Teacher sharing her own fountain of youth
BY Jason Gabak
Editor
Suz Alexander of Marcellus has led a life that has taken many twists and turns.
She has been a model, an opera singer, mother, grandmother and a teacher.
But wherever her life has taken her, she has felt that her path was one that came with purpose and every twist and turn was taking her where she needed to be.
The most recent endeavor on her journey is the creation of a website, along with her daughter Rox, where she can share her personal insights on the ways she has found to live a happier and healthier life.
Fountainofyouthtv.org is a site dedicated to blogs, videos and other communications created by Alexander.
She uses this as a means of sharing her story and worldview, a perspective she hopes will resonate with others.
“We all have crosses to bear and I believe the message we must always promote wherever we go is that we are thankful for the life we have been given and we must make the most of our time here on this planet, accomplishing good whenever possible, leaving a profound, beautiful legacy of some kind,” Alexander said. “Seeing my two daughters, Alexandra and Roxana, and granddaughter, Claire grow to be strong, compassionate, loving, incredible women is my ultimate legacy.”
At 55, Alexander was encouraged by Rox to do something that may inspire others.
“She really has found the fountain of youth,” Rox said.
Alexander is lean and muscular, living an active lifestyle.
But this was not always the case.
From her childhood through her life, Alexander has managed various health issues including digestive problems, migraines and arthritis.
She said she has also struggled with ADHD throughout her life.
“Growing up with ADHD behaviors was a challenge,” Alexander said. “Being an adult with ADHD continues to be a challenge. School was difficult for me .I struggled to learn as my brain had information racing through it at all times.”
Through these struggles, Alexander has had one guiding force in her life.
She said she has always felt she is a spiritual person, this has proven to be a driving force in her life.
Alexander hails from the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains.
Growing up she was connected with her church and Native American heritage.
“Growing up we were Presbyterian,” Alexander said. “As I grew up we would go to different churches and we still do. God is everywhere.”
This faith has been important to Alexander and she said she believes there has always been a spiritual guidance that has helped lead her where she needs to be.
She said some times this has been a very direct path, while at other times is has been more circuitous.
“I have always listened,” Alexander said. “Some times I have not always understood what God was telling me, but even those times have made me stronger. I have always felt close to God and have always tried to embrace that spirituality.”
Growing up, Alexander explained she was something of a tomboy, but when her father asked her to take part in a Lion’s Club pageant; she ultimately decided to do it.
“My dad said if I did it I didn’t have to get a summer job,” Alexander said. “So I couldn’t pass that up. My dad said I had the talent to sing and I was humbled that he wanted me to do it. I was kind of a tomboy when I was a kid.”
Alexander went on to be a Miss New York State and competed for the title of Miss America and went on to model in New York City.
Through friends she had the opportunity to put her love of singing in action, pursuing opera.
But throughout this period she was experiencing health problems including a hiatal hernia.
“I didn’t feel comfortable,” Alexander said. “I didn’t think this was what God had planned for me.”
It was around this time that Alexander decided to take a look at her lifestyle.
While she had never been involved with drugs and alcohol, she said this was a time to look at her diet.
“I had to make a change,” Alexander said. “I had to look at what I was putting in my body and work backwards and take out everything that wasn’t working.”
It was then that she began eating a vegan, micronutrient, whole food diet and taking on daily exercise and movements.
This proved to be a turning point in her life.
Alexander said this move alleviated her health issues.
“We have to listen to our bodies,” Alexander said. “We have to eat and live the way we were built to live.”
She also decided to change her career path and returned to school, completing her education to become a teacher.
She has been teaching in Marcellus for 27 years.
Alexander said her own experiences have helped her feel connected with her students and her own daughters.
“I understand what they are going through,” Alexander said. “I can show them how to overcome hurdles and make our lives beautiful, no matter what is thrown our way. It’s about connecting with our youth and guiding them lovingly, gently, and patiently through the ups and downs that all of us deal with. I believe I’m there to allow the children to watch me live and learn by my example. They see how I live what I preach, putting health and wellness as a priority.”
Alexander raised her daughters with this same approach to lifestyle including diet and exercise.
When Rox joined the military, she said it was a difficult change.
“I was really sick,” Rox said. “I had never really been sick before. There were really just MREs and things like that to eat and I just couldn’t get better.”
Rox realized just how much her mother was on the right path.
“After training I felt great,” Rox said. “I had to think about it.”
Alexander said she and her family live a simple lifestyle.
Through her online presence she has had the opportunity to meet and interact with more people, learning an even broader cultural view and adopting some of these practices.
“We live such a simple life. No T.V. or microwave, instead of chairs, sitting on Japanese cushions on the floor or squatting as they do in India, and sleeping on only a thin organic mattress placed on a wooden slat bed frame,” Alexander said. “We believe that less is more and living mostly in nature is where God wants us to be.”
While Alexander believes everyone has to find their own path, she hopes by sharing her story, she can help some on their own journey.
“We learn from life’s experiences and from the wisdom of others,” Alexander said. “We are all a work in progress. It’s important to follow our dreams and passions and not seek the approval of people, but that of God. When we take our last breath, leave a profound legacy, one that will make this world a better place.”
To learn more visit fountainofyouthtv.org.
