Hello Beautiful You,
So the signs are everywhere. Friends popping in who I haven’t spoken with in awhile, articles on my feed, book recommendations, etc. They all point to one theme…
WELLNESS.
(In fact, this week’s podcast episode speaks directly to this topic. Listen to “You Are Worthy Of Wellness.”)
Is it possible that my daily wine habit slowly detoured towards a different type of sugar and carbs? Oh yes!
(The empty bag of cheese and caramel popcorn lying in my car is the evidence. 🙂
This time last year I was in the midst of an extended break from alcohol. That nightly window of escape from reality Mr. P (Pinot Noir that is) provided. The thing is, it was getting old. Once I made a huge shift in my routines and choices life became dare I say… easier?
Here we are a year later and I have found freedom in my relationship with alcohol. I can say, without hesitation or fear, that yes, I can have a glass of wine every so often (which has been 1-2 times per month and dwindling even from that. Why? Alcohol simply kills my “joy buzz” for the next day.)
But another little bugger has crept in… the daytime licorice and nighttime snacks.
Do I think licorice or snacks are bad? Not at all.
But the thing is, it’s kind of stealing my joy just like alcohol was.
The problem for me has been quite frankly too many choices on where to go with my diet. Monday it’s this plan of action, Tuesday it’s something completely different. I was having tea with a friend this past week and we both agreed being armed with so much information and so many choices at times can stunt any type of progress.
*Do I go plant based? (which I have done for the past several years but honestly, it’s not the California, organic feel good meals but instead vegan “fast food” from the grocery freezer or okay I admit it…. Burger King’s Impossible Whopper!)
*Do I do keto? (Sorry can’t)
*Intermittent fasting (the problem with that is I became so hungry I scarfed down whatever was in sight once noon hit.)
*Do I “eat like the french?” (okay that one sounds enticing but I really don’t know what that means other than croissants and wine for lunch).
What I concluded this week after conversations with friends and beginning to read Hooked:Food, Free Will, and How The Food Giants Exploit Our Addictions is that just like anything else, the answer to your wellness is as unique to you as you are to the world.
As I look back on the times in my life where I felt the most healthy, strong, and beautiful is when I took in the information and asked myself, “okay, what feels most authentic to me?”
What I always go back to is the freedom found in moderation, setting a nice place setting, cooking with quality ingredients, and mindfully savoring each bite. Elegant Evelyn would be so proud.
In essence, approaching wellness as a way of relishing life.
Anita Moorjani is one of my favorites authors. She experienced a near death experience and has gone on to write several books on what she has learned about embodying love in our fear based world. I just finished her recent book and loved every minute of listening to it on audio. It’s called, Sensitive Is The New Strong.
What I appreciate about her story is that for years she drank the wheatgrass and did all the “right” things you do to experience wellness but it back fired on her. Why? She claims it was due to her striving for wellness through the lens of fear.
Every choice she made was in order to avoid getting sick which she claims ultimately made her sick. So does she advise people not to seek wellness or green juice? Absolutely not.
Instead, she encourages us to do all we can to invite wellness into our lives… through the lens of love versus fear.
That feels so good, doesn’t it?
If you are looking for a course of action that feels wholesome and allows you to enjoy life on the journey, perhaps this quote will you inspire you as it did for me. It’s actually the screensaver on my phone (thank you Cathy Subber for sharing!)…
“Eat like you love yourself.
Move like you love yourself.
Speak like you love yourself.
Act like you love yourself.” ~ Tara Stiles
A thought arrived this morning…
Could it be we get drunk (and hung over) on food? Is it possible the after effects of too many carbs and sugar the day/night before can leave that lingering fuzzy head, achey joints and grumpiness similar to what alcohol creates? I think that may be the case for me thus my decision to dive into wellness as I did one year ago this time focusing on food. But not on food. Okay, let me explain.
When people join my 30 Day Reset to experiment one month alcohol-free, they might be surprised to learn the topic of alcohol isn’t the focal point in the content. This was on purpose as I didn’t want the 30 days to be about quitting alcohol but instead on the cultivation and embodiment of JOY.
This week treat your body with love and give it the care and attention it deserves. Ask questions like “if I loved myself in this moment what would I choose?” Flash forward to tomorrow before you make the choice between A and B and imagine how each choice would feel in your body.
As for me, I’m off to make my morning green smoothie and head to the store for my plant based shepherd’s pie ingredients for this evening’s dinner. I’m focused on my (loving) course of action because it’s worked for me in the past. I’d love to hear from you on what works for you.
Thought to ponder for the week:
“Where is your intuition guiding you to feel better?”
See you soon,
Love,
Meg
P.S. You can check out the next FREE 3 Day Challenge and my 30 Day Reset.
