We were lucky to catch up with Yolanda Easton recently and have shared our conversation below.
Yolanda, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I wish I could say that I just woke up one morning and BAM….my purpose was written out for me and all I had to do was take it and run with it. However, it didn’t quite happen that way. Finding my purpose has been a journey that continues to evolve and show up in ways I would never expect. I’ve had many a days wondering exactly what my purpose was, why am I here? I think the short version of finding my purpose was paying attention to the things/situations that got my heart jumping. What were the things I was most passionate about? As I began asking myself those questions I realized that first, I love chatting one-on-one with people and sharing with them any wisdom God placed on my heart to share with them….hmmm, maybe a coach. Second, I enjoy traveling and sharing those experiences with others. I love seeing places that was created for us to enjoy. and Third, I love to eat and see others enjoy eating as well. Being allowed the opportunity to give nourishment to others is such a blessing. After realizing these three things are true passions of mine, I realized that my purpose is guiding people to live the life God created for them. To contend for their highest possible good until they’re living that reality. I currently do these things by working to professionally and personally develop spouses married to active duty service members. I also own a virtual/in-person cooking studio, Foodstalgia (previously known as The Traveling Foodista) I share my travels and food experiences with my class participants so they too can have Foodstalgic experiences. I’ve been blessed to live out my passion and purpose everyday!!!
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Traveling the world is truly a passion of mine and the military has afforded my family and I to experience all different types of cultures and people. These experiences are truly what helped birth Foodstalgia!! I’ve traveled to 39+ countries and I enjoy food experiences in each place we have visited or lived. The one struggle I would experience is not being able to have those food experiences once we moved or ended our vacation. I then realized these experiences didn’t have to end if I could use these experiences as inspiration to make the dishes myself and teach others to do the same, hence the birth of Foodstalgia!! One bite of a dish can completely transport us to the time and place we first experienced it and my cooking classes do exactly that. You’ll have a Foodstalgic experience when you attend one of my cooking classes or create a new experience that you’ll be able to replicate in your own kitchen. Class participants sometimes ask me what is my favorite food to cook. Hmmmmm….that’s such a hard question because I love ALL food!! Whether is Greek dishes, an Italian homemade pasta class, German pretzel, or Louisiana Gumbo we have a class for that. If you just want to see what my classes are all about then join me on the First Friday of the month for a complimentary Facebook live class!!!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Resilience, tenacity, and integrity would have to be the qualities that have been the most impactful along my journey. Resilience is so important to have during the challenging times. There will be ups and down but how you respond to them is everything, You also need tenacity because you will eventually here the word “no” but you have to know that you know that what you’re doing is worth hanging in there for. Just like you can’t wear just any pair of glasses, not everyone can see your vision because it was given just for you. So don’t be surprised if others can’t see it. Keep going and don’t stop. Integrity is another quality that I find to be very important. People need to believe what you’re sharing with them when it comes to your company and its offerings. They need to be able to trust you and know you will do what you said you’ll do, A lack of integrity can completely sabotage your business. These are just a few of the qualities that I have found a necessity along my journey.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My unwavering source of support and strength throughout life’s challenges has unquestionably been my husband, Phil. Our loving bond of nearly 32 years has seen us weather every storm together. Phil’s unwavering encouragement and belief in my abilities have often surpassed my own uncertainty. His never-ending faith in me serves as a constant reminder that I possess the resilience to overcome any obstacle. In the midst of life’s journey, he is my refuge, providing security and continuous support. Navigating challenges becomes infinitely more manageable when you have a steadfast companion by your side.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://foodstalgia.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodstalgia.co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foodstalgia.co/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolanda-easton-86111132/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/yolandaeaston
