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    Shannon Nolan

    Shannon Nolan

  • Thanksgiving - God Gave Me You!

    When I reflect on what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving, the list is so full (and soulful)! I am thankful for the insights I have gained over the last year since I met Laura Kamm and Kwala Mandel who are the beautiful women responsible for my Golden Door opportunity that has changed the course of my life. I am thankful for the peace from within myself that was only a whisper before. I love waking up in the morning excited and hopeful that the choices I make will be in my highest and best good as well as the highest and best for others. ...

  • Titanium Spirit and Releasing Negativity

    Have you heard the song, "Titanium" by David Guetta? It's awesome and pretty much feels like my current frame of mind. The beat is strong and the voice is memorizing almost hypnotic. My favorite part of the song says, "I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose fire away, fire away ricochet, you take your aim fire away, fire away." It speaks to the part of me that feels so strong and invincible, unbreakable. Here is the link to the song's video. So good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRfuAukYTKg

  • Fall Has Begun - the Season and the Weight

    <img src="https://s.yimg.com/ck/image/A2521/2521868/470_2521868.jpg" name="2521868" title="An evening walk into the Golden Door. I love this place. I relish every moment and every step. " width="470" height="627" id="2521868" align="left" ><img src="https://s.yimg.com/ck/image/A2521/2521870/470_2521870.jpg" name="2521870" title="This just makes sense. " width="470" height="320" id="2521870" align="left" ><img src="https://s.yimg.com/ck/image/A2521/2521876/470_2521876.jpg" name="2521876" title="April 2012 - right before going to Golden Door." width="470" height="1275" id="2521876" align="left" ><img src="https://s.yimg.com/ck/image/A2521/2521878/470_2521878.jpg" name="2521878" title="Picture from last week- October 2012. " width="470" height="1171" id="2521878" align="left" > <br>

  • Therapy Works!

    Hello friends! I looked over my last blog where I shared about "shoulding" people and yourself as a form of unnecessary judgment and I see now that I've taken that concept across other areas of my life. If I say that I "should" do something, it automatically sets in motion a cycle of contempt, guilt, and resentment. I have enjoyed the challenge of releasing myself from that word, "should". I find myself more at peace with the progress of my health, "love life", my career, and most importantly my spiritual development.

  • Six Month Extension of Progress and Love at the Golden Door

    It has been six months since I first crossed the threshold at the Golden Door embarking on a journey of love and self acceptance. I will always remember the feeling of warmth that overwhelmed me as I walked through the golden door for the first time on April 1 st . The huge oak and eucalyptus trees overhead and the ivy filled riverbed below. It was like walking on nature's heavenly path. Golden Door administrators graciously offered me a 6 month opportunity to work with a trainer and therapist to support my effort in becoming healthy. ...

  • Changes in Stages - It's Beautiful and Challenging All at Once

    Progress not perfection is the name of the game.

  • Dr. Seuss, Health, Love, and Zumba! How Can it Be So?

    It has been a good while since I've blogged and I missed this chance to reflect and share with you! I'm planning a leadership retreat for college students at the moment and was inspired by, of all people, San Diego's very own Dr. Seuss' "Oh The Places You'll Go". I love this passage: "You'll get mixed up, of course, As you already know. You'll get mixed up With many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact And remember that Life's A Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right food with you left."

  • Letting Go

    This was a week of reflections and exercising my ability to "let go". I'm gradually letting go of the idea that I will always be a "fat person" and I am acknowledging the true athlete inside. I am actually a healthy person working on releasing this shield. I'm playing basketball, paddling, running, hiking, swimming, and just having fun in this body. I eat whole/organic foods, drink water, and eat smaller proportions. Shannon might be hefty right now but she is really a lean mean fun living machine. This week I also tried something new: I am eating dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner. ...

  • Me and Venus

    This week, for the first time in 8 years, not to be experienced again until 2117, Venus was visible between the Earth and Sun. It was amazing to look through the telescopes to see this little dot - knowing it was a planet! It left me in awe. I feel energized being around people wanting to witness this sight on the top of a mountain, through the lens of these scientists, philosophers, and armature astronomers. I learned that the Hubble Space Telescope cannot directly observe the sun because the sunlight would destroy the instruments. ...

  • I Feel so Close!

    There is a new song by Calvin Harris called, "I Feel So Close To You Right Now" - I listened to that song repeatedly this week! I just LOVE it! I It says, "Your love pours down on me, surrounds me like a waterfall And there's no stopping us right now. I feel so close to you right now." This is how I feel about the Golden Door and all of my support that I have been receiving for a LONG time from helpers on this side and the other side. I feel so excited about life like I could BURST! I want to run, dance, and just be silly. ...

  • Special Moments

    Greetings Readers! This has been a fun week! I am feeling different and more empowered in my body daily. I'm getting stronger, more flexible, and energetic. This week I did push-ups with Ellen, a few 1 minute planks at the gym, ran on a treadmill, and reached my toes! True story: the sit-and-reach was the only fitness test that I could pass as a kid and I have not been able to reach past my toes while sitting down in a long time - like years, or at least I haven't tried. ...

  • Deeper Perspective on the Situation

    This was a great week because I feel like I'm really listening to my body consistently. For the first time EVER - I took a nice long hike solo. It was only 3 miles but it was great exercise up this mountain in Elfin Forest. Here is the view from near the top. I was decked out in my hiking gear from hiking sticks to camel pack - I was ready to embrace that mountain. It took 3 hours because I really really took my time and stopped when I needed to. ...

  • Healing Images from Golden Door

    <img src="http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/blogs/partner/470_2358704.jpg" name="2358704" width="470" height="627" id="2358704" title="Even trees grow and release what no longer serves them. " align="left" > <br>

  • Progress Not Perfection

    One of my biggest challenges in my life is my absolute thinking. For the majority of my life I've considered things through a very linear lens that has always made me feel VERY short of perfection. DUH! I'm learning that there is no such thing as perfection and in striving so hard for the unattainable I have been constantly disappointed with the outcomes - even if they are beautiful outcomes in and of themselves. I am embracing the perspective of progress rather than pursuing perfection and it is AWESOME! What a relief to finally be at peace with myself over my progress. ...

  • Golden Moments and Insights at the Golden Door

    My week long stay and continued connection to the Golden Door has been an amazing experience. I feel like I landed in a dream and that I have finally truly connected to myself. Please enjoy these pictures of my experience. Remember the limitations of cameras and technology. These images are my attempt to bottle up my experience in a modest package to share with you. If you want to experience this Eden of peace you need to go in person because nothing else will bring it justice. Peace and love. Shannon <br>

  • Connecting to Self at Golden Door

    I had another lovely visit at the Golden Door this week. Ellen (my personal trainer) continues to inspire and ground me in my journey. I lost 2 lbs. this week and I'm down one inch! Pretty neat huh?! I'm feeling great except as I write this I am sore from the workout. My abs, arms, and legs ache. It feels GREAT to feel a body within this shell of existence saying, "HELLO - remember me?!" One bummer is that I pinched my sciatic nerve over the weekend and continue to struggle with sleep and pain. I have faith that it will release from me soon. ...

  • Another Golden Adventure

    My visit to the Golden Door began as smooth as usual with Patrick opening the gate for me. This time I had the unique opportunity to walk in with Executive Director, Judy. I feel very connected to this place and these people. Judy shared how she was going on a vacation with her sisters to Cancun. I was able to wish her a marvelous trip and hope that she was going to get pampered just like she pampers her guests at the Golden door.

  • A Golden Door to Change

    On April 1 st , I arrived at the Golden Door in Escondido, CA, with an open heart and mind. I turned 31 on March 29 th , just a few days before my stay. Happy birthday to me, right!? It was surreal to pull up to the modest gate and have this Eden of peaceful enlightenment open up to me: Shannon Nolan. Here is my story in a very brief nutshell: I am educated, I travel, I have friends and a loving family, and I make a comfortable living. My successes in life are largely due to the skills I learned from my parents, despite my all too brief time with them on this earth. ...