Journey to Balance

I make no secret of the fact that I'm 58 years old.  I've been a seamstress by profession most of my adult life and have done a lot  of sitting.  5 years ago when we closed our retail store I was suddenly on a crossroads in life and spent another 3 years trying to decide what I wanted to be and whether I wanted a new career.  My husband was retired and we accepted a call for what I lovingly call a "Fair Weather Mission".  We serve as camp host Service Missionaries at a girls camp for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I can't think of anywhere I would rather be.  We are on duty from May 1st to the end of September and even then are not required to be there all the time.  Another couple splits our responsibilities.  We began our 4th year last week.

I wanted to be able to work hard on our mission as we took care of 15 acres of the most beautiful mountain land on earth.  I soon had to accept the reality that I am not young, nor am I strong and my knees hurt almost continually from digging, raking, weeding, carrying rocks and pruning trees.  Many afternoons would find me splashed out in the lawn chair unable to move. Something had to change if I was going to last.

About a year ago I had a healing crisis where things felt like they were falling apart when in fact, they were cleansing, detoxing and I was being reborn.  I avoided gluten and dairy.  I started ingesting probiotics.  Not in the "I take them like I do my vitamins" but I looked for ways to get lots of them into my diet, every day, multiple times a day in the way of sauerkraut, Kimchee, Kombucha and other fermented foods.  I love bread but can't tolerate what is on the store shelves but I was introduced to "sprouted" bread and even though I have to be careful, I can enjoy without paying the price.  Next, came Bone Broth.  I love a mug of something warm in the morning and just before bed.  i now feed my body real food 90% of the time so it can handle the 10% to detox my indulgences.With my newfound control of my time I was able to research and learn.  For years I had battled chronic severe indigestion, sinus problems, and body pain.  I had previously discovered that when I ate a certain way and avoided certain foods that I definitely felt better but because my self control is weak as water I couldn't  overcome my misery for very long.


I read this cute meme awhile back and  completely agreed that my running days, if I ever had them were clearly over.  However, as I have associated with friends and clients I saw an overwhelming repeating circumstance that once we quit actively engaging our life in the direction of health and balance we lose our ability to do the things that we love.  Walking becomes burdensome and many end up sitting in front of the TV instead of enjoying life and people.

Once I decided to choose to be active, the rest kind of fell into place.  I guess my time is now.  When is your time?  There's success in numbers.  Heart Mind and Soul