Welcome! My name is Carol Bysiek, founder of Lily Pad Wellness. My passion for health and wellness began many years ago, but the path that led to becoming a holistic Health Coach was only revealed through some unexpected twists and turns in the road, and a crisis.

Before: The Great Illusion

Pulling into ‘middle-age’, everything should have been great; I had a 10 year marriage, wonderful children, a great job, a comfortable home.  Check.  But, despite outward successes, I was feeling increasingly incomplete, splintered, and stressed.  Demands and stressors at work frequently spilled over into family time.  Weekends didn’t provide enough time to recharge or to catch up on what mattered to me most, like time with my children.  I was lost in a fog of chores, errands, and forced exercise (when all I wanted was a nap)!  My life had become an endless to-do list.  I couldn’t keep up, and I couldn’t put it down.  I could not have done more, yet nothing was being done well.  I was increasingly unhappy.    I was not enjoying the life I worked so hard to create!  I began to feel as though I wasn’t even in it. For many reasons, I worked hard to keep this struggle to myself, but it was no secret.  Almost every woman I knew in a similar situation felt the same way.  We put on a happy face, yet we spoke of tearful weekend meltdowns, stressful evenings, encroached work/life boundaries, and loss of time with family and to ourselves.  We resigned this was just ‘the way it was’ and pressed on.  But quietly, I wished for help, and not just with cleaning or cooking dinner…I needed support, encouragement, and solutions, but I had no idea where to look. My body wasn’t buying the act either.  My waistline was growing, accumulating abdominal fat from the sustained high levels of unresolved stress.  My blood work showed abnormal results for the first time.  I was frequently sick and run down. My marriage was struggling.   I felt disconnected from my children.  Something had to give, so I vowed to make changes.  Unfortunately, it was too late. Later that year, I was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer at the age of 45.

After: A Crisis Is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

No one could have been more stunned.  I had no family history, I had robust genetics handed down from centenarians, I maintained an ideal weight, and I exercised regularly.  And I assumed my body could “take” the stress.  The diagnosis shook me to the core.  Through the fog of fear and anger, there was one clear message.  This was an unwanted gift, no doubt, but it was also a major opportunity to reconsider my life.  So, I let the house of cards come tumbling down.  From the outside, it looked like a train wreck, but deep inside of me, amidst the rubble, something amazing was emerging; a new consciousness, a profound sense of peace, and overwhelming gratitude.  I had an entirely new and wonderful perspective on myself, on my life and on what mattered. The amazing teams of people entrusted with my care at that time were a constant source of strength and inspiration.  I was deeply humbled to receive such compassion and I stood in awe of how much they gave of themselves.   They taught me how to take the next step, how to heal from within, and how to emerge stronger, with grace, at peace.  I learned the hard and bittersweet lesson that I could not control everything.  But I also learned that I had more control than I knew over some things, and I committed to myself that I would prioritize those things, and leave the rest in bigger hands than mine.  I learned how to receive help and kindness rather than just give it.  I basked in their warmth and soaked it all in, and I let it change me. The ‘me’ from ‘before’ seemed unfamiliar now.  Something had changed, something that would never go back.  I would not snap out of this.  Things would in some ways never be the same, and that was OK, in fact it was good.   I wanted to do what my many doctors, nurses, counselors, and mentors did.  I wanted to have that kind of meaningful connection with others; to help, to give, to light a path for someone else.   I immersed myself in all manners of healing, and consumed books on wellness, spiritual growth, and the mind-body connection.  I practiced reiki, energy work, and yoga.  I did art therapy, women’s workshops, meditation, and journaling.  You name it.  The more I learned, the more my excitement grew (though I did not yet know precisely for what). I spoke with many women; survivors worried about recurrence, women with family history wanting to protect themselves, women on the fast track feeling out of balance.  There was a common thread.   All of us shared a strong desire to know how to do ‘it’ (health) right: what to eat, how to manage the stress, how to maintain balance, how to feel great.  But, none of us really knew how to go about it.  It was confusing, overwhelming, or the goals seemed unachievable. Then it clicked, and a window opened.   I realized that I now had the perspective and the knowledge to provide the kind of help I had so desperately wanted myself.  When I found the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute, the holistic approach acknowledging Lifestyle, Exercise, Attitude and Nutrition as the 4 major pillars of life resonated with me instantly, as did the notion of making health a conscious choice, both for myself and for my family.   I went through that window without hesitation, and I couldn’t be happier with what I’ve learned and the amazing wealth of resources I have standing behind me.