Today’s featured blogger is Melissa from Trying to Heal (like how the title of the post flows with Melissa’s blog name)! Yes, Melissa is a healthy living blogger like many of our previously featured bloggers, but she also battles openly and honestly with an eating disorder and has an amazing job that is far removed from the world of desks and computers!
Enjoy getting to know this honest, adventurous and environmentally-friendly blogger!
1. Tell us a bit about your blog?
My blog covers a bit of everything. I write about my daily eats and exercise, but also include my work out in the field and my struggles with an eating disorder. It’s almost more like an online diary with a focus on those things because I really don’t hold anything back. I’m an open book! I’m moving into my 4th year of working with this blog and don’t take a moment back!
a. How did you come up with the title of your blog?
It actually came about when I made my email address, which was formed when I was studying in the rainforests of Australia and trying to save it, planting one tree at a time and advocating the importance of it’s existence! But after a while the term “Trying to Heal” became more associated with my struggles over an eating disorder and has stuck ever since!
b. What are you favorite topics to blog about?
Although I don’t do it often, but am about to start very soon, I love writing about the environment. It’s something I think most people put on the back burner but really should be the center of attention, since without the environment there would be no earth! Otherwise, I wouldn’t necessarily say I like writing about my eating disorder, but when I do and I see the impact it has, it’s totally worth it. The responses I get via comments and email is astounding and always make my heart swell! Lastly, I love writing about traveling. My job entitles me to move around and see new places all the time!
2. What would be your dream meal?
Since I am lactose intolerant, I miss cheese so much. I would absolutely love to have my Mom’s good ol’ fashioned mac n’ cheese with the ritz bread crumb topping…and a brownie with ice cream for dessert.
3. What is your greatest pet peeve?
I absolutely hate it when people are talking on their phones while working with a cashier at a store. It’s just common courtesy to pay attention to the people taking care of your purchase/food!
4. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
I would have a radar for people who poach for endangered animals and send them straight to jail. It pains me to hear about white rhinos, bengal tigers and condors being wiped off the face of the earth!
5. How did you get started with your line of work?
Being an Avian Field Biologist is the best job ever! Ok, well, that’s if you don’t mind getting dirty and being outside all the time, hot or cold, rain or shine. I started off doing customer service at a chocolate store then to a 9-5 desk job and was absolutely miserable! I graduated learning about the environment from college and to just sit around inside was killing me! After a friend offered me a job to drive around in the Florida and the Everglades on airboats I couldn’t say no, even though I had everyone telling me I was crazy! Yes, it was a temporary job and meant I was going to take a huge pay cut, but I was going to be happy and having so much fun! I think that’s all that counts…since when you do what you love for work, you never really work a day in your life!
6. If our reader’s could only read one of your blog posts, which one should they read?
I have far too many posts that are worth reading. I have been told my many that my Side Notes feature is so honest and real that they love every post, but others love the race recaps, especially when I do them mile by mile with all the commentary!
