Wellness Inspired Podcast
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Hosted by Sheri Davidson, a licensed acupuncturist and certified wellness coach, the Wellness Inspired Podcast explores the messy, meaningful, and often unexpected path to feeling well—and staying well—in a world that constantly demands more.
Wellness Inspired Podcast
An Artful Blend of Mindfulness and Creativity with Interior Designer Teri Pugh
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In this enriching episode of The Wellness Inspired Podcast, step into the world of mindful design and creative expression with Teri Pugh, the visionary behind Teri Pugh Studio. Teri is an interior designer who shares her journey from an art enthusiast to a creative powerhouse and offers invaluable insights.
Discover how Teri seamlessly integrates her clients' personalities into their living spaces, transforming houses into homes that reflect their true essence. Explore the symbiotic relationship between creativity and mindfulness, and learn to nurture your innovative spirit amidst the hustle of daily life.
Join us for a thought-provoking exploration of the art of design, underscored by a commitment to living mindfully in an ever-evolving world. Whether you're a design fan or a seeker of balance, this episode promises to inspire and enlighten you.
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Hi Wellness Warriors. Welcome back to another episode of the Wellness Inspired Podcast, a place where you can find inspiration, motivation and empowerment in the pursuit of a wellness lifestyle. I'm your host, sherry Davidson. I'm a wellness coach and acupuncturist in Houston, texas, and I am deeply passionate about health and wellbeing. And, as always, I'm here with my co-host, ben. If you're new to the podcast, finn is my terrier mix, rescue dog, trail runner and loyal companion. He is also a therapy dog and greeter at Element 5 Acupuncture and Wellness, and I have an excellent episode for you.
Speaker 1Today I had the opportunity to sit down with Terry Pugh of Terry Pugh Studios to explore the intersection of mindfulness and creativity. Terry brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table and I have to say I really, really, really enjoyed our conversation. But first a little bit about her. Terry, the daughter of a prominent luxury residential builder, was destined to have a deep-rooted love for homes and their intricate designs. From a young age, she exhibited an innate passion for art. This love for art would later become a driving force behind her unique and creative approach to interior design. In 1996, with vast knowledge and the relentless desire to bring her vision to life, terry took a leap of faith and established Terry Pugh Studios. With a focus on turnkey design services, she set out to create spaces that truly reflect the personalities and aspirations of her clients. So join us as we dive into the role of mindfulness in her design practice and uncover its transformative power. But before we get started, I have some exhilarating news for you.
Speaker 1For those avid listeners who've tuned into the podcast over the past year, you've likely caught wind of the Wellness Riverboat Cruise. Well, friends, the moment has arrived. Mark your calendars for April, the 20th 2025, as we set sail on an unforgettable seven-night cruise along the Danube River. We will transverse through the picturesque landscapes of Austria, germany, hungary and Slovakia. Prepare yourselves for an array of active sightseeing adventures, including invigorating hikes, scenic bike rides and perhaps a few brisk runs. Alongside these activities, you're going to get to indulge in the serenity of yoga sessions, engage in enlightening wellness discussions and savor the flavors of locally sourced cuisine. Excitement is already brewing, as several enthusiasts have already secured their spots. So for those intrigued, I'll put the necessary links in the show notes. And if you're certain this voyage is calling your name, please waste no time in securing your place.
Speaker 1The riverboat cruises tend to fill up rapidly. That's what prompted us to shift from this year to next year, cause originally it was supposed to be, uh, in the fall of this year, but, um, they didn't have the availability. So don't think about it too long. Seize this opportunity while you can. And one more thing before we move on um, in an upcoming episode, I'll have the pleasure of hosting Laurie, the representative from Ammo Waterways, and Tammy, a travel concierge, and we'll dive into the cruise experience further. So feel free to forward any burning questions my way and I can ask them during that episode. And, additionally, keep your eye out for an upcoming in-person event. I'll ensure that you stay inside the loop with all the details. Okay, let's do this. Welcome to the podcast, terri.
Speaker 2Thank you, I'm so happy to be here.
Speaker 1Yeah, I'm happy that you're here. You're a residential designer.
Speaker 2I do mostly residential interior, high end. Okay, a little bit of commercial.
Speaker 1Well, we met at the Matterball showroom at the Decorative Center of Houston for the fall market. I did a mindful morning ritual meditation for interior designers and was focused on creativity and self-care.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1So, before we get into it, why don't you just tell people who you are, you know your business and how you got into interior design?
Speaker 2Yeah, so my name is Terri Pugh, my company is Terri Pugh Studio, and it's been a journey getting where I am. I started off in college studying art graphic art thinking that I would go and use that as my career, but I learned that it was so much more than that. I did more studio art, abstract painting, just the real creative side, and it was perfect for me because I would never have made it in any kind of engineering or doctoring or anything like that.
Speaker 1The creative side needed to be expressed. Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2Yes, always. And so I carried that through and went out and started trying to get a job, initially in a time when the economy was just not great, and I ended up going into sales. But I did for shelter magazines, lifestyle magazines and an architectural magazine. But I've always kind of bebopped around architecture and interiors and art and I just have a real love for that so you were an art major?
Speaker 1I was, are you?
Speaker 2from here, you from Houstonston. There's another story. I grew up in southern california. Okay, parents moved us here when I was 11 and so, um north of houston, in the conroe area, um got to get horses and do all those other things that I love doing.
Speaker 1I love horses I haven't been around them a lot, but I think they're my spirit animal.
Speaker 2You'll have to come. We have two. Really yes, they're amazing. When I was in Iceland.
Speaker 1I had a great connection with one of the Icelandic horses.
Speaker 2I have goosebumps. I have goosebumps.
Speaker 1They're just amazing, I mean, and they're so big and powerful, but they seem so gentle.
Speaker 2They have either great personality or none, and they're just like people. They're everything in between. Yeah.
Speaker 1I love that. Yeah, well, awesome, I'd love to come.
Speaker 2Yes, we'll have to make that happen. Yeah, well, awesome, well, I'd love to come.
Speaker 1Yes, we'll have to make that happen.
Speaker 2Yeah. So I ended up going through that process and then I ended up um, uh, going into sales for a number of um publications and then from there I branched out and did my own uh firm where I actually did hospitality and uh design for hotels and uh like golf condos and things like that. And then I came back to Houston, got married, wasn't really planning on working, but I just kind of got bored and my father had a home building business high-end residential home building and he kept picking my brain hey, what do you think about this plan? Hey, what would you do with this area? So I finally told him I said you're just going to gonna have to hire me. So I worked for him for 10 years and that has been 12 years ago. Then I branched off and started my my own studio now therapy studio and how long ago was that?
Speaker 212 years ago and I've been in the business, though probably over 20 yeah, I um.
Speaker 1I looked at your website the spaces oh, they look amazing.
Speaker 2Thank, you Absolutely beautiful.
Speaker 1So yeah, very beautiful Thank you, what would you? Say that your design style is.
Speaker 2That's a good question. Yeah, I don't really have a design style. My design style is my client. I love that. I have to get to know my client. I have to get to know their ins and outs, how they live, what's important to them form, function, aesthetics, children, puppies, what have you and so what I like to do is get to know them and then pull in whatever style I like to and I mix everything to really work off of any rules. Yeah, I love that. That's creativity, right? I think that's. That's that's creativity.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah, I love that. Uh, candace was on the podcast. Um, I guess we did a. We sat down a couple weeks ago and we talked a lot about that I love we did, we did well, yeah, I know she's the best. Uh, yeah, hers just went out. Uh, or today I need to listen to yeah. Yeah, it was good we talked about well design.
Speaker 2So it was a big topic, you know designing for the person. Yeah.
Speaker 1So so I really do, I love that.
Speaker 2I think a lot of, I think a lot of my peers do the same, yeah. And so as far as style goes, I can, if you look at my website you can tell we do pretty much everything from traditional to modern to medical, to a lot of different things you said you do some non-residential.
Speaker 1Yeah, is it hospitality that you're doing?
Speaker 2No, that was my previous life. Now I'm doing some dermatology clinics, some dermatology clinics, that, and what I like to do with those with. And there they have five here in Houston and we're getting ready to start doing another two, in doubt, in the Dallas area.
Speaker 1Okay.
Speaker 2And what I like to do with my commercial is I like to bring an element of residential into it.
Speaker 1So I wanted to feel more comfortable, more like home.
Speaker 2Yeah, not so rigid or medical clinical clinicals. Yeah, yeah, not so rigid or medical, clinical, clinical yeah.
Speaker 1Do you know? I was an interior designer.
Speaker 2I did not know that.
Speaker 1Yeah, I worked for PDR. Oh my gosh Cool Long time ago it was a long time ago and when I lived in Austin, I worked with a residential architect.
Speaker 2So I was in Austin for almost 20 years, really yeah.
Speaker 1That was Diane Kett. No, okay, she was an architect, but she was residential and that's who I worked with for about a year or two.
Speaker 2That was when I was doing more of my hospitality commercials. So do you miss Austin? I miss being out in the open and I miss the outdoors part of it. I miss the hill country I used to my bedroom. I backed up to a green belt and at night I could watch the moon just go like through the sky. And when I moved to Houston I'm like I'm in a hole. Yeah, but yes, I do. I miss that very much. I do too.
Speaker 1I'm originally from Houston. I'm born and raised, but I lived in Austin for eight years.
Speaker 2And.
Speaker 1I don't miss the traffic because the traffic is awful, but I do miss the whole country. I do miss the lake. And I used to wakeboard and run and bike and Houston has it, but not like that Lady Bird Lake.
Speaker 2Lady Bird.
Speaker 1Lake which used to be Lake Austin.
Speaker 2when I was there, I used to run or ride my bike?
Speaker 1Is that when you did the triathlon?
Speaker 2That is one of them. Yeah, I did the Austin Half and we did out at Lake Travis. I can't remember. I think it might have been Pale Face Park or something where we did the swim.
Speaker 1That wasn't Cap Texas, was it? They have one they've been doing for a year called CAP Texas.
Speaker 2I would be very embarrassed to say what year that was. That's okay, you don't have to talk about it Forever ago.
Speaker 1Well, that's awesome, yeah. So what else you did? Some hospitality. You're residential. You've been in business. Well, you started your studio 12 years ago, yeah.
Speaker 2This current portion of it. Yeah, and then I did interiors through my uh family's uh building business. Probably I would think I was there 10 years yeah and then, prior to that, what I did in austin, which was, like I said, mostly commercial.
Speaker 1Yeah, well, very nice so you've been. You've been in the business for around a little bit. That's awesome. So I just want want to give our listeners an idea of what we're going to be talking about today, because we did meet at the mindful meditation, where we talked about creativity and mindfulness, and so we're going to explore the intersection of mindfulness, creativity and interior design. Okay, and before we do that, I want to set the stage for the episode by sharing the introduction I gave before the mindful meditation, and then we'll just jump in.
Speaker 2And I just I remember what a great experience it was. It was so much fun to just go and have the little pillows. And you know we were all dressed up but we're all sitting on pillows on the floor. And then you they did a great job. I know you brought us in and, uh, it had been a long time since I had meditated and it was so lovely.
Speaker 1That's so great to hear I've gotten a lot of great feedback, so that makes me very happy and just it makes me excited that they invited me there to do that and that and designers were interested in it.
Speaker 2Definitely, I think that was such a great topic. It was such a great topic because we're used to going and seeing things that have to do with flooring or lead design or what have you, but it was just such an unexpected and lovely thing to do that day.
Speaker 1You know, they invited me back.
Speaker 2Of course they should. I think I wanted to have you come to my office, even you mentioned it.
Speaker 1Yeah, and we can still do that. They're doing an event for National Women's Day on March the 8th. Oh, and I am at the showroom it's I think they're Asian rugs. I can't remember the name, I'd have to look again. But yeah, so they're going to have like a half day of events going on and I'll be at 1.30 doing something very similar.
Speaker 2That sounds like a good place for everybody to come check out what you can do, yeah.
Speaker 1Well, I'm excited and I'm excited. They asked me to come back.
Speaker 2It made me feel great.
Creativity and Mindfulness in Business
Speaker 1So I'm going to share the intro that I did with you guys. So this is the intro that I gave before the mindful meditation. Creativity is a dynamic force that thrives in the present moment. It is the art of tapping into the richness of the here and now, where inspiration flows freely and possibilities are boundless. In this very moment, we immerse ourselves in the world connecting with our senses, emotions and surroundings. The intersection of past experiences, current sensations and future dreams spark the flame of innovation. When we fully engage with the present, our minds open to new perspectives, uncharted ideas and unexpected connections.
Speaker 1It's in this state of mindfulness that creativity flourishes. The present offers a canvas for the mind to paint fresh visions, compose novel melodies and craft innovative solutions. Fresh visions compose novel melodies and craft innovative solutions. Each second is an opportunity to think, feel and express in ways that are uniquely your own. Creativity is a dance with the present, a testament to the power of living in the now and a reminder that the most extraordinary ideas are often born from immediate experience. So embrace the present, for you'll discover the boundless wellspring of your creative potential.
Speaker 2I love that, yeah, I mean I think it just wraps up with creativity and mindfulness you know have to do with each other and it just takes you down a little bit of a notch to where you're breathing and things just feel like you can take your time to be creative slow down and let the noise go past and just focus on whatever comes to mind, right we?
Speaker 1have so much noise around us, and especially when you own your own business. Oh, because I deal with that here I there's so many things I would love to just dump my time into and and put all my time in this. But it's like no, I've got to do the insurance and no, I've got to make return phone calls and run a business and you have employees yeah, so in teams and you have an office space and you have clients, and so it's. There is a lot of a lot of clatter a lot of clatter yeah.
Speaker 1So what do you do? Do you have anything that you practice? Do you like? How do you sift through all of that?
Speaker 2So you know, like what you sort of taught us that morning over at the deck center was to take some time to reflect and meditate, and I don't do it every day, but when I find myself doing that it does kind of like just kind of calm my entire day down.
Speaker 2So, I'm not as stressed about taking care of the day to day payroll benefits, employees, clients, um, you know all of everything that goes into running that business, which is a lot, and it can sometimes just quash all of your creativity If you don't take the time to do things that you love or to reflect, or to even just give yourself a little hug. Um, in the mornings, um, I read a daily devotional called Jesus Calling, and I've been doing that for years and that kind of helps set the stage for me and it kind of puts things into perspective that it's not all about me, it's about the day ahead of me and the people that are going to be involved, and it kind of takes away the severity of the problem or the severity of the the getting this done so fast and just move, move, move, and I can't move fast enough for everybody. Yeah.
Speaker 1Yeah, I don't and I want to go back to that, but I do want to respond to that is that I don't think people realize how intense being an interior designer is.
Speaker 2Yeah, I think a lot of people have a vision of that. You know the whole fun part of it. You know designing and putting things together and coming with a beautiful outcome of a finalized project. Well, from A to Z, there's a lot that goes into it and it can be very difficult. There's a lot of personality, there's a lot of juggling and there's a lot of good news, bad news, sorry, we can't get this anymore. Okay, we have to reselect and go back to square one. So that can be a lot.
Speaker 1Timelines yeah for sure. I'm trying to keep everybody on that timeline. Yeah, that's what I remember. I did corporate, but uh, it was incredible, yeah that's awesome and the and the, the, the actual design, the action of designing and trying to get into that flow state was minimal compared to the rest of it.
Speaker 2It's so true, Because if all you had to do was just breathe and design, then I guess you wouldn't appreciate it as much, maybe because you know you do go through those moments where it's just chaos.
Speaker 1And the challenges make it worth it, right, when you're done, what you learn from that process and then being able to step back and look at your project completed, having a happy client, which I'm sure you have many happy clients.
Speaker 2They come and go out of those stages, they always hit what I call the brick wall. I'm like, oh it's brick wall, alert Cause they're, they're here with everything. But yeah, you know, you get to where you're in tune with that. You can see it coming and you want to avoid it like the plague. But I think it does kind of play into a lot of projects that we're involved in and you know it's how you manage that, yeah, and uh, how you make people feel. Sure Uh that's so important. Yeah, I like that yeah.
Speaker 1Let's go back to your morning ritual.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1Where you have a devotion that you read.
Speaker 2Yeah, it's um, it's uh. I was going to trust him. And how to you know, in your weakness he is your strength. You know that kind of thing. So it kind of takes that burden off.
Speaker 1And you do this every morning.
Speaker 2Not every, every but dang near every yeah, yeah and how long is your practice? For this.
Creativity, Nature, and Wellness
Speaker 1It takes me maybe five to seven minutes they say it, all it takes is eight minutes. Yeah and the meditation meditation eight minutes, yeah, and that you can gain a lot of benefits from that.
Speaker 2And the other thing, that and I don't, and I and I'm not very consistent about things like I should be. I'm relatively consistent with that. But the other thing that I love is to go and be outdoors and ground my feet in the in the dirt and my little bit of vitamin D that that one might take eight minutes.
Speaker 2Maybe it's just little things that I think that you can do for yourself, no matter what career or what, what fields you're in that um that you give yourself a little, like I said, a hug. Read the, read your devotional um. Find some quiet time and nature is the best man I love biophilic austin girl right there, yeah I love it.
Speaker 1I mean, it is I trail run and that is my I, just I, and I love traveling and trail running so I get to explore and I have this adventure aside and just be in this. You know, beautiful environment, I think. Well, I know. I went to the faroe islands and did a wow, a trail run and I was out there for seven hours oh my gosh.
Speaker 2I bet you felt like a million bucks when. That was a little sore. But yeah tired and sore, but mentally I was great.
Speaker 1I love that, so so I think, yeah, I talk about biophilic design a lot on this podcast and um jackie berry. Do you know jackie berry? No, well she is a professor at hcc okay, but they apparently have a really amazing program. But I met her at pdr okay and so she was on the podcast talking about biophilic design, because there's just so many health benefits, yeah so I love that you do and you have horses. Animals are a whole.
Speaker 2nother healing being yeah, there's just like dividing your life into these little like quadrants, you know, and you can't spend your whole time in one area, you know it's. You've got to, like, give a little bit to each spot, right? Yeah, I love that, thank you.
Speaker 1Let me ask you this. So Albert Einstein said, said creativity is intelligence. Having fun. I love that. I do too. That's why I put it really like a little fun yeah so what does creativity mean to you? We talked a little bit too about this at the beginning, about that flow state and getting into that flow state. But what is what does?
Speaker 2creativity mean to me.
Speaker 2I think it's a way of life for me um, it's that space that I get to go to, where I can challenge myself to come up with beautiful things. Yeah, and whether I'm inspired by nature or just the thing is that every day is a different day. I don't live the same day every day. I don't go, do I don't? I don't even have the same schedule every day, and I think that that works for me and that also works for the creative type of person to not be boxed in to. You know, the same thing on linear I couldn't do it.
Speaker 1We're adventurous souls. Yes, agreed, and you can be adventurous in your job as well. Right, yeah, every day is different. Yes, very true. Uh, so I really, I really like that. So we talked a little bit about fueling your creative spirit. I I did read your about page, oh, and it did talk about fueling your creative spirit. I did read your about page and it did talk about fueling your creative spirit, and you did talk about your horses and, I guess, time spent with your family, what else? Your morning devotion?
Speaker 2That, the horses, the dogs, nature, my family, my friends, my relationships. I think that's enough it's good.
Speaker 1Those are all good areas so what about your creative process? Oh my goodness everybody has, especially being a creative um.
Speaker 2We all have different processes that we well so generally it's an it involves a client or project, so there's always that tiny bit of a limitation, I guess. Um, I, I am a painter too, so that creative process would probably be a little more fun for me to talk about.
Speaker 1Go for it because I would assume that some of that applies.
Creative Process and Holistic Wellness
Speaker 2It's probably running in the background yeah, I think it all does, whether we even recognize it or not. So when I'm about to do a painting, I generally work on very large format four feet wide, six feet tall or vice versa and I start off by just being quiet.
Speaker 1The mindful moment.
Speaker 2Yeah, I'll get all my materials, I'll get everything ready to go, and that might take me a while, but when I actually sit down to create, I almost don't even think about it. I just let it come through and I try not to overthink it. I think people overthink things too much. People overthink things too much now if it drifts into my professional creativity with with working with clients, I have a tendency to overthink that too, because I want it to be spot on yeah you know from the get-go, so um, you're always like got that little voice in your head is it?
Speaker 2good enough is, are they gonna love it?
Speaker 1yeah, I'm gonna have to do this 12 times, Whereas if you were sitting in front of a canvas doing your own thing like it's, it's very, you just start.
Speaker 2Yeah, I really do so. Are you currently still painting? I have not in a while, but I would say probably within the last year. Maybe six pieces. Yeah, but not not right now. You do abstract.
Speaker 1Yes, six pieces, yeah, but not not right now.
Speaker 2You do abstract. So yes, yeah, yes, and I do incorporate um my like. I'll do um commission pieces for either other designers or for my clients or just for me to do, and I will incorporate um a spiritual like blessings. I don't ever really do scripture, unless somebody wants me to, and it fits all realms. I've done for every denomination of person and I like to put into my pieces blessings into people's lives, into their homes, and this is something that will live in your home. That's intended to just bless you on a daily basis. I love that. I need to get back into it a little more, yeah.
Speaker 1It's what I love.
Speaker 2I'm happiest with the paintbrush in my hand. I tell everybody that. But you know.
Speaker 1Yeah, I love the spiritual piece of that you know, because I feel like it gives things also more meaning. Yeah, when that kind of intention is behind it. Yeah, so do you ever? Have you ever seen like water for chocolate? I love that movie.
Speaker 2Really. I read the book and I love the movie. It's one of those movies that is almost better than the book, or at least as good right, so I didn't read the book, but I have seen the movie.
Speaker 1Oh, you need to get the book and it. You know, there's that part where they're in the kitchen, they're cooking and they're happy, and then when they sit down at the table, they're all happy, yeah, and then the other part, they're at the end. Then I guess later on in the movie they were crying while they were making the food yeah and everybody started crying at the table eating yeah, I guess that intention that was put into something creative.
Speaker 2It all, just it all revolves around like every chapter in the book starts off with a recipe. Really, oh my gosh, I need to get you this book. Yes, so it starts off with a recipe and then it goes into how the family interacts and, like you said, there's the, the emotional portion of being happy, or the crying or the. I mean I haven't. I would love to pick it back up and read it again, but yes, I do.
Speaker 1I love that.
Speaker 2I think you're the first person that I've ever mentioned that book. I'm surprised because you can ask me do you know? Her Do you know them?
Speaker 1I'm like, yeah, I live in my own little bubble. Oh, that's great. Well, you've got me wanting to read the book now, but I think that it's so true. So your, your designs, like your, I know you're working for, uh, clients, but you, how do you put that into your projects when working with clients? And do you? I guess I should ask, do you and how do you?
Speaker 2well, again, I think it's very unique to each individual or couple or family. So I mean, it's it's kind of a dance like getting to know each other and you know, finding out everything I need to know about how you live, and you know what's your hopes and desires and you know what do you, what do you want, what do you like, what don't you like. It's a gathering process, initially to learn as much as I can about the family, and then we start to look at the components of the residence, each of the spaces and how they want to use them, and what you know like for closets, for instance. You know what do you have, what do you want to store, what do you use on a daily basis. You know how much of that do you have and does this mean something to you and would you be interested in looking at, maybe doing it a little differently? So it's just kind of one of those things that you get into, and maybe your passion too.
Speaker 1You know like. I think when you have a passion for something and really enjoy what you're doing. I think people sense that, whether it's conscious or unconscious, you know they feel that they feel something from you.
Speaker 2Yeah, I agree with you on the conscious or unconscious level.
Speaker 1Yeah, for sure. I think that, because there's people out there that don't enjoy what they're doing and you can tell it comes through. It comes through in their work. Yeah.
Speaker 2I know, and I am like an open book If I'm having a bad day or if I got in a fight with my husband or whatever, I cannot be. I just can't be happy. I'm the same way. I can't. Everybody's like oh God, here she comes.
Speaker 1I'm like take it personally, I'm the same exactly, are you. It's hard for me to to act happy when I'm not. Yeah, yeah, so, uh, I usually I'm just pretty transparent and yeah, it's not you, it's me yeah, don't worry yeah I'll be fine, yeah for sure, let's see your puppy yes, yes, I have a. Um, I'm a dog mom. Yeah, he is my everything. He just had a chiropractic adjustment. This morning I think that's so cool it is. It's been amazing he was struggling.
Speaker 2They do go ahead oh I want to hear what you have to say.
Speaker 1I've got a funny story uh, he was struggling with um. He was having these episodes of really intense pain and we couldn't figure out what it was like. I could see him going into spasm, but my vet nobody he. I took him to like three different vets and nobody could figure it out. So finally they just slapped a diagnosis diagnosis on him and they said that he had intervertebral disc disease. And I was like I just I'm not sure. You know, he was a trail runner and he was young and I just refused to believe. But then I started to accept and I'm like, okay, his episodes started getting closer and closer together and I started looking for at ramps for my bed, I started looking at little booties to put on him so he could walk, because the the what happens with the intervertebral disc disease is it typically ends in paralysis you know, like corgis and you always see them in little wheelchairs.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1Um, and I just decided to make him an appointment with this vet and she's a chiropractor and acupuncturist and I took him. He did a series of treatments. It was in 2021, I think, or 2000. We came out of COVID. That was 2020. Four years he hasn't had an episode.
Speaker 2I love that. That's an even deeper issue into wellness and everything in terms of puppies and people, that we don't get diagnosed properly, and most of what is wrong with us is a lifestyle thing, and so I seek out holistic treatment and make sure I try to check the blood work, do all this, make sure that everything's running properly and I do not embrace the sickness, I rebuke it.
Speaker 1Yeah, Because.
Speaker 2I mean, I actually went through a crazy kind of cancer scare thing that I just a prayer and I'm not having this. I'm not. And you mentioned a minute ago about chiropractic. Well, I had a Vizsla that she passed a couple years ago probably in 2021, but had a very similar situation going on and we had a chiropractor come in and she was amazing and she used, um, I don't know what, some type of a, I don't know what it was, some tool yeah, it was um guasha or some kind of no it's.
Speaker 2It's um something that chiropractors will use. It's electro something, or like an east.
Speaker 1We we use an e-stem.
Speaker 2They're like jumper cables and you click them onto the needles. It was really interesting. I love your story that your baby's okay now.
Speaker 1Yeah, I mean, it was amazing, and she does horses too.
Speaker 2I was going to tell you my horse has been adjusted and I have a video of it. It is the craziest thing you've ever seen Was your horse just relieved? Yes, yeah and you would touch him, you know, on his withers or a certain area, and he would just tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, you know. And after they adjusted him he was fine.
Speaker 1Yeah, it's amazing. I mean, it's just really a testament to you know, Unfortunately, I fight my chiropractor because I don't like being cracked.
Speaker 2I don't either. I don't either.
Speaker 1I'm like, oh, relax, but I believe, I believe, I believe. And especially after Finn, it was really a testament to um. Just it's an amazing medicine you know, cause right now he would. His cocktail was a muscle relaxers, pain painkillers and anti-inflammatories, and that's what he was doing. Now he's good.
Speaker 2Yeah, there's always another way to do it.
Speaker 1Always another way to do it, but that's great that your horses are doing chiropractic adjustments too. I love that. I love it. Okay, I am curious about what turnkey means. I'm not familiar with that.
Speaker 2Turnkey is A to Z. We're involved, from architectural plans all the way to furniture and accessory installation. So, turnkey, we provide all those services. Okay, wow, full service. So, turnkey, like we provide all those services okay, yep, wow, full full service.
Speaker 1Yeah, it's probably a better way to say it okay so let's talk a little bit about decluttering, because I think that is a mindful living yeah, talk a little bit about your, your perspective on decluttering, and is that something that you talk to your clients about?
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, yeah, I can talk to them about it, but I can't talk to myself about it. I have a problem, I do, but no, I don't, I don't like it. And so the main places in my home I want everything put away. But then I have a nice collection of hoarding stuff Not on this level, but you know, maybe maybe around here it's, it's a, it's, it's a thing for me.
Speaker 2I battle with that personally. And so when it comes in, uh, comes to working with a client, um, I'm all about the declutter. When I walk into um, let's say we're getting ready to do a remodel and their cabinets are just full of things that they've had for 20, 30, 40, however many years, and it's just, I'm like it's time, it's time for us to get in here and work on a plan to get you where you need to be. What do you really need and why does this thing matter so much to you? Um, so yeah, that, and then in in. In design as well, I like to keep things simple. I don't want to overdo it and have too much to. Um, I would say not confuse, but it does, like you said, it really does stress, stress people.
Speaker 1I think stresses me yeah uh, candace, and I talked about it and I was telling her I've got a lot on my plate right now, so I'm doing a lot and I'll look at my desk oh and I will have papers and files and books and computers and ipads and newspapers and I'll have to stop because it stresses yeah and I just have to clear everything off so I can think straight.
Speaker 2I can't work. So we'll have a big 10-foot conference table with clients and we'll have things out that we need to review or get approved or what have you, and it starts off very calm and just a few things on the table and then as things come on to the table and we start building this monster. I'm like, okay, I need to get everything off this table and and pick up where, pick up where we left off. Yeah, there's a lot to be said for having too too much.
Speaker 1It's a distraction, it's I agree I think, unhealthy I agree, and I think, as far creativity I think some of the most simple projects I wasn't quite sure what word to use, but I guess project and this is can be super hard to do. Yeah, but that's where the art comes in, I think, because everything is so, you're so mindful about every piece of that project and how it all fits together. I can totally relate to that.
Speaker 2Yeah, so I think that's it's.
Speaker 1I think that's one of the things I really like about Japanese architecture and design. That was one of the things that when I got into that's how I got into Chinese medicine was when I was in design school. I got into Japanese wooden houses how cool and I fell in love with them, the philosophy behind them, everything and so then I got into Eastern philosophy and then that led me into martial arts. Martial arts led me into Chinese medicine. Here I am. I love Chinese medicine. I do not like Western medicine.
Speaker 2If I'm allowed to say that, you can say that.
Speaker 1I always tell my patients there are pros and cons to each.
Speaker 2And.
Speaker 1I think that our system is. It needs to be fixed. There's a it's yeah, it's too big.
Speaker 2I think we're. I think that our medical system is really good at, say, surgeries or emergencies or that kind of thing, but as far as treating, I think we're too far into pharmaceuticals.
Speaker 1Sorry, I know, it's so true though and it really um masks a lot of doctors oh yeah, and it's really sad that I can't tell you how many stories I've heard in here with patients and it's a soapbox of mine, for sure Me too. And then my mom just had a scare last year and we had a horrible experience getting a diagnosis. It took us over three months. She got lost in the system. Wow, I mean it shouldn't have happened. And then people wonder why you're so upset. Yeah, when you call and pick up the phone, when you pick up the phone and call them.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1But yeah, so I'm right there, it's, we need something, needs to happen. Yeah, I don't know what that is.
Speaker 2I don't either. If we figured it out, we'd be like we'd be there, we would we would so okay, so turnkey, that is from start to finish.
Speaker 1So I'm curious, if you have clients that ask you for mindful spaces, does that ever come up?
Speaker 2The first thing that comes to mind is prayer rooms or meditation, quiet spaces or meditation, or and again I'm all about the outdoors, so, you know, making that a space of that nature. As far as creating a space, yeah, that's I mean quiet space.
Speaker 1Do people ask for a quiet space?
Speaker 2I mean a lot of like people that want to say a prayer room or something of that sort. And yes, actually I'm doing a project right now with a client that has a daughter that has some she's ADHD and she's got some other stimulus issues where she can't be too stimulated and so, yeah, we are going all out to make it a nice, light, airy place with good windows and soft surroundings and textures.
Speaker 2she's the cutest little girl and she's absolutely fine, but she has these issues that she has to deal with, so she needs a space.
Speaker 1That's not. Yeah, no, that comes in for sure. Yeah. So I read an article in the wall street journal in a snug room a snug room yeah, it's british, but it's a quiet room you know we go off to the side.
Speaker 1It's a snug room and they were just saying how um it is making its way here. So I'm always curious. You know, I read things but I don't know what's really happening and what terms people are using. You know, I mean, I use mindful a lot, but I know a lot of people don't use that.
Speaker 2I love that. I love the term, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1I like that. So you've mentioned designing this room for this girl. You said it was natural light. Because my next question was well, how do you design a quiet or mindful space, like for people to engage with that part of them? Or mindful space like for people to engage with that part of them, Like, how do you, how do you kind of provoke that, or to like what are?
Speaker 2some things you would do. Again, it all goes back to that communication with the person about, for instance, that the parents of this young girl are telling me that she can't have anything really contrasty or busy because it it does something to her and it's emotionally upsetting. Yeah, and so you know, I, I hear that and then I realize, okay, so what we need to do is is do very, a very calm, very neutral space for her.
Speaker 1Um, you know, floor to ceiling yeah, more neutral. So really you're just kind of listening to the clients and then reflecting that, yeah, and trying to find solutions for that.
Speaker 2Yeah, um, we're also doing these cute little like hanging chairs. She's got a flex space off of the bedroom and they're hanging chairs like. They're kind of like get in a little cocoon and just, you know, be at peace, so yeah, yeah, that's really cool.
Speaker 1What about technology has? Technology has become an integral part of our life, so how do you balance the integration of technology in design while maintaining a mindfulness to that?
Speaker 2Or do you? I mean, that is a great question. I find that the technology has just it just surpasses and gets to the point where it's just almost unmanageable. But I find that most people are demanding, you know, from any type of like audio visual media, room security.
Speaker 1You know, uh, too many televisions why do you need that many tvs um?
Speaker 2Yeah, I think it's an awesome thing, but I also think it's that double-edged sword for sure.
Speaker 2You know, with the way you and I think and the similarities that we have, it's probably, I mean, it serves its purpose. I mean we're doing it right now, yeah, but the convenience of it, and then the devices you know, and the technology keeps changing so you're out of date by the time you actually get ready to move in or install the that's crazy systems you know. So it it's. It is kind of a battle, but it is also very interesting to see some of the things that they've come up with, like some of the speakers that one of the av companies that we're working with, they actually install it behind the drywall and it just, it, just, you get perfect sound right through the drywall, wow. But the other thing like there's other you know kind of I can't think of, it's a Samsung TV that doubles as a piece of art you know so you put up a beautiful photograph or a piece of art or something when it's not the tv and it's very slim line and I think that's beautiful.
Speaker 2Uh, because I'd rather look at that than look at a a tv, just a blank screen. Yeah, yeah, yeah, and then that sounds pretty amazing I know and then so in a lot of these high-end homes, everybody I mean each space or each room might have a a on the wall to get the music, or look at who's at the front door to do all those kinds of things. So I think it's great. I actually kind of like my ring. I just got a ring Aura ring it's probably been about the door ring.
Speaker 1Oh the ring when the people come and you're like, wow, who's at the door? Because they also have an aura ring.
Speaker 2Oh, my niece has one of those. I would like to get one of those. Do you have one? I don't. No, we need one. I have a watch it tracks my sleep and everything.
Speaker 1But the aura is supposed to a lot of people really like it. It's a little bit bulky, yeah, but the technology it's not going away and we're going to keep progressing forward with it. So it's just, and some of it's really exciting and it's very tempting, you know. But I have questions. Um, I think it's the EMF waves that I I'm curious about. Is it like EMP? Is it EMP, electromagnetic pulse, or something like that?
Speaker 2Oh, my God, I've had so many conversations about this lately. Have you, yeah, cause I'm kind of like you know I'm into everything about that. And then what was the other thing I was going to say? That was kind of a I can't remember. It'll come to me if I let it go. But yeah, that's crazy, I'm curious.
Speaker 1Oh.
Speaker 2AI, that's what I was going to say. Oh, ai, I don't know how much you follow or know or do A little bit, okay, yeah. So I mean that's something that's really interesting. But it's also kind of scary to me because you know they're able to go in and they can take your voice and turn it into something else. Or they did something with Tom Hanks like that, where they, you know, wanted to use him in movies. You know, hundreds of years from now, it's just mind boggling actually.
Speaker 1It is, and I wonder how that's going to play into homes. Have you seen anything?
Speaker 2Very, a little bit, very little, it's pretty new, I know. I know. But then I think that AI is actually becoming something that's taking over the human element and what people do for a living and work. Like I can go on chat, gbt or whatever, and say I need to write a proposal for an interior design contract, blah blah blah. And then I mean boom, it's done. I mean I see, it's a great time saver but then we, we, we start losing that yeah, losing that human element, that, yeah, is so important.
Speaker 1So there's a little fine line there there is, so it'll be really interesting to see how it all plays out you know, I mean obviously there's a lot of talk around it. Um, I know I listened to a couple podcasts. I think sam harris is one that he talks a lot about AI.
Speaker 1I had a guy in here's technology he's. He swore up and down we weren't even close to AI yet, and so I thought that was interesting. But I think it is a little especially thinking about your home and how everything is, how everything is more computerized now or is more like somehow connected to a computer what comes to mind right now, what I don't know.
Speaker 2I'm probably dating myself.
Speaker 1The jetsons, yeah, no absolutely, I used to watch it all the time you know and the robots and the you know everything push a button and then your food comes down, this like yeah, yeah, no, I think that's where we're going. I do too, and there's a part of it that's really exciting and um and scary at the same time. So, yeah, I totally, I totally hear what you're saying. I agree.
Speaker 2I think we lose that sense of ability to do something like you have to kind of a calculator.
Speaker 1when calculators came out and people lost their ability and I use a calculator all the time, but people before us lost their, you know we lost our ability to add quickly in our heads oh my God, don't get me going. Yeah.
Speaker 2Writing cursive. Yeah, nobody does that anymore.
Speaker 1No, well, you know, I, I, I, I still print. Yes, because I used to print on plans.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, yeah, me too. Yeah, yeah, I don't, I, I don't really write cursive, but anyway, I don't know, I went down that road.
Speaker 1It's okay, it's a good road to go down. You know, there are things that are happening that are concerning have you well, you don't really. You're not really out purposely design, designing mindful spaces, are you, or would you say? Would you say that you design mindful spaces?
Speaker 2I guess I'd be a better way to ask you you know, now that you're posing that to me that way, it makes me think yeah, basically, because every space that we design, we are putting thought into. You know what goes into this, say, dining room, you know and why and how it works for those people. Yeah, I think we're put, I think we're being mindful of of pretty much everything we do. Now that you, now that you put it that way, yeah, yeah, you are doing mindful spaces. Yes, I design mindful spaces.
Speaker 1Well, and I think the first thing you said that you designed for your, your client yeah, like you, you listen to what they say and you reflect that back to them in their space yeah, and that takes a lot of thought. It takes a lot of thought and also. I think the big thing is it takes a lot of thought and presence.
Speaker 1You have to be present to listen to your client yeah to hear what they're saying yeah, that's huge, yeah, it really is. And then to be able to listen to your client to hear what they're saying yeah, that's huge. Yeah, it really is. And then to be able to reflect that back to them and design and get it right. And get it right. But, it means you're present and you're listening.
Speaker 2Yeah, it's a back and forth communication with them. Yeah, I think that's really beautiful and you get a lot of joy out of that you know Well.
Speaker 1Joy out of that you know well I am also a wellness coach and that's part of what we do. Right, like I am not an expert, I'm an expert in acupuncture and um chinese medicine yeah but when it comes to coaching, you're the expert of yourself because you know yourself.
Speaker 2You know yourself or you're teaching people to know themselves.
Speaker 1Yes, yeah so I collaborate with them. You're teaching people to know themselves. Yes, so I collaborate with them on an idea or a goal that they might have five years, or a vision. They have this vision and we get in there and we talk about that vision and we start working on it. But I'm not here. I run and if somebody wants to lose weight and I've said this a million times on the podcast but if somebody wants to lose weight, I run. I can't tell you to go run five miles a day to lose weight because it might not be a good fit for you.
Speaker 2It works for you, it works for me, yeah.
Speaker 1Yeah, and to be able to design like that, I think is is really great because, you really are being mindful, being present and reflecting that back.
Speaker 2Thank you, that's. I couldn't have said that any better.
Speaker 1Well, I love it.
Speaker 2Me too.
Speaker 1Do you have anything else you want to say? I just want to thank you for having me on today.
Speaker 2I'm so excited about this. Thank you for coming my first time to do a podcast.
Speaker 1Well, you did very well. Thank you, and it was fun. Yeah, we'll have to do it again. We will Absolutely Thank you. Thank you.
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Speaker 1If you're in the Houston area or just visiting and interested in our services acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, zinchiatsu or dry needling therapy contact us. You can find out more on our website at element5omcom. That's element5, the number five omcom, and again I'll put the link in the show notes. If you're interested in health and wellness coaching, we can connect in the clinic or on zoom. Reach out to us and we'll get you on the schedule and, as always, I would love to hear your feedback. I am dedicated to bringing you great content that is inspiring and informative. With an artsy fun, edgy spin. Thank you so much for listening. We'll meet here again next time. And with an artsy fun, edgy spin. Thank you so much for listening. We'll meet here again next time. And remember never stop exploring, learning, loving and being you Bye.