbeing.
I am a crusader for all-rounded wellness and on a continuous research path to uncover hidden gems of healthy living, wellness and nutrition. I am passionate about bridging the gap between these awesome inventions and you- the end-beneficiary of the product.
My desire is that this book will be your health companion of choice to constantly flip its pages for wisdom on how to lead a healthy lifestyle and how to enjoy full wellness.
Here are my contact details. Please follow me, like and order a copy of my book.
Cell Phone No.: +254722385371
Email: jemimahnzola@gmail.com
The insights herein have not only changed my life, but also the lives of my family members’ lives, friends and clients. I have seen people with chronic ailments totally recover after adhering to the insights written herein. I desire to attain my ideal weight soon by adhering to the wisdom shared herein. I have seen people’s energy levels skyrocket and enabled them to do things that they wouldn’t have managed a few years ago. Nobody should lead life or age as an invalid.
Remember, life is not a rehearsal-this is it! Enjoy it every step of the way! I promise you that your life and that of your dear ones’ will change for the better as you practice this new life. You will be healthier, happier, more content and definitely more productive.
“When purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable” Great quote indeed! It is evident you have discovered your purpose. Thank you Jemimah for writing this book. Hope it inspires many to pursue their purpose too.
We thank God that you recovered and are now a great hope and inspiration to many. Many blessings upon you.
Treat your health as a choice motor vehicle. When all is said and done, in your latter years, be found at a ‘concours d’ elegance’ and not in a junk yard, I must confess this is a light bulb moment for me. This phrase is deep.thank you Jemimah for sharing your journey. I love that your life experience inspired your writing journey
Treat your health as a choice motor vehicle. When all is said and done, in your latter years, be found at a ‘concours d’ elegance’ and not in a junk yard, I must confess this is a light bulb moment fir me. This phrase is deep.thank you Jemimah for sharing your journey.
This
Love it! In my latter years, may I be found in the Concours d’elegance! Thank you for putting this together!
I am glad you used your painful childhood experiences to create a beautiful masterpiece. The presentation of your writing journey alone speaks volumes of how great your writing skills are. I can just imagine the entire content of the book. Well done Jemima!
Very interesting piece coming from firsthand experience
A great journey. Well done e too on a wonderful cover and book
Brilliant work. I see why everything happens for a reason. You being a sickling in earlier years offered you the stage to learn and love healthy living. This book is an awesome gift to all readers and I pray it continues to change people’s lives. The insights are a must read.
Amazing journey for this all rounded wellness book. Inspired by the stincts in hospital and mum’s bringing you the journal in the hospital which birthed the passion in writing. Congratulations for this wonderful piece. A must read for everyone. They saw your HEALTH is your WEALTH