571. Healthy Heart — Follow It and Be Brave

Dr. Shirley Piccarreto

Shirley was working at Eastman Kodak—in its heyday, the place to be in Rochester, New York. “But I was horribly bored! I needed a do-over! I sold my fancy Camaro, got an old Toyota pickup truck, and my girlfriend and I took off for Texas.”

Dr. Shirley Piccarreto has been teaching, practicing, and speaking in health, fitness, wellness and the alternative medicine field for over 30 years. She is a Doctor of Naturopathy and certified herbalist and instructor. She was also a corporate fitness director for Bally’s Fitness in upstate New York and Toronto and hosted her own radio show.

How Did You Start Using Your Talents?

After a series of unsatisfying, boring gigs, Shirley answered an ad to do PR work for a local Bally International health club. “After about 2 months I got promoted to be in sales and loved it. Then, I became an exercise instructor and started teaching classes.” Soon, she was an area manager. By age 27, she rose to Corporate Wellness Director over Upstate New York and Toronto. “That’s what started me into the whole heath arena in fitness and nutrition. It has been a part of my life ever since.”

The Most Impactful Turning Point?

Rising to Corporate Wellness Director for Upstate New York and Toronto, Shirley was feeling restless again, wanting to do something else. Pursuing her interest in herbal healing, she was in a devastating car crash. “I broke five ribs, shattered my spleen, and broke my back, with lots of lacerations, you name it.” Bedridden for five months, she thought, “I guess I wasn’t supposed to be doing that herbal thing.” But while she was recuperating, she heard about a woman who was teaching herbal classes. As soon as I could, I went to her class. The hair on my arms stood right up! I came home and said, “This is my calling! I just know it.”

The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?

As a young woman, when she left the stability and benefits of Eastman Kodak—ignoring social and family pressures—and hit the road to Texas, “I was really proud of myself for trusting my instincts. I did not know exactly what was motivating me, but I know what it was now: that I was following my heart, and that I was brave. Since then, I have never been afraid to make shifts. They may not always be pretty, but I have never been afraid of them. We have to learn to listen to our heart and dream again.”