As people move into and join the Bristow community, many of them remain unseen by locals, choosing to slowly integrate themselves. The same cannot be said for Lara Lee, who moved to Bristow with her husband in March of this year to be nearer to her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren.
Since their move in March, Lara and her husband, Kenny, have oft been seen walking throughout the community. You may even have met them at some point as they walked. In fact, Lara noted that she most appreciates two things about Bristow: the town’s walkability and its “beautifully natural, unadulterated Klingensmith Park and Lake Massena areas”—a sentiment with which many locals and visitors agree.
Of the park and lake areas, Lara happily disclosed that she walks the trails and enjoys the serenity of their natural beauty, free of the clutter of manmade intrusions. She also enjoys the availability of kayaks to enjoy the peaceful solitude of the lake as it welcomingly beckons.
Truthfully, Lara’s appreciation of Bristow’s natural areas extends into the very fibers of her life. She was raised with an awareness of health and wellbeing founded in the simplicities of nature, nutrition, and fresh and healthful food choices. Additionally, God plays the central role in anchoring her healthful lifestyle with a focus on communion with him in all things.
In a nod to her Christianity and healthful upbringing, Lara always desired to serve others in ways that help build health and reduce disease. In fulfilling those desires, she became a functional nutritionist, a professional who helps people build awareness of how food choices, lifestyle, and environment convene to affect overall health and wellness. Functional nutrition offers a holistic approach to health, including spirituality. While Lara addresses such lifestyle aspects and choices with clients to improve health, she addresses spirituality from a Christian standpoint, saying, in part, “God is intricately woven into all of [her] life’s endeavors.”
When she moved to Bristow, she immediately wanted to invest in her new community and make a difference in the community’s health and wellbeing, hoping to introduce locals to functional nutrition and healthful eating in addressing health concerns. As perhaps the only functional nutritionist in the Bristow area, Lara offers her professional services through her business, Sana Vita, which translates from Italian to mean “Healthy Living”.
Moreover, Lara has not limited her investment and commitment to improving fellow Bristowans’ health and well-being to functional nutrition but also provides her expertise as a personal organizer. She said, “I can help others organize anything from their thoughts to material possessions, businesses, records, and more.” She further noted that, like the foods, medications, herbs, and ideas we consume, the organization of our lives affects our health as well. Lara owns and operates her own organizing business, Organize Me Please, LLC, offering more than 30 years of experience.
In addition to interacting with the community while walking, shopping locally, and offering her healthful services, Lara joined Cornerstone Church, where she serves as a member of the worship team as a musician. Yes, she also plays and teaches the piano. She enjoys being able to serve the Lord through music and expose others to music as well.
Actually, despite only living in the Bristow community for four months, she also took a grant position at the Bristow Public Library, teaching music to participants of all ages. Every other Tuesday, Music with Lara begins at 3:30 p.m. and runs for 2 hours in the library’s main conference room.
While she strives to earn a living through her businesses, her commitment to serve God and her community reigns supreme. It was for those reasons that she immediately acquainted and immersed herself with and in the community. She chooses to invest herself for her family, neighbors, and love for the Lord. With each newcomer like Lara, who arrives and invests themselves, the Bristow community finds itself enriched.
To meet Lara or utilize her services, feel free to visit her websites, www.sanavitafunnut.com and www.orgmp.com, attend Music with Lara, or call 847-4451146.