three /THrē/
I've had people ask why I chose my business name. I've also had people ask how you even say it (The Third? The eye-eye-eye?) - so I'm here to set things straight. And plus, I love learning about the meaning behind things, just like I love to have meaning in things, so if you're on the same page - this is for you. The III stands for "The Three" as in like, "The 3." It was some time back in university when I decided I wanted to own a breakfast joint one day, and when I did, it would be called "The Three" - and apparently be somewhat mysterious by the use of roman numerals in the design. It was my favourite number growing up after a female on-ice instructor took me under her wing at a summer hockey camp, to which I was the only one with a pony tail sticking out of their helmet. I don't remember her name, but I appreciated her a lot that weekend; enough to change my hockey number moving forward.
I continued to wear it every chance I had; in high school hockey and volleyball, and on any rep hockey team where it was an available option. Conveniently, it was open for selection at RIT, the school where I played university hockey and had four of the most memorable and defining years of my entire life. In that case, the number 3 became a part of my identity.
At the time, I thought it was extra cool because there was always that phrase of "all good things come in 3's," and, being the educated human that I am, I also knew the triangle was the strongest shape; a shape with, you know it, 3 sides. Cool "life" analogy, right?
As I returned back from university and had various (mostly) unrelated jobs, the idea of a breakfast establishment named The III never really disappeared. It would fade at times, but it would always return. I would doodle logo images on notebooks and papers, attempt to make designs on Paint or artsy online programs, and think about the features I wanted to share with my future dining guests.
And then came CSNN, the holistic nutrition program that I graduated from just shy of a year ago. I can remember researching the program, looking through the list of classes and getting stuck on one in particular: NN105A Body-Mind-Spirit – The Connection to the Mind. I was already intrigued by mental health and wellness from my own personal experiences, but this was the icing on the cake. It more-or-less drew me to the entire program, and over the 18 months of being in it, it also locked in my business name.
In case you didn't know, holistic nutrition is strongly related to the inter-workings of an individual: How is one's nutrition associated to their physical symptoms? How do the symptoms reflect their emotional state? How does their personal history affect their current well-being? So beyond being a really sweet number, The III represents the components that make up all individuals: the mind, the body and the spirit. The more I learn about nutrition, the more I realize life is an intricate web of each of these three parts. The food we eat makes us feel better, or can make us feel worse. Our thoughts can create a net positive or negative mindset which affects our emotions and, ultimately, our level of joy and contentment. Our emotional state, from stress for example, affects our physical well-being, such as hormone levels and digestion, which can affect our cravings or choices. Spirituality, or a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves, holds our values and drives our behaviour, which likely determines much of our eating and our personal relationship with food.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still learning about it all too, but the idea of nuance and that everything is connected is something that intrigues me a whole heck of a lot. I believe as we develop as people, we'll also continue to recognize it more and more.
In life, and in this case, in nutritional coaching, the mind, the body and the spirit should all be considered in combination. A person's physical symptoms, current life circumstances, personal goals, emotional well-being, subconscious behaviours and deeply ingrained spiritual identity, are all critical when considering one's nutritional needs, health recommendations and, most importantly, how to apply them to actually create change.
So, there you have it. While most health professionals are strongly connected to their name as their brand, I am connected with The III. Is it a breakfast joint? No, or at least not yet - but we'll save that explanation for another day.
Cheers to a better future,
FUN FACTS
Interestingly enough, I often went back and forth between the number 2 and the number 4 growing up. I also wore 77 and 14 various years.
I actually created my own logo on a free app called WordSwag.
I want to create more than just a nutritional consulting business. It's a goal to create educational opportunities to reach a broader audience, but the big vision? Change the food industry itself - by becoming a part of it.
I continue to question (and laugh at) "running my own business" as a part of my life that I will continue to expand on, but believe that it's just an extension of who a person is, and what a person stands for. In that case, I am confident I can handle it.
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