Guest Blogger: Megan Intfen

Becoming Badass 101

I am a sassy, confident, motorcycle-riding, fire-eating, roller derby-playing health counselor.  But I wasn’t always this badass.  A few years ago, I was a lifeless lump in a dead relationship, working a crummy job, whose only pastime was boozin’ and usin.’

How did I snap out of this sad stupor?  For me, awakening my mojo meant recognizing that there was an awesome lady somewhere inside me, buried beneath a shroud of apathy and a gallon of Jack Daniels.  She is the REAL me, not the watered-down version, and I needed to get re-aquainted with her.  I thought about every outrageous thing I wanted to do and began taking action.

The next step in my divine transformation was acknowledging the fear that kept me from fulfilling my desires in the first place, and flipping the finger at it.  I stopped the dialogue of excuses running through my head…What people will think?…It’s too hard…Something might go wrong…

This was NOT how I was fixin’ to live the rest of my life.

It started with a pinup photo shoot.  This proved to be a confidence jump-starter.  Somehow getting reacquainted with my sexy completely freed my inner wild child.  Shortly after I did that photo shoot, I was asked to model for a painter.

Nude.

Oh, why not?!  At this point I had already transformed myself into a bodacious vixen, and clearly my body was wanted by all.  I should note that I’m five feet tall with wonky proportions.  I wasn’t given this opportunity because I look like Dita von Teese.  I was chosen because I developed a reputation for being the go-to girl for feisty and fearless activities.

A little later I learned how to eat fire, swallow swords, and escape from straight jackets (arguably very useful skills).  Now, your road may lead you to slightly different activities…I do realize it’s not everyone’s dream to be a circus freak.  Hey, to each her own!  Only your own wild soul can tell you what it wants.

After engaging in a handful of these activities, I began to feel alive.  I had awakened my true essence.  My purpose in life, I’ve discovered, is to help women find their authentic, tenacious selves.  I believe it takes doing something crazy to have enough momentum to propel yourself forward.  We weren’t created to play it safe, so dance, sing, get freakin’ naked…do whatever makes YOUR soul sing.

Megan Intfen is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor.  Her company, Saucy Girl Wellness, takes an unorthodox approach to finding health and happiness.  Reach her view email at: [email protected].

Being a badass takes balls.  And protein.  This is my favorite comfort food, veganized and de-glutened for your pleasure.

Minus-the-Meat Balls

1lb extra firm tofu

1/2c chopped walnuts

1/4c minced onions

palmful of dried parsley

1tsp black pepper

1tsp garlic powder

4 cloves minced garlic

1/3c gluten-free breadcrumbs

1/2c  nutritional yeast

1/3c lemon juice

Crumble tofu into large bowl.  Add walnuts and combine.  Add the remainder of the ingredients.  Mix with hands until well combined.  Roll into walnut-sized balls.  Heat olive oil in a skillet, and brown the balls on all sides.  This should take 5-10 minutes on medium heat.  Smother with marinara or BBQ sauce.