Danah Mor: Brighter, Every Day
Danah Mor, nutrition expert and Ayurvedic practitioner, is leading a revolution in how we think about lifestyle and diet, placing balance and joy at the center of everything. Her latest work is Shine Brighter Every Day.
An Interview with Danah Mor: Brighter, Every Day
Danah Mor has traveled extensively across the globe to learn from various cultures and teachers, from the Mayans in Mexico to the nomad Bedouins in Egypt. Fluent in seven languages, Danah has lived in Paris, Madrid, London, West Palm Beach, Florida, and Los Angeles, and has worked with top models, actors, directors, and singers in the entertainment industry. Danah has unique and diverse credentials, holding a degree in ancient Indian medicine and two specialized certifications from the Hippocrates Health Institute and The Institute for Integrative Nutrition
OMTimes: When you were a teenager, you lost a significant portion of your sight – can you describe what happened to you?
Danah Mor: I started to find it harder and harder to read a book, I had to move closer to the whiteboard in school to the point that I had to stand right in front of it to be able to read it.
It got worse between 13 and 15 years old. At the time, doctors didn’t know what was wrong. I had to study; I had exams. I was on the basketball team. I didn’t want to spend my time in doctors’ offices doing tests. I didn’t like being told no one knew what I had. I hated being treated like a freak.
There was no diagnosis, no cure, no solution. It was scary because I had no idea what was happening to me, to my sight, and of course, I was afraid it could get worse. I had to adapt and learn a new way of seeing. It was hard enough being a teenager; everything already felt so new and challenging. What was already a tough time in life just got a whole lot harder.
In the end, I had to lose my pride, ask for help, which frankly is the last thing you want to do as a teenager. I had to learn to be vulnerable and ask stupid questions, and more than anything, be courageous and overcome my fear. At first, it was scary. I would say hi to people I didn’t know (by accident) and experienced humiliation. People thought I was arrogant for passing by them and not saying hi. The beginning was harsh, as I didn’t know what I wasn’t seeing. Having to adapt as a young teenager so quickly was overwhelming.
After graduating, I moved to Madrid. There I was finally diagnosed with a rare eye condition called macular dystrophy, which means that I have lost the ability to focus and see details acutely. I can’t read or recognize faces. I basically see through my peripheral vision. My sight is now stable. It has stayed the same since my diagnosis; however, every day, every moment is a constant challenge, and the adventure continues.
At one point, I must’ve made a decision. I think I decided that this was not going to get in the way of living my life. Macular dystrophy was going to become my strength and not a limitation, and I honestly belief that approach has made all the difference. Today, I recognize my friends by how they walk. I coach basketball and have learned to know my players by their body form. If I am lost, and there is no one to ask, I listen inside. I have learned to trust my body and gut feelings.
OMTimes: How has this affected your life?
Danah Mor: Macular dystrophy means I can’t read a book or the menu at a restaurant or recognize a face from more than a meter away. I can’t see if a guy is good-looking from a distance (hahaha). I can’t easily access information the same way others do, read subtitles on a movie screen, or a train timetable. I guess life is a little more challenging for me.
When my eyesight started to disappear, it was as if I had to open my inner eyes and look deep within myself. I had to find courage, confidence, and trust, even though I had little to hold on to on the outside. I couldn’t see what I was used to seeing. I was losing my vision with no given solution, and it was scary. When you look within, you begin a new kind of conversation with yourself. When you go and listen inside, you create in-sight. Creating this stronger connection with myself was a foundation of what I call “feeling at home.” When you feel at home inside of yourself, anywhere, you place yourself can be home, because you are already home. Feeling home inside of yourself is a deep secret for health on every level.
You can only feel as good as you think you can. I can’t change my condition. But by perceiving my situation in a different way, I was able to overcome more significant barriers than most of us can imagine. As a result, I have built a life that I love living. I did this by not focusing on my problem and what I couldn’t see but rather concentrating on what I can see. And I realized that I actually see much more than many people. I realized just because we have ears, it doesn’t mean we listen, and just because we have eyesight, it doesn’t mean we look. The curiosity to look without projecting an illusion is harder than I ever imagined. Looking without expectation, with the courage to see the truth, is one of the hardest things I have come to learn. Your willingness is your biggest asset; wanting to be or do anything is the beginning of genuinely becoming the driver of your own life.
OMTimes: How did the loss of your sight impact your choice of career?
Danah Mor: One afternoon my mum took me outside and asked me as she pointed to a tree- what is that? I answered -it’s a tree. Then she pointed to the sea. What’s that? She asked. It’s the sea. Next, she pointed somewhere else. I could see the sun, the sky, the grass, a bird, a mountain. My mom turned to me. She looked into my eyes and said, “Danah, you see everything that is important. You see the essential. Everything else is not important. Do you understand?”
I think this simplified perspective has been the foundation of what I teach. Life has obstacles and challenges; why not make it a fun and exciting ride. My simplified way of seeing has inspired my perspective on health, vitality, and wellbeing? I like to keep health and science simple, and I’m eager to share that view with others.
OMTimes: You are fluent in seven languages. You have lived all over the world, how has that influenced your approach to health and wellness?
OMTimes: You designed Shine Brighter to be a beautiful book. How complicated was the process of writing and creating it?
Danah Mor: My vision limitations meant that editing the material was the hardest part. I have to enlarge the font size on the screen to around 55 points, which means I can only see about seven words on the screen at a time. Moving text around and editing was challenging and nauseating. I had to take it slowly. Plus, the book has lots of charts, illustrations, images, and tables, and laying out those pages was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Thankfully, I had a fantastic design team that helped out.
I think Shine Brighter presents all you need to know about living a better life in a simple, beautiful, exciting, and easy to read format. It is practical, interactive, to the point, full of color, and visually appealing. I wanted it to answer basic questions like “why” and “how.” It is both for the beginner on the path to vibrant health and for those further along.
OMTimes: What was your inspiration for the book?
Danah Mor: I grew up in the food industry. I was tired of seeing people suffer unnecessarily, and I saw many of my friends spend money on trendy health foods that were not actually healthy at all. I wrote the book for anyone who wants to feel courageous, confident, and vital people every day of their life.
OMTimes: What is your relationship with food? How has it changed?
Danah Mor: I love food. It is vital to me that it tastes absolutely delicious no matter what. That is foundational to my work. I would say my relationship with food is constantly evolving. I used to be obsessed with being healthy, but I wasn’t healthy. Something was wrong. Physical food is vital to nourish the body, but it will never have the capacity to feed the spirit. I have changed my perspective from, “I want to, but can’t eat that,” to “I can eat everything, but I don’t want to.” This mindset is empowering – you make the calls – you da boss.
OMTimes: What do you think is the main issue people have when it comes to their relationship with food and choosing to eat healthfully?
Danah Mor: The main issue is not our relationship with food; it’s our relationship with ourselves. Many of us use food as symptomatic relief. Creating a stronger relationship with ourselves is the secret to longevity. We are the only species that knowingly consume food that is detrimental to our survival. A lion, even if hungry, will not eat a corps older than a day.
OMTimes: Can you explain your perspective on nutrition – that non-physical nourishment is, in some circumstances, more powerful and more important than real food?
Danah Mor: Vitality and wellness are not solely dependent on what goes into your mouth. Your relationships, career choices, exercise habits, and relationship with yourself have a considerable influence on the kind of food, lifestyle, and general life choices you make! Your mood influences your life choices and vice-versa.
We need non-physical foods to feed us too. Ask yourself, what are the things in life that truly feed and nourish you? What gives you energy? What makes you happy? Don’t “starve” yourself of happiness, or you will use edible foods to fill that emptiness or void. Learn to ask yourself what kind of food are you hungry for?
Connect with Danah Mor at https://danahmor.com
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