Meet Jason Wood

We were lucky to catch up with Jason Wood recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jason, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.

My parents both experienced personal and financial hardships in the childhoods and early adult lives. Once they were in a position to give back to others, they made it a priority to do so. Their dedication to generosity is one of the greatest gifts I inherited from them.

I remember how much fun they made shopping for items for canned food drives or toys for children around Christmastime. From a young age, we were always involved in giving back to the community.

My dad lived his life with a spirit of helping others through dark times. I’ve come to realize he was often the umbrella for folks as they experienced storms in theirs lives and also the rainbow after. Whether generosity came through financial or emotional support, he was always the first to help others.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I turned my battle with orthorexia and mental illness into a mission to break the stigma around men’s mental health by publishing my memoir Starving for Survival. I am proud to serve on the board for Running in Silence, Michigan Eating Disorder Alliance, and SoulPaws Recovery Project.

I am also the Director of Community Engagement at ANAD and facilitate our organization’s new men’s peer support group. Through speaking engagements, my writing, and my work, I strive to start an important conversation that encourages everyone–especially men–to speak up, share their stories, and get the help they deserve.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Listen & Learn!

We have so much to learn from each other, but we have to truly listen. When we listen and learn from the stories of others, we become better versions of ourselves and are more likely to succeed in our roles and personal missions.

Break The Comfort Zone!

Take chances, try new things, and don’t be afraid to fail. View every obstacle as an opportunity and failure as a chance to learn and grow.

Prioritize Yourself!

You can pour from an empty cup! It’s easy to get burned out, especially when following your passions. Take breaks, check in with yourself periodically, and remember it’s okay to set boundaries and say no sometimes.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

I would continue to do exactly what I am doing at this very moment. Through personal loss in my life and my own battle with an eating disorder, I’ve learned to never take tomorrow for granted.

I would continue to follow my passions of raising awareness around eating disorders, making memories with my husband, working to center marginalized individuals, chasing storms, playing with my pups, and sharing my story to help others heal.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://orthorexiabites.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason.w.wood
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-wood-303/