"Health" in the last 365 days.

My definition of 'health' has changed substantially over the last year. It's changed exponentially over the last five years. If a photo is worth a thousand words, this gem from the Iowa Department of Transportation should tell you a lot about the health changes in my life. The top license is from this year, and the bottom is from 2013. 

Five years ago I was pre-diabetic. A routine trip to the doctor showed my fasting blood glucose was 101; just above the 'line' of normal blood sugar, but not technically high enough to be at a diabetic level. My doctor said if I didn't change my eating habits, I would be diabetic in five years. 

Fast forward five years, and I am over 30 pounds lighter, have found which foods trigger bloating and brain fog, and my blood sugar is back in the normal range. I've also increased the level of 'good cholesterol' in my body, as well as the amount of mood-boosting folate in my system. I feel so much better, most days. 

When I Listen.

My body says some incredible things to my mind. Only, most times my mind is not patient, empathetic, or quiet enough to listen. My mind is the 'doer'. My mind is efficient, sharp, and thrives on praise and recognition. (The praise and recognition can come from anyone, even myself, it doesn't care.) 

My body is quiet, shy, and doesn't ask for much. My body has a long fuse and is slow to upset or anger. My body rides in the back seat, doesn't mind coming in second place (or even dead last), and doesn't demand much.

Have you ever tried personifying your mind and your body like this? If you haven't give it a shot. It will be weird and you might struggle to find the words, but it also might bring great clarity to the relationship your body and mind have with each other. 

Our bodies and minds are always having a conversation, back-and-forth all day long. I've become quite adept at listening to this conversation. The next step is using what I've heard to inform my actions and choices. 

For example, Saturday night at a dear cousin's wedding my body was telling my mind that it was tired, exhausted. Too much sun over the last week, too little water, too much 'doing', long nights and early mornings.

My mind said, "Girl, you're fine. Suck it up. You're being weak. Take a selfie with your homestud."

Those of us with minds that like to run fast and be big probably have bodies that are quiet. Until they're not. Until our bodies muster the gall to say, "STOP! Just stop. Please. I am so tired and want to take a little break. Can we do that for a minute?"

How many of you are nodding your head in agreement? 

Today my body sent a message that it doesn't often send. I had a migraine for most the day. When I woke up in the middle of the night I knew it was coming, and my 9am I was nauseous and had a bouncing left eye. Stress and busy-ness and pushing myself too hard for so long had taken it's course. I stayed home from work sick. My mind was ashamed. My body rejoiced.

"I need respite," my body said, aware that it had my attention. So, I sat on the porch with my eyes closed for over an hour. I listened to the birds. I felt the humid air on my skin, and a pup laying on my feet.

I made a late breakfast.

This was a breakfast that one makes for a person they love. A love-letter breakfast to myself. Lactino kale, thin green beans, sugar peas, spring onion, fresh dill, ground pork from my dad, an over-easy egg on top, and a sprinkling of pink Himalayan salt. 

I enjoyed it with room-temperature water in my favorite handmade mug on the porch, with the same pups sitting on my feet. This was the breakfast that my body needed for some time. It tired of the protein shakes and the carbs. It needed vegetables. Fat.

Have you heard that people who love each other, cook for each other? In effort to love my body more, I commit to cooking for it in a way that shows my love.

It takes so long to wise up and listen to the messages our bodies are sending. Another commitment of mine is to listen the first time.

My emotional health, friendships, marriage, and work will be better because of it.

Tell me your thoughts. Do you listen to your body? What messages do you hear?

Waste-Less Homesteading.

I've really been considering my consumption habits lately. I generate so much waste, which is somewhat interesting since I'm more eco-conscious than most folks.

Since moving to our homestead just about a year ago, we elected not to get a trash pick up service. All of our trash goes into a 'normal' sized trash can that you'd set on the curb, except I drive it to the local landfill about once every 60 days. That's pretty good waste reduction in comparison to the average American household, but we can do better by our earth.

Making intentional choices while shopping has helped me eliminate trash from even arriving on the homestead. John and I spent last Sunday in town doing a little zero waste grocery shopping, and also picked up supplies from Theisen's Home Farm Auto because it's #SpringatTheisens ! We almost exclusively shop at Theisen's for our homestead items. (They have fresh popcorn to snack on while you shop, so...)