Hey, I’m DW — Welcome to My World

Let’s get this out of the way: I’m not a life coach, a nutritionist, or a guy who yells “rise and grind” at 5 a.m. on Instagram. I’m just Steven — born and raised in Arkansas, fueled by curiosity, a love of food, and the ongoing project of keeping my mind, body, and spirit in one piece.

When I was younger, I went through a pretty rough time with depression. It taught me early that health isn’t just about how much you can bench press or how many kale smoothies you can survive in a week. For me, it’s been about learning balance — mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. Think of it as the four legs of a chair. If one’s wobbly, you’re gonna spill your sweet tea. (And if you’re from the South, you know sweet tea is basically liquid gold.)

My Relationship with Food

Growing up in Arkansas, food was — and still is — a love language. The problem is, Southern cooking can sometimes double as a dare for your arteries. But here’s the thing: I don’t believe in sacrificing flavor for health. What I do believe in is avoiding excess sugar and salt, leaning into fresh ingredients, and giving everything I make a soulful flair.

So no, I’m not here to reinvent the wheel and tell you cauliflower is suddenly pizza. But I will show you how to whip up food that tastes like it belongs at a family gathering, just without the “I need a three-hour nap afterward” side effect.

My Health Journey

By my late twenties, I realized I needed more than just decent meals and occasional exercise. I needed to figure out how to love myself — mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. That’s when the real journey began.

Since then, I’ve picked up tools, routines, and perspectives that have helped me get to a healthier place, one step at a time. Do I still stumble? Of course. Sometimes it feels like I’m living in an episode of Abbott Elementary — full of chaos, heart, and unexpected lessons from the most random moments.

My Love for Travel

After moving from the South to Colorado, my world expanded in ways I didn’t expect. The mountains lit a spark in me, and suddenly I wanted to see and experience more. Travel quickly became more than just checking off places on a map. It became a way to reset, find inspiration, and yes, hunt down new recipes and flavors to bring back home.

I’ve learned that travel and wellness go hand-in-hand. Exploring new places pushes me out of my comfort zone, introduces me to new food cultures, and gives me stories that would make for some pretty entertaining sitcom episodes. (Seinfeld taught me that even the smallest, weirdest everyday moments are worth telling.)

Why This Blog Exists

This space is my journal, recipe book, travel diary, and ongoing experiment in living better — not perfect, but better. You’ll find:

• Reflections on mental, emotional, and spiritual growth

• Recipes that taste good, feel good, and use fresh ingredients

• Travel stories that range from inspiring to “how did I even get myself into this?”

I want this blog to feel like sitting around the table with a friend who’s going to hand you a plate of something tasty, crack a joke at his own expense, and then drop one of those “huh, I never thought about it like that” insights.

So welcome to my world. Pull up a chair. Bring an appetite for food, for growth, and for adventure. Because around here, life isn’t about being flawless — it’s about being flavorful.