MEET SPENCER— A QUICK WITTED, FUN LOVING AND ATHLETIC, TRUE ANGELINO. DURING THE DAY SHE WORKS IN EVENT PRODUCTION, PUTTING ON EVENTS FOR SOME OF THE TOP LUXURY BRANDS. SPENCER MOONLIGHTS, OR SHOULD WE SAY "MORNING LIGHTS" AS AN INSTRUCTOR AT 5/6AM AT RISE NATION, A FITNESS CLIMBING STUDIO IN LOS ANGELES. SHE WILL BE LEADING US IN A CLASS TODAY ON INSTAGRAM LIVE LEADING US THROUGH A PILATES WORKOUT TO HELP ACTIVATE OUR IMMUNE SYSTEMS AND KEEP OUR BUTTS HIGH AND TIGHT! GET TO KNOW SPENCER...
I AM SPENCER HIGGINS AND I DEFINE CONFIDENCE AS A SENSE OF SELF AND SMILING FOR A REASON.
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN LA AND STILL LIVE HERE!
HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO?
I AM DEFINITELY A BUSY BEE. I HAVE TWO JOBS. MY PRIMARY ROLE IS IN THE EVENT PRODUCTION WORLD, MOSTLY SURROUNDING LUXURY FASHION BRANDS (CHANEL, HERMES, ROLEX, ETC.), BUT WE ALSO WORK WITH THE PRODUCER’S GUILD OF AMERICA, WOMEN IN FILM, THE LACMA ART + FILM GALA, ETC. I AM ALSO AN INSTRUCTOR AT RISE NATION – IT IS MY THERAPY!
WHY DOES THE CONFIDENCE CO MISSION RESONATE WITH YOU?
THE CONFIDENCE CO AND I SHARE A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING ON THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION.
I NEVER FANCIED THE SAYING “TRUST YOUR GUT” BECAUSE, BETWEEN ALL OF MY DIGESTIVE ISSUES, I NEVER TRUSTED MINE. IT WEIGHED ON MY CONFIDENCE TREMENDOUSLY: I WAS EMBARRASSED TO GO OUT TO DINNER WITH FRIENDS OUT OF FEAR THAT THEY MIGHT JUDGE MY DIET AND FOOD SENSITIVITIES; I REFUSED TO SHARE MY SYMPTOMS WITH ANYONE (INCLUDING DOCTORS) FOR A LONG TIME AND WOULD ISOLATE MYSELF WHENEVER MY DIGESTIVE TRACT GOT OUT OF WHACK (AGAIN, OUT OF FEAR OF JUDGEMENT).
WHEN I FINALLY SPOKE TO DOCTORS AND STARTED GETTING ANSWERS, I REALIZED THAT IF I WAS EVER GOING TO "TRUST MY GUT”, I NEEDED TO HEAL MY GUT. IT WAS TRULY AN EPIPHANY THAT OPENED MY MIND TO A WHOLE NEW MEANING OF SELF-CARE.
I RESEARCHED AND SAMPLED MANY DIGESTIVE ENZYMES, BUT MOST DID MORE HARM THAN GOOD. NOW, I AM THRILLED TO HAVE FOUND “THE ONE”: THE CONFIDENCE CO., A PRODUCT DUBBED PERFECTLY FOR THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION THAT IT TREATS.
WHY IS HAVING A HEALTHY GUT IMPORTANT TO YOU?
WE ALL HAVE FUNKY/SENSITIVE STOMACHS TO BEGIN WITH, SO THAT IS ONE FACTOR, BUT I ALSO SUFFER FROM ANXIETY. THAT, ALONG WITH THE AMOUNT OF STRESS THAT COMES WITH MY HEFTY SCHEDULE TRIGGERS MANY “GUT-WRENCHING” MOMENTS FOR ME ON THE REGULAR. MAINTAINING A HEALTHY GUT HELPS BALANCE KEEPS MY SEROTONIN LEVELS IN CHECK.
NAME YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT.
OH BROTHER… TOO MANY, BUT I LOVE PACE (CLASSIC ITALIAN RESTAURANT, LAUREL CANYON). AND KATSUYA (SUSHI, FMUUUU).
NAME THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE FOODS.
COOKIES – CHOCOLATE CHIP (YES, I AM BASIC AF), CHIPS AND GUAC/SALSA (BIG MEXICAN FOOD FAN), BEET PASTA (FROM BARRIQUE).
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RECIPE?
KREATION’S BANANA BREAD… OOOOMYGERDDD – HEAVEN. BUT IT AIN’T MINE, HA!
ANY MAJOR WELLNESS MOMENTS IN YOUR LIFE?
MY DECISION TO BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR ON TOP OF MY FULL-TIME JOB… EVERYONE THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY, BUT I KNEW IN MY GUT THAT I NEEDED TO DO IT. IT’S MY THERAPY. IT’S HOW I MOVE, HOW I DANCE, HOW I CONNECT WITH OTHERS, AND HOW I GRANT MYSELF WHAT I WANT.
WHAT'S YOUR CURRENT SELF-CARE ROUTINE?
I LOVE ALONE TIME. I NEED IT IN ORDER TO FUNCTION WITH OTHERS. I MAKE SURE TO GIFT MYSELF THAT EVERYDAY (MEDITATING, READING, TAKING A MOMENT TO JUST SIT OUTSIDE).
WHERE DO YOU GET OR DRAW INSPIRATION FROM?
HONESTLY, MY PEERS. I AM REALLY ADAMENT ON SURROUNDING MYSELF WITH PEOPLE I GENUNIELY LOOK UP TO AND TAKE NOTE ON THEIR ACTS OF KINDNESS AND INTELLIGENCE CONSTANTLY.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR 18-YEAR OLD SELF?
STOP TRYING TO GROW UP SO FAST. IT’S SO EASY FOR BE TO PLOW THROUGH A DAY. I TRY TO REMIND MYSELF TO SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY EACH MOMENT.
HOW HAVE YOU KEPT UP YOUR CREATIVITY DURING THIS TIME?
READING! I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I AM GRATEFUL FOR QUARANTINE BECAUSE IT’S ALLOWED MORE TIME IN MY DAY TO READ. I LOVE IT SO MUCH AND I’VE READ AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF INSPIRING BOOKS IN THIS TIME ALONE.
HAVE YOU FOUND CREATING ART TO BE HELPFUL WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON? IF SO, HOW?
ABSOLUTELY. THE CREATIVE MIND IS SO STIMULATING TO EVERY OTHER PORTION OF YOUR BRAIN. I’VE REALLY EMBRACED MOVEMENT – I GO FOR WALKS, CREATE MY OWN LITTLE WORKOUTS AND SUPPORT OTHERS.
WHAT ARE IS ONE SELF-CARE RITUAL YOU'RE LEANING INTO FOR COMFORT?
MEDITATION. I DON’T DO IT ENOUGH AND I’M REALLY TRYING TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO MY LIFE DAILY. AND PILATES! IT’S A BEAUTIFUL CONCEPT THAT REQUIRES SO MUCH LOVE FOR AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE BODY.
DO YOU HAVE A QUOTE, POEM OR SONG THAT YOU WOULD DEFINE AS YOUR ANTHEM?
"I’VE HAD A LOT OF WORRIES IN MY LIFE, MOST OF WHICH NEVER HAPPENED.” – MARK TWAIN
I TEND TO OVERTHINK AND READ INTO SITUATIONS DEEPER THAN I SHOULD A LOT AND IT’S NOT HEALTHY. ALSO, PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING GLENNON DOYLE WRITES…
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