voices achieves physical and emotional fitness . O ne of mankind ’ s eternal gripes is that the wisdom we acquire throughout life is not fully realized within us until our golden years . And , most of us never have a chance to fully take advantage of the lessons we learn throughout our lifetimes .
Enter Jewel , the 42-year-old songstress whose 1995 debut album , Pieces of You , introduced us to a very young woman with a very old soul , full of life experiences that most of us –– at any age –– have only dreamed of . From her simple upbringing in Alaska to traveling the west coast performing in coffeehouses with little money to her name , Jewel ’ s story is one of success , failure , passion , faith , and an endless cavalcade of people who influenced her personally or artistically .
In the over 20 years since her debut multi-platinum album changed her life forever , Jewel has come to realize that success and money doesn ’ t necessarily end life ’ s challenges : if anything , it usually paves the way for new ones . While entertainers often feel the need to focus on their aesthetic traits , it ’ s the process of being emotionally prepared for life ’ s hills and valleys that she prioritizes above all else .
“ I think emotional fitness is something we ’ re not incredibly educated on ,” Jewel says . “ It isn ’ t taught in schools . We don ’ t learn what it is to be human , and how to be satisfied , and how to make our brains work for us , and all the things that really are so essential to being alive . Math and sciences and those things are incredibly important , but it isn ’ t the whole picture .”
Clearly passionate about the topic at hand , she says , “ If I were to ask , ‘ What is Jewel ’ s happy ending ,’ it ’ s that I ’ ve come to peace with the process . To me , that ’ s what happiness is . It ’ s not some state of bliss that you achieve , never to leave again . It ’ s how do you handle the truth in life every day without it knocking you off your center perpetually ? How do you transmute pain into being exceptional instead of into being damaged , and being bitter , and being broken ?”
Jewel certainly understands that physical wellbeing is a crucial element to staying beautiful , young and –– most importantly of all –– healthy . It ’ s that last reason that gave her the motivation to change her diet and lifestyle early in her career .
“ There ’ s no shortcut ,” she says . “ I taught myself about nutrition , herbology , and fitness , and I gave myself a real , actual , meaningful education so that I could have meaningful , long-term health results . It hasn ’ t been motivated by , ‘ Oh my god . I ’ m in the
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DALLAS COUNTY Living Well Magazine | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
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