Joan Griswold is a former competitive athlete, whose specialties were body building, adventure racing and mountain biking. Now, as a certified Appalachian Mountain Club outdoor leader, she takes her passion for physical fitness to the great outdoors whenever possible. She has owned her own health-promotion business for 16 years and says, “We are all entitled to good health.”
Full name: Joan Elizabeth Griswold
People know you as: Joan or Awesome Abs Joan
Date and place of birth: Sept. 14, Milltown, New Jersey
Town of residence: Goshen
Job: Owner of Be Your Best Health Promotion Services
Who lives under the same roof as you? My husband, Gary, and my lovely teenage daughter, Serena Leigh
Education: Bachelor’s degree in human performance and wellness, University Without Walls, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1995; health promotion director certification, Cooper Institute of Aerobic Research Center; certification as a personal trainer/group exercise instructor, American Council of Exercise; certification as a nutrition specialist, Lifestyle Management Associates; certification as an instructor, American Heart Association
Pets: Yellow lab, Buddy; gray tabby cat, Millie; and black rabbit, Bunny
Hobbies: Cooking and eating, biking, hiking and paddle boarding
Book you’d recommend to a friend: “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls. It’s an incredible story of resilience and redemption.
Favorite TV show, music: TV — I’m not much of a TV watcher but I do enjoy watching “Hacking The System” with Brian Brushwood.Music — I have been a fan of the Eagles for many years. I have seen them play in concert and own every album they recorded.
Five things you can’t live without: A good pair of sneakers, workout clothes, dark chocolate, my friends and family and time out in nature
Last thing you purchased just for fun: My paddle board. I love my paddle board — it is the most peaceful gift I could give myself.
What’s at the top of your bucket list? To travel. I want to see the national parks out in the west. To take several months to travel and explore all of nature’s incredible wonders will always be at the top of the list.
Lifechanging experience: Beating cancer. In 2012, I was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. That was six weeks after I was seriously injured in a fall from a horse which left me with two fractured ribs, and punctured lung, diaphragm and spleen. I endured a couple of major surgeries and 16 months of chemical treatments. I never realized how many lives I had touched until all those incredible people came back and supported me. To this day, I am so incredibly thankful for all of those wonderful souls who supported me through the toughest journey I have ever endured.
Your current Facebook status: Pictures of an awesome hike we did over the weekend along the Mount Tom ridge. What a day — we got in nearly nine miles that day.
A littleknown fact about you: I recently became a justice of the peace.
One fashion trend you are happy about: I love that it is OK to wear athletic clothes even on days you are not being athletic. Being comfortable is the key, and if you put the athletic clothing to use, that is even better.
What really sets you off ? I have no tolerance for selfishness. We all need to be considerate of others.
If you could spend the day with a celebrity from any time in history, who would it be? I have always been a big fan of Clint Eastwood. He would be fun to spend the day with.
Advice that had an impact: Not sure if this is the best or worst advice, but when I was trying to decide what to major in at college, I was told that health and wellness would not be a good field to focus on — that I would not make any money and it would be hard to find a job. This is what I do for work today! While staying employed has had its challenges, I truly love the work.
Favorite place to get a bite: The West End Pub in Buckland. The food and service there are stellar and consistent. They have Headwater cider on tap and I love the prickly pear cocktail. It is also close to home and when you live in Goshen, nothing is close to home.
Your favorite athlete: I am assistant coach of a Northampton Girls Youth Lacrosse team this season with coach Kevin Cooper. He is a former player and I know nothing about the game. I am learning so much and very much enjoy supporting these girls. Coach Kevin has been not only an incredible teacher for me, but an incredible coach to these girls. Thanks for your patience, coach!
What does your ideal weekend look like? Sunshine rising as I awake, an awesome, hearty breakfast, then a walk with the dog. Head out on my bike for 30 or 40 miles to see some of the gorgeous area in which we live, back home for a shower, good food and a cocktail beside the fire as the stars come in for the evening.
One thing you would change about yourself: I am an absolute perfectionist. I would love to not be so critical of myself.
What gives you the creeps? Not much rattles me.
People who knew you in high school thought you were: Quiet and reserved. I was not popular and did not have a ton of friends.
Whom do you most admire? Tony Lechner, the founder and creative director of the Rock Voices choir. Tony is incredibly talented and has an amazing knack for getting a group of folks who like to sing to sound amazing. I saw the choir perform while I was in treatment for cancer and had to join them. I’m not singing this session, but do look forward to joining the group again and singing our hearts out.
Parting shot: Life as we know it can change in a moment’s notice. Cherish today and recognize the value of experiencing each moment of each day. Slow down and make the time to take care of your mind, body and spirit. Live today, don’t put it off until tomorrow.
— Compiled by Brenda Nelson
To suggest someone for ID, send an email to bnelson@gazettenet.com