It's A Beginning!

Let's see... I have kept a journal since I was six years old.  However, this is much different than a journal.  I am a bit unsure how to start, except to say that my life has changed drastically in the last seven years. Over that span of time, I have maintained a romantic relationship that lasted longer than three months, married, had two beautiful boys,  and become encumbered with a relentless feeling to learn and then lead a revolution based on my findings!

What kind of revolution? Well, a very poignant question!  My discoveries about food, society, our interaction with health and wellness, has stirred many feelings.  I am really trying to get with the local food movement, urban gardening, slow food, and the like.  Though I believe food is seen only as a small part of our health and wellness, I believe it to encompass so much more.  After all, social relationships are formed around food; many gardeners find it a hobby of connection to the Earth or to God.  Creating a meal from your garden to the table involves a bit more effort than nuking a frozen meal.  Thus, it includes a small dose of exercise.  Plus, the food is often so much more nutritious, especially since it has none of the chemical preservatives.

Although these ideas run frequently through my mind, I am working hard to put them into practice.  Last year my garden was small, but useful.  I have been learning the preservation practices, such as canning and the like.  I grew up mostly through the 80s and the microwave was king in my parents' home.  So, I am trying to move past some of the "This is hard," thoughts and more toward the "This is best for me," mentality.

I sometimes feel I take on too much at a time, but I really am trying to move toward my optimal lifestyle.  I believe to live that lifestyle, it really takes a community of people.  Not any one person can do everything.  For instance, I cannot make the clothes, grow the food, process the food, make the household cleaners, make the homemade body products, clean the house, take care of the children, teach the children, be the home physician, earn the money, chop the firewood, etc...  However, I am really bad at relying on others.  I am happy to help others and always appreciative of such close friendships. Among the many other things on my list, I would like to work on allowing myself to be real and raw with those close to me.