A More Natural Lifestyle : Change and Growth

I am not sure if this is the best title for the new series that I want to begin on this blog, but we'll go with it for now.

I have been thinking for a while now about getting back to a simpler, more natural way of living. Everything from diet and exercise to cleaning and healing. Although these ideas began before our move, the dive into nature that we have experienced in Georgia has catapulted my desires into action much sooner than I anticipated. Nevertheless, here I am and I wanted to share my journey with you.

There is so much sickness in the world - be it physical, mental, or spiritual - and I can't help but feel that some of it is preventable. Notice I said some. I am not, and never will, state that some who is suffering in one way or another brought it upon themselves or anything of that nature. To suggest that someone battling cancer or depression is somehow responsible for their ailment is preposterous, and quite frankly, ignorant. No, I am not saying that at all. However, I believe that there is a reason that we are seeing an upswing in things like obesity, preventable diseases, mental illness, and yes, even cancer. I believe that there are so many things in our environment that are hurting rather than helping us thrive in life. I am slowly but surely edging my way into the belief that all natural is the only way to be.

Now, let's get one thing straight. I am by no means the following:

     - an expert in any of these fields
     - monetarily wealthy {I practically had to look that phrase up in the dictionary to find its meaning}
     - a chef
     - a tree hugger / hippie {we'll talk more about this in a moment}
     - completely transformed into an all-natural-and-nothing-but person

I am literally inching along - trying one change at a time - and testing my results before jumping in head first. I'll admit that part of my reason for changing some things stemmed from the fact that some ingredients are cheaper than store bought goods {i.e. household cleaners, personal hygiene, etc.}, but the vast improvements that I have seen thus far have forced me to take a second look at everything that we use in life to see if there is a more natural way of doing it.

This journey, which is in its infant stages even now, has garnered some attention from others - mainly my dear husband and son. Canon is constantly asking for oils and wondering when we are going to do yoga while Craig has begun calling me a tree hugger / hippie. Not that there is anything wrong with that. He is quick to note, though, that every single facet of this lifestyle that I have tried thus far has worked ten times better than "the old way of doing things". I guess that I can only conclude that he just likes to pick on me...which I already knew.

All of that to say that if you decide to join me in this lifestyle change, just remember that you will have mixed responses from those around you. That's ok. They will begin to see a change in you and your home and will want to be a part of it soon enough. If nothing else, they will appreciate that you are at least trying to provide a healthy and happy lifestyle for yourself and your family. And hey, who can argue with that?!

With all of that said, I am going to begin a lifestyle series on this blog that I will try to update once a week. I plan to address just one area or "product" or practice per post so that I can try and fully explain what I have found that works. I know that you can find a million and a half ways of doing these things on Pinterest. I mean, I have found a lot of what I am doing from there, so no harm in that. I have just really decided to commit myself to this way of thinking and decided that an accountability community here may just help propel me along. I hope to show you that there is an inexpensive yet effective way of leading a more natural lifestyle.

Bonus points for getting in shape again. Yes, it is actually starting to happen for me. Not there yet, but I did wear a bikini this weekend. First time since before Canon was born. The fact that I could even put it on and wear it in public without throwing up in a mouth a little {a lot} was a huge step. I wasn't quite ready for Craig to take a picture of me yet, though, so...baby steps.

I really feel that before the advent of all things 'technology' {or manufactured, industrial, etc}, people had a better grasp on what they put in their bodies or in their homes. They used only what God provided. In nature. That's actually natural.

What a novel idea.