How The BAM Van Came to Be – Guest Post by V Capaldi

By questioning the status quo PaleoBOSS Lady informs the community how to rewrite their narrative on life, health-care and living.  PaleoBOSS Lady is a walking miracle in the conscious living movement creating awareness through life experience, self-empowerment and her post graduate education in psychology focused on building communities. You can also find PaleoBOSS Lady on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.

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It was a typical Sunday morning early 2016 and I was on the yoga mat before sunrise. Candles the only light in the room with the smell of sage still present from my morning smudge. It was like a light bulb went off in my head and I knew this is what I had to do.

I would sell all my possessions and travel around the USA to homes helping anyone who needed it for free.

After working with Dr. Terry Wahls and being on the Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Delaware Chapter I learned quickly how many were in great need. Not to mention my years as a Respiratory Therapist before being diagnosed.

It was so clear. I could see it and knew this was a path I needed to take.

First things first were to call my adult daughter and share the news. It seemed like forever for her to respond when I explained about the ‘tour’. Silence lingered for way too long until suddenly she said, “Mom I think your whole life has prepared you for this.” “Really,” I said. That is all you are going to say?” I was surprised and proud of her response.

My own kid somehow knew this was the path too.

I have a post-graduate degree in psychology with a community specialization, built and sold over 10 companies, 5 stars rated chef, certified yoga and spin instructor, founder of the brand PaleoBOSS Lady, award winner and walking miracle – life did prepare me for this.

So in typical V fashion, I jumped!

I immediately hung up the phone and went to social media to announce the “Taking it to the Streets Tour” sharing that anyone who wanted a free visit from me I would come and share whatever tried and true tips & tricks I had from my miracle status. All they had to do was give me a place to stay.

Within 24 hours I was invited into 14 homes and 9 states. This confirmed I was exactly where I belonged.

To think just 5 years before this my life was desperate and unmanageable due to the effects of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Epstein Barr, Hashimoto’s and undiagnosed Lyme disease on my body. I had lost bi-lateral use of my hands, no feeling on the left side on my left side, trouble swallowing, involuntary limb jumping, lived in constant pain, had full-time help and live-in help. I was unable to drive and/or care for myself 100%. I needed help for most tasks with loss of your hands the highest form of disability a person can have.

I was going broke spending my entire life savings all because I was sick. My life was beyond scary and I was alone. Not anymore! Today I am a walking miracle.

With diet and lifestyle changes I manage all my symptoms 100%! My healthcare is free and accessible. Knowing this I wanted to share it with others. By sheer force of will, the grace of God and a huge “Bag of Tricks” filled with wellness tools I successfully kick each disease to the curb. Touring offered me the chance to share whatever tools I have with others. Knowing that my healthcare was free and accessible I felt driven to inform others.

The ‘Taking it to the Streets Tour” was born and to date, I have driven close to 100,000 miles serving others to live their best life. The tour has received awards around its effort to build a grassroots movement of consciousness putting me in front of close to 100,000 people, living in close to 100 homes while teaching over 60 cooking classes and talks crossing America 10 times.

Little did I know the powerful path this journey would deliver and how much of an impact and the learning curve the tour would bring.

I am certain this community-powered tour has not only helped others it has also been a lifeline to many. Humbled to share the work has been nominated for 10 awards and won 8. I have also added TEDx Speaker to my resume; which is an accomplishment I am proud of. Watch my TEDx talk.

Never in my wildest dreams did I see any of this coming. Never in my wildest dreams did I believe I could be a walking miracle. Never in my wildest dreams did I realize the power was inside me all along. I never gave up or stopped believing in myself.

I realized early on that once I was diagnosed with a progressive disease I had a role in my care. I was just confused about what that role was. I thought it was simply to go to the doctor and do whatever they told me. I know it sounds silly, but I that was my lens. Now if they said, “jump off a bridge” I would not do that, but you get the idea.

I was also confused about how my body worked. I did not look at it as interconnected. Western medicine treats the body by systems and never shall they cross. If I ask my family doctor about MS they always refer to the neurologist and if I ask about anxiety they refer to the therapist. No one looked at all of me so I had the same lens.

Until one day I woke up and realized weather, relationships, sleep, thought patterns, movement, possessions, cultural and societal norms and so much more are all a part of healthcare for MS and all wellness. I needed to look at myself as a whole person in harmony with my body. No more taking an antacid so I can eat the pizza that gives me heartburn kind of thinking.

Little by little with much trial and error, I began to work on all of me as a collective. I began to make changes and look at my entire body to respond. I began to own my sickness and my health. This is where the golden ticket was found for me to tap miracle status. Small thought pattern changes started to deliver huge rewards. A perfect example is no longer thinking the food was 100% a pleasure zone and that it actually had a role to nourish my body.

Never once did I consider the foods I ate beyond taste.

Sad, but true and it took me 40+ years to change this narrative to realize what we put in our body matters way beyond taste. It matters 100% with how we get to live our lives. With disability rates at close to 1 in 3 this type of narrative change a shift all of us could use and the brand of PaleoBOSS Lady works to help move thinking in this way. I eat whole foods to pay homage to my body not because I have MS. This is a key lens shift that gave me the golden ticket to BAM.

Miracle status requires all life choices to be conscious.

The tour set out to share with others how to begin to question the status quo to tap their BAM (Believe in a Miracle) life. This no judgment/expectation experience offers a safe space to help inspire your best life. In my 55+ years, I have filled a “Bag of Tricks” that includes many things to help live your best life all of which I make 100% available to others. In addition, I am a great networker so if I cannot help you I know someone who can. Last, but not least we work together to build a supportive community. Community most of all is a key foundation for a successful BAM journey.

For the last year, I have toured America living in a converted Dodge Pro Master van the community named, The BAM van.

I have been living in 60 square feet touring and what a year it has been! I am so grateful to share The Paleo Mom is giving me a chance to share so much about my work in a series of blogs that goes into the lifestyle for miracle status. This collection of posts will include talks on minimalism, activism, van life, holistic healing and the power of community. I hope you will follow along and share it with your friends.

Want to learn more about my van life? Check out my episode on the Minimalist podcast.

Together is how we learn, grow and live our best life. Namaste friends.

To connect with me you can find me at www.paleobosslady.com or on Social Media at @paleobosslady