Q&A WITH NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR, CURTIS SCAPLEN

We loved highlighting the women in our team so much on Mother's Day, it's time to put the Millennia TEA men in the spotlights! We hope you enjoy getting to know the TEAm as much as we enjoy introducing them to you.

• Tell us about yourself.

I am a proud father of my 7 year old son Jack and my 3 year old daughter Lucy.  I am originally from Saint John, NB.  I am currently living in Halifax, moved back in 2015 following a long stint in Toronto and a couple of years living in Switzerland.   I have been very lucky to have traveled to over 30 countries and made lasting friendships all over the globe.  This has helped me drastically in bringing perspective into my daily life. 

• The best piece of advice you’ve ever received: 

The most unselfish thing you can do is be selfish.  I absolutely love this framework, because when we don’t truly look after ourselves, we can’t show up to the world to be the best for others.  

• What does self-care mean to you?

I think as I get older the little things in life that we sometimes take for granted mean a whole lot more.  For me, it is about looking after myself and my health.  I focus just as much now on my mental health as I do my physical health.  Exercise is key, but also just getting fresh air, sunshine, booking a massage, talking to a therapist or support network when feeling overwhelmed.  I would say this term has been used very loosely for me until recent years.  We spend a lot of time caring about others and it isn’t easy to really care for yourself, but it has to be a priority.

• What’s in your daily health tool-kit?

I try my best to eat as healthy as possible and stay away from “junk”.  I start my day with Apple Cider Vinegar and lots of water – this tends to make me feel better to start my day.  A nutrient dense smoothie (with Millennia Superfood Cube of course) is my typical lunch.  Most recently, I have been focusing on taking some micro-breaks – meaning just stepping away and focusing on breathing or getting fresh air to reset.  Checking in on loved ones, whether by phone or by text, and also starting and ending the day with gratitude are all important to me.  

• What’s 1 daily practice you prioritize?

Gratitude, prayer, thoughtful reflection.  This sounds a lot easier than it is.  Some days the list is pretty tough to generate, like a cup of coffee or the sun came out today.  However, looking for those wins and things we can be grateful for really helps me to bring perspective into my thought pattern. 

• Your life mantra:  

Lead with love, respond with empathy – try to leave people better than you found them.

This for me is anything from recognizing and making the cashier smile while getting groceries to breaking down some pretty ugly truths and trying to see it through the other person’s lens.  I am definitely not always perfect, and this is truly a work in progress that will never end.  

• How do you take care of your mental health? 

I have a daily practice that I check in on myself in 4 quadrants with a  score out of 10 (Physically, Mentally, Socially, Financially).  This usually drives the questions – what can I do to bring my score from a 6->7 or an 8->9. If any of these are super low, it usually directly impacts our thought pattern, so some sort of action is required.  

For mental health specifically, I definitely believe that the simple things matter, like getting some fresh air, taking breaks, eating healthy, journaling, regular exercise all play a role.  My biggest leap as it comes to my own mental health is self awareness.  Being OK to say, I am not at my best today – or I need help.  I have also really enjoyed regular counselling to speak openly to a non-judgemental third party. I think we should normalize and celebrate this as much as we do with working out.

• What is your go-to smoothie recipe? 
  
  - Frozen strawberries
  - ½ Banana
  - Millennia Superfood Cube
  - Superfood greens powder
  - Protein powder
  - Unsweetened almond milk (or regular milk)
  
  

• What does the word “dad” mean to you?

The most important job in the world. It means unconditional love – as a father of both a son and a daughter it means showing up in a way that makes them feel that they can be open, honest and truly be themselves and they will always have a soft spot to land.  This world is not always an easy place to live – they have to know that dad is there for them ALWAYS in ALL WAYS.  

I was very fortunate to have a dad who showed up in all the ways imaginable and continues to be a big part of my life.   

• What are your fave health products?

Naturally I lean to cleaner eating, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and lean meats.  I daily use multi-vitamins and protein powder (most recently discovered Earthli which is delicious).  My absolute favourite is hands down Millennia Superfood Tea.  It is actually the reason I jumped on board with full support of the company.  I don’t go a day without steeping the tea, or dropping a cube in my smoothie.  

• One adventure you hope to live out in your lifetime.

I have a very close friend who is from South Africa.  We traveled the world together rolling out a program years ago, and we always talked about getting to South Africa and for him to show me around.  

I also have a fear of “falling” which I recently learned is different than a fear of heights.  I have always wanted to sky-dive to see if I can’t overcome that fear!

• What are you reading currently?

I just finished “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, and I am re-reading “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill.  It’s sometimes hard to find the time to read, but what I have noticed is that even 10-15 minutes a day adds up to a few books a year!

• What are you currently listening to? (music, podcast, etc)

I literally listen to everything except for metal as it comes to music.  Currently I am really enjoying the “Retrospected” pieces by local artist Classified.  What I love most is how collaborative the album is – it just shows that bringing different skills and backgrounds together has a powerful impact on the output.

My favourite podcasts to listen to are Lewis Howes, Gary Vaynerchuk and Jay Shetty.