They have ridden the Sahara on camelback. Swam with elephants in Thailand. Scaled icebergs in Iceland and greeted the sunrise in Bali. They have visited ancient temples and camped out under the desert stars. Photographs of their adventures are awash in color—brilliant Moroccan blues, dazzling Grecian whites, vivid rainforest greens.  And scattered among the scenes are the photographers themselves—two young women, their faces brimming with excitement and wonder.

In August, Caitlyn Lankowski and Ariana Hudson embarked on a nine-month journey that has taken them throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. The list of countries reads like a geography lesson, and the young women take turns reciting the names, laughing as they challenge each other to remember them all. I lose count, but they don’t. By the time they return in May, they will have visited 26 countries in all.

In January of this year you set off on a six-month cabin cruiser sea journey with your husband, Patrick, and your 3-year-old son, Luke. Where are you headed and why?
We are headed south to warmer weather! Instead of waiting for the summer temps, we are going to chase them down. It was only once we got underway that we decided to travel to the Keys first, then the Bahamas before we head back north.

What made you decide to document your adventure via Johnson’s Jaunt blog?
Two reasons really: I want to have a record of our trip as I experience it, and I want friends and family to follow along. It’s easier than having to update dozens of people. Oh, and my mom doesn’t have social media, so she needed a way to follow us.

Iris Ar-Raheem has a light about her; a gentle radiance that shines from her eyes and beautiful smile. Owner of Bhava Vibes on Hilton Head’s south end, Iris’ intentional love for others is a compliment to her profession as a natural, energy healer. Bhava, in Sanskrit translates to: worldly existence; becoming; birth. “Our world is spectacular,” she says. “There’s a collective consciousness that connects everyone to ourselves.”

This belief is rooted in her training as a Reiki Master, and Ho’oponopono Practitioner. Reiki originated in Japan; an alternative healing technique that uses one’s energy to encourage emotional and physical transformation. “Everyone is unique,” Iris states. “Mind, body and spirit work synergistically.” Ho’oponopono is a Hawaiian spiritual method of blessing others to correct and restore relationships. Meditation intersects these beliefs and is vital to her work. It brings order to disorder and provides wisdom. “Be still, wait, and breathe deeply,” she smiles. Both ancient healing practices require an open mindedness and a depth of love for oneself. “I aways want to give more than I receive, believe more than I doubt, and love more than I hate.”

When she was a young girl, Dr. Ravina Balchandani wanted to be a flight attendant. She thought it would be a glamorous career filled with travel and exciting adventures in exotic places. Two events had an impact on her decision to pursue a career in medicine instead. One was personal, and the other was an incident of epic proportion.

The personal part was the decision made by her father. He told Ravina she was a good student and would become a doctor. Although this turned out to be the correct path for the gifted, popular, and prominent Lowcountry cardiologist, the forced decision put a strain on their relationship for a time. A compromise was finally reached between the two: She would continue her education to the completion of her medical residency, and then she could do nothing with her degree if she so chose. Ravina continued her pursuit of a medical career. Now, passionate about her work and her patients, she thanks her father every day for making her stay in medical school.

Summer Settle is a dragon slayer; conqueror of a beast within. As a recovering alcoholic/addict,  strength of mind is her weapon of choice, and her new reality is better than ever.
 
South Carolina born and raised, Summer’s first dopamine surge was at the age of 16, and intermittently over the next 20 years. Bliss and feelings of euphoria are the brain-rewards of this feel-good chemical, and an addict craves the flood of dopamine that drugs and alcohol provide. Scientists have analyzed this phenomena of the brain for decades, and continue to estimate that genetics influence a person’s risk of becoming an addict by as much as 60 percent; environmental factors make up the remaining. It is understandable that the word addiction comes from the Latin word meaning enslavement. Over time, an addict craves more and more, simply to feel normal. The imbalance is the beast, and the mind wants what it wants. Gratefully, this was part of Ms. Settle’s past. “I appreciate everything that happened with me,” she said. “The good and the bad.”

As a lover of Lowcountry history, you have championed two National Register of Historic places crusades. Tell us a little about these journeys.
Rose Hill Plantation changed my life. It literally took my breath away when I first saw the house reflected in the pond on the long driveway leading in, and even more so when I walked through the front door. The magnificence of the architectural details was overwhelming. I knew immediately this house was special, and I was curious to find out everything I could about it. Over the next three years, I immersed myself in the history of Rose Hill Plantation and gothic revival architecture. I worked with the National Register of Historic places, a long and interesting journey that took me to Columbia, SC, Washington, New York City, and England. In May 1984 the house was honored with a National Register designation. The Rose Hill designation will always be special to me because I met so many special people through my research, and it sparked a passion for my interest and continuous learning about the history of the Lowcountry, which led to my next crusade for the Zion Chapel of Ease and the Baynard Mausoleum, the oldest building on Hilton Head Island. Through the Heritage Library, and with the support of Lou Benafante, this site was designated as a Historic Site under the National Register of Historic Places late last year.

Kris Allred is the dynamic Chief Meteorologist at WSAV in Savannah, Ga. For 11-plus years she has gained respect with viewers in Georgia and South Carolina for her professional integrity and candor. She is an excellent storyteller and a natural at public speaking. Also known as a good adlibber, Kris easily adjusts her narratives to meet audience levels. Most of all, she is a thankful woman who realizes the importance of the job she does. Yes, Kris and her Storm Team 3 at WSAV save lives.

While growing up in Cullman, Alabama, a town situated between Huntsville and Birmingham, Kris developed excellent childhood communication skills by learning to relate to all kinds of people from across the USA who paused to refresh and refuel at her family’s truck stop.

Two months into the New Year, Shawna Doran hasn’t given up on her goal to exercise every day, eat more fruits and veggies, and drop those unwanted pounds. But it’s not a resolution that has motivated the Lady’s Island mother of two to lose weight and improve her health. It was a near-fatal heart attack at the age of 45.

Shawna knew she had a family history of cardiovascular disease. Her father had a heart attack at age 41; her brother in his late 50s. On her mother’s side of the family, an uncle also suffered an acute myocardial infarction. Even so, she wasn’t worried she would develop heart disease because she maintained a fairly healthy lifestyle. “I’ve never smoked, I’m not a drinker, and I don’t eat fried food,” said Shawna, a registered nurse who serves as vice president of quality services at Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH). “I have hypertension, but I’m on medication, and I monitor my blood pressure every day.”

When Olive Warrenfeltz first picked up the violin in the third grade, her lessons cost just 50 cents a week! She was living in Buffalo, New York, and it was during The Great Depression. She loved the violin immediately, even though her mother wished she would have learned the piano. The next year her teacher referred her to another teacher in town because Olive showed such promise. Those lessons were five dollars each, and Olive didn’t realize then what a sacrifice it was for her parents to pay for them. She went on to graduate from Oberlin College, and taught strings in the public schools in Buffalo for 15 years.

Karen Verechia
Personal Coach, Yoga Instructor and Thai Massage Therapist

Hometown: West Deptford, New Jersey

Lives on: Hilton Head Island

Family: Married to Buddy for 35 years; one daughter, Dominique (married and living in Rock Hill); and Bronz, a German Shepard mix adopted from the shelter.
You’ve been referred to as the island’s Yoga Guru.

“You have to find joy in everything you do. Whether it’s laundry, washing the dishes, or going to Walmart,” Christina Roberts responded when I asked how she gets through life. She laughed and said, “Walmart now has a pick-up option, and I don’t mind getting my groceries that way.”

Christina is the mom of seven children aged 5 to 22. Her children are Olivia 22, Christian 17, Trinity 16, Dakota 14, Jackson 10, Christopher 7, and Emerson, 5. The age range means Christina has a grown daughter, who teaches Special Education in Hawaii, …and a preschooler! In addition, her three youngest sons are all autistic.

Born in Chapel Hill, N.C., Samantha Love Kaufman spent her first ten years as a California girl. Her family moved to the beautiful Lowcountry in 1976, where her late father, Dr. Glenn Neil Love, established himself as one of Beaufort County’s first obstetricians. A graduate of Auburn University in public relations and communications, Samantha’s degree has served her well. She has more than 25 years of experience marketing island real estate properties, and currently enjoys working in her family’s local long-standing real estate business–The Love Family at Sea Pines Real Estate—Beach Club. “We find people want to work with us because we’re family,” she said with pride.

Everyone prays it will never happen to them. On February 17, 2013, Carly Elizabeth Hughes took her last breath in her mother Irene’s arms, as her spirit floated into the light. She was only 24, a recent college graduate, and eager to make a difference in the world.

Although a rare form of gastro-esophageal cancer took her life after a short four-month battle, Carly’s dreams were destined to manifest through her mom. It was unimaginable for Irene Vouvalides to think about a life without Carly, her only child. Carly’s death initiated Irene’s spiritual quest to find answers and opened the door to her own passion and purpose in life. After months of deep grieving, Irene found an online support group. Helping Parents Heal is a non-profit organization that offers bereaved parents the opportunity to attend group meetings, along with resources to support them through the healing process. The organization also encourages grieving parents to share the spiritual experiences of their children in the afterlife.

Tracy Robinson
Member Representative at the Beaufort Jasper YMCA of the LowcountryFamily: I’m a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, friend, and US Army Veteran!

You’ve been the front desk “Face” of the Beaufort Jasper YMCA for 17 years now. What first attracted you to the job and what makes you stay?
Believe it or not, it was my dream to be the Volunteer Director of the YMCA because of my ability and love of interacting with others. I wasn’t sure I would like it at first, but after my interview with my then supervisor, Ryan Bell, and his confidence in me to be at the front desk, the job began to grow on me. No job is perfect, and there have been bumps in the road, but I have stayed because I truly love what I do. I love to make people smile and get their joy pumping from within.

Haley Langford is a lovely breath of fresh air; a spirited blend of tender-hearted philanthropy and sweet sense of humor. This proud Ridgeland, SC girl became a viral sensation, capturing more than 50,000 social media hits, when she created weathergirl Hale McClaine during Hurricane Florence. She raised more than $5,000 for North Carolina hurricane victims with her self-proclaimed ‘wacky-tacky’ and likable persona. She humbly recounts the events that followed, but Ms. Langford’s heart for service is clearly evident throughout the life she leads every day.

I highly suggest you sit down and really read this article. Find a nook to snuggle in, a coffee table to put your feet up, and point your undivided attention to this page. This story is about what humankind needs more of:

Sharon Brown is not your run-of-the-mill kind of woman. She is a woman who has overcome obstacles most can never navigate. From her mother dying to becoming an alcoholic at the age of 14, to being a full blown addict to run-ins with the law, Sharon can now hold her head high because her story defies the rule of cause and effect. “Because He delivered me, I would tell my story on national TV,” she said.

In Japan, there is a process called Kintsugi: the art of repairing broken pottery with liquid gold or silver. The fragments are joined together and the object is given a new, more refined aspect, and is regarded as even more beautiful than before. Like broken pottery shards, human scars can give us new perspective, make us more resilient and beautiful, and further the growth of our soul.

From divorce and single-parenting, to mitral valve prolapse and two subsequent TIA’s (ministrokes), to a plane crash that almost claimed her life, and most recently the death of her son, Janet Adams certainly has her share of scars.

Do you keep tabs on the number of little blessings you’ve delivered in your 16 years of practice?
I began residency with the goal to track my first 100 deliveries. Little did I know that goal would be reached well within the very first year. I estimate having delivered at least 2,000 babies thus far in my career.

When you’re not wearing scrubs, what’s your fashion style?
For those of you who do not know me, I love, love, love to shop! When not in the hospital, I’m usually not wearing scrubs. On any given day in the office, my staff would agree that my style is more of a conservative cosmopolitan.

“Am I your wish come true?’ 4-year-old Jasper Purdy asked his Mom, Alice Gray Gregory.

“You are my wish come true,” Alice Gray responded, giving her son a smile that brings a whole new meaning to being #blessed.

Alice Gray’s journey to motherhood was long and not without challenges. “I always knew I wanted to be a mom,” she said, and she ran the gamut trying, including the arduous trials of failed fertility treatments. Finally, after more years than she had planned, Alice Gray decided to give open adoption a try.

Mary Lou Willetts opens her door dressed head to flats in a symphony of creamy vanilla shades: gold and pearl earrings, coupled with a string of pearls to finish her petite frame. Classic. Vintage music is playing when her twin sister, Patricia Peck (Pat, as she prefers) walks through the same door a moment later. Before I can ask the obvious, Mary Lou waves away the invisible question and smiles. “No, we didn’t call each other first. We do this all the time.” Pat is a near mirror image of her twin, all the way down to her creamy hues and twisted pearls around her neck. Beautiful.

The spirited identical twins, born 88 years ago to Leo and Violet Marie Thibodeau, spent their laughter-filled childhood in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. Mary Lou and Pat have always been each other’s best friend— besties as we now say. “We never really needed others because we had each other,” said Pat. Her twin agrees. “Our friendship is the best. We can always call each other,” she continued. “I may not always be available at that minute, but that’s okay. I always get back to her.”

In Japan, there is a process called Kintsugi: the art of repairing broken pottery with liquid gold or silver. The fragments are joined together and the object is given a new, more refined aspect, and is regarded as even more beautiful than before. Like broken pottery shards, human scars can give us new perspective, make us more resilient and beautiful, and further the growth of our soul.

From divorce and single-parenting, to mitral valve prolapse and two subsequent TIA’s (ministrokes), to a plane crash that almost claimed her life, and most recently the death of her son, Janet Adams certainly has her share of scars.

Denice Brown is a fighter. She moves through life with a positive attitude despite it all. The monumental hardships Denice has endured compares to the worst of the worse. She is a fighter—optimistic and tenacious. Despite it all, she not only gets out of bed each morning, she manages to get through most days passing along her bright smile, which can easily light up a room.

She’s just turned 30, but one wouldn’t know it from listening to her story. It’s also nearly impossible to believe that, just six years ago when she arrived on Hilton Head Island, this vibrant, energetic, and quite eloquent young woman didn’t speak a word of English.

#AgainstAllOdds indeed!

Meet Adi Aliu, co-owner and operator of Gringo’s Diner in Coligny Plaza who has managed to action pack more … well … life into her young life than many people do in an entire lifetime.

What bad odds did you beat?
At 34 I was diagnosed with endometriosis with a prognosis of no cure. I was in pain 30 days out of each month and walked with a cane for some time, but I refused to believe the prognosis and also refused conventional medical treatment: a complete hysterectomy and hormone therapy for the rest of my life. I believed inherently in the body’s ability to heal itself, so I began what would be years of research and learning about the ways the body heals. I became an herbalist, healed my endometriosis completely, and have since used my knowledge and experience to help others overcome chronic illness, prevent disease, and deal with weight issues using foods and herbs as medicine.

According to an article by Indy500 From the Independent, health is No. 3 on the most worried about list. Good health is a key part of life; it’s what keeps us alive. According to the same article, general happiness is No. 10 in the line of worry. Happiness is what keeps the world turning.  

What if you could tend to both your health and happiness, as they sort of go hand-in-hand, in one place? Jackie Ruka, originally from New York, can help you to be worry-free with a positive outlook on any situation. Jackie is one of the best personal development and lifestyle coaches, making her “America’s Happyologist.”

When did you decide to be a doctor?
I decided to pursue a career in Medicine when I was in junior high school. There were some health issues going on in my family at the time, and my brother was having some issues, as well. It was our family doctor who was able to recognize how those health issues were affecting my brother and address it. That sold me on family medicine.

You’re a Direct Primary Care physician. What's that?
Direct Primary Care has been a lifesaver for me. I was frustrated with the way Medicine has become a business based not on patient needs, but rather on the number of visits or procedures you do. In Direct Primary Care I have the ability to sit and spend time with my patients, listen to ALL issues and concerns they have, and help guide them to the appropriate care. We can go back to good old-fashioned, common sense medicine, where the needs of the patient come first. It has made practicing medicine fun again.

Louanne LaRoche met with me at a coffee shop in Bluffton less than 24 hours after her return from a trip to Belize. No jet lag for her; she was rested, relaxed, and serene. We ordered coffee and she told me her story.  

Louanne is a successful artist, collector, art consultant, and former gallery owner. She is married and has a son who is studying for his Masters’ degree at Carnegie Mellon University.

Having lived in Belize 17 years ago, Louanne’s recent trip with her family was a homecoming of sorts, and included a visit with friends and hiking up steep Mayan ruins in very hot, humid weather—a joyful experience for Louanne, and one she couldn’t have imagined in her wildest dreams just a few years ago. 

Anytime you abandon something in your life, there is a risk you will look back and say: I sure wish I had made a different choice. However, when you access your courage and begin to move forward in a new direction you have chosen for yourself, at some point you will become confident you are doing the right thing. You will notice that the universe is conspiring to support you. This is certainly true in the case of Dr. Gala Gorman, co-founder of the Delta Discovery Center on Hilton Head Island.

Mariah Midyette is 15 years old and already on her way to becoming a doctor!  The Beaufort teenager was honored in July with an invitation to attend a conference sponsored by Harvard University for promising students interested in health care professions. The three day Congress of Professional Medical Leaders was held in Lowell, Massachusetts, and was designed to offer outstanding high school science students — “teen medical prodigies” according to the press release — the opportunity to come together to meet with professional mentors and professors who can advise them.  

Mariah had a ball! Her favorite part of the Congress was watching an actual surgery, a hysterectomy, performed by a surgeon who was assisted by a robot. Mariah and the other attendees watched the surgery in a stadium, and even munched on complimentary popcorn! Although the surgeon had warned that watching the surgery might make some of young students a little squeamish (seeing the blood and internal organs of a real person), Mariah wasn’t bothered in the least. Before attending the Congress, Mariah met her fellow attendees on social media in a private Facebook group setting, and says it was lots of fun to meet the other students in person. A field trip to the Harvard campus was another highlight of her trip, and it made a lasting impression on the future physician.

She earned her under graduate English degree at UGA, did her post grad work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), cut a distinguished upward swath through the technology career industry—including a stint at IBM—and for the past year, she’s been serving as Vice President of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. Whew. It doesn’t take a degree from MIT to see that our August #smartypants theme fits Michelle Wycoff to a tee. We can’t wait to hear her roar.

Were you always known as “The Smart Girl” in school? I wore glasses sometimes with the frame masking-taped together in the middle. I probably looked smart! I won my first science fair when I was nine. I built a computer motherboard and explained binary code to my class. In the 1970s, computers weren’t as pervasive as they are today. I think I shocked everyone, including my teachers.