Empowered Healthcare is Key Right Now!

Now more than ever its crucial for every single person to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing. Empowered Holistic Healthcare. I’ve got an invitation for you below the post! 🥰

Long term health care employees are being fired for their medical choices. This should really make one question, first off WHY?! If this many health care workers are choosing to not take this jab, MAYBE there is a reason and that should be RESPECTED!

On the flip side, this is not good. Our health care system in Ontario has had issues for years. I know, from my own personal experience, my husband’s and other people close to us. This is NOT the time to be firing people who for 18 months were literally called HEROS and… worked among the C+ cases!? There is simply no logic. However as the government continues to push fear, even though “cases” are quite low, people are putting themselves at risk of getting a cold or the flu simply by living in fear.

This sounds harsh, I know, however as my husband and I discussed the other night, if this was 10 years ago, it would have probably been us too.

Empowered health care is at the utmost importance right now. For those who are used to always calling or running to the doctor that may not be an option. Even for mental health services, these are seriously lacking in this country. Seriously. Much of what is available comes at a significant cost.

Taking care of our own mental and physical health it’s SO crucial right now.

Meaning… shifting your mind set!
I’m not here to tell you what to do, however I will share from my experience in real life how making shifts, CAN dramatically shift your life for your mental health and physical health in a very significant way!

I’ve been a questioner all my life, as much as it felt challenging when the kids were toddlers and they asked WHY all.the.time. It’s a crucial question in our everyday living.

For example… it’s easy to begin this journey on your own. When you eat something, how do you feel after? If you notice anything, jot it down or make a mental note and ask yourself why? Allow your brain to do some investigative work, you may be surprised at what could jump into your brain to get your attention. I personally love dip, many years ago I switched over to Greek yogurt vs sour cream. Then a couple years ago I began noticing a connection between when I would eat dairy I was feeling more mucousy, stuffed up, almost cold like, but not a cold! So I shifted to lactose free Greek yogurt and noticed an improvement, but then in time I was beginning to still feel some effects from it. After having allergy and food sensitivity testing, cows dairy is on the list!

This is an example where if I wasn’t paying attention to my body, I would assume and be convinced I had a cold. When I didn’t! This not only happens with cows dairy, it also happens with sulfities as well, with a lot of itching! I am able to take my TriEase, which is a natural blend of Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint and this does help BUT obviously is supporting my body with something it really doesn’t want, so slightly counter productive.

Now for example when I have a glass of wine, it’s for a social reason, not so much to just enjoy a drink at home. We are also loving Kombucha, this on ice is awesome!!! Or this on ice mixed in with some white wine.

So, if our health care system is I jeopardy what can YOU do!?

We began this shift back in 2014. You can literally take baby steps OR go all in. I will share with you what we personally have done in our home and some resources to support your shift if you so desired!

1. I was used to taking over the counter pain meds pretty much daily. To shift this, I began drinking more water and using some natural holistic options to support the symptoms. I would use deep blue where I felt any discomfort, typically on my temples (carefully), or neck and shoulders. A drop of Frankincense under my tongue and Lavender down the bridge of my nose. I began to learn to connect WHY I was feeling the way I was feeling. This approx month, was challenging. It was SO much easier to just take the pill and not take the time… that’s what it literally was happening. SLOW my body down, slow my brain down. Allow rest, allow holistic support that the body recognizes and can also support. (Ex. Processed foods are so full of salt… and alot of sugar too… headache trigger!)

2. I was intrigued to learn more about essential oils and found it absolutely fascinating just how powerful, affordable AND incredible smell they had! For us that journey began in 2014 and we have continued to grow each day, week, month and year. Use the oils. Have them out, make them accessible, use them on your body, in the diffuser. The diffuser is the best, everyone in the space benefits from the physical and emotional properties of the oils as they breathe in! So you can literally boost immune health by diffusing these oils! 🙌

3. Our bodies, over the years accumulate toxins, again physically and mentally. I remember when I did the gentle cleanse and restore program and how I noticed the shift. I felt different, my digestive system and I were beginning to actually communicate again. There has been many years of emotional eating, my lifestyle shift has helped also shift this, however it was always a crutch, and this past year I began to fall back in BUT having healthy foundations in place, I was able to support myself in a healthy way when feeling the need to snack and I will be honest investing in someone to talk to, to help move the energy, to help see through and heal some deep wounds has been such a dramatic shift for me this fall.

4. Sadly most food isn’t like it was years ago with its dense nutrition. Many ingredients I have no clue what it is, or they change the name to a variety of other names – corn, sugar, gluten… just to name a few! The ingredient lists are long, colours are drastically affecting children and the way they learn, yet these things are “approved” here and are quite different in Europe! Again… WHY?

Our entire family has had the food allergy and sensitivity testing now. It was quite interesting. My husband and I have been shifting since I had mine back in June. He has been SO supportive and I am quite grateful. I’m confident his support for me, made his shift that much easier too!

5. You do not have to clean with bleach and chemicals/toxins for your home to be clean!!! We have been using 100% holistic products within our home for over 7 years, actually over 8! Here’s the thing, all of those chemicals and toxins, you will see the warning signs on products the caution ⚠️ when using. Have you also noticed how your breathing is during and after? How do your lungs feel? Are you breathing the same through your nose? How is your skin?

When you improve your home care – food, bathing products, cleaning products, remove processed foods and fragrances, your health improves. Clearly, there needs to be balance. I know how challenging it is to shift like this, going to eat at someone else’s home is challenging and I need to literally prepare myself. Here’s the thing though. Where I am at now in my health, it’s not worth purposely taking a “chance”, I thought I felt good before. I did. I feel SO much better than the me in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and even 2020! Since 2017 I have lost 71 lbs and kept it off. I quite honestly never thought this “goal” was attainable. So much so, I did not focus on it at all.

6. Movement is important but can be so different for everyone! I focused on ME. Doing what MY body wanted me to do. Over the tears and years (years was autocorrected to tears and its 100% not wrong… so it stays!), I have done nothing to move my body, then yoga, so gentle when I felt 100% not me or able to move for cardio. I gained core strength and my c-section belly began to shift. I’ve done BUTI Yoga which really amped up my love and appreciation for my body. Rather than living in shame for so many years. I’ve also joined BeachBody and have really loved the strength and definition during my shift this year. I’ve shifted my mindset. From legit hating my c-section “shelf” (iykyk) to expressing love and appreciation to that area of my body. Thank you for carrying our babies, thank you for doing what you could for our sons safe arrival. Accepting and clearing stale energy, the energy I held onto of the fear, pain and literally scariest of his delivery. I held that deep I my body and once I could finally release it, by thanking my body for what she did, it’s literally been melting off of me. Even since I have taken a break from the BB programs! Speak love to your body. Heal from the inside out!

7. Which is a beautiful into to the next… mental health. Be your biggest advocate and if you have kids, you’ve got to step up even bigger. I can 100% tell you, investing in mental health is so important. You will NOT deny paying for a therapist of some kind. Every opportunity is a learning lesson. Even if you maybe didn’t feel like you connected to said person. I this might be for you, do your research look for a therapist, if you can find one, or honestly a coach, you might get a bit better bang for your buck! People who are real and have healed themselves, not just learned from a text book. How has actually done the work and understands in that way. Journaling and mediation helps so much with this shift. Over my journey, with a coach I had back in 2018, I began using a planner again into 2019, and 2020 and 2021 I’ve continued. I’ve also had 3-4 coaches during that time, some were short courses, oh so actually more then if I include my short workshops or courses and the people I do still follow their work. In 2021 I have spent more than I ever have on personal work. It truly became a necessity when I realized in the Spring I was sinking, hard, again. Yet I didn’t act on if until August!

Now more than ever, as the government turns a blind eye to this mess they have created, take a BIG step into your home and every single room. Start with asking yourself how do you feel in that room, how do the things make you feel. Upon first glance what do you see that jumps out. Might be in the kitchen and it’s a cleaner or bottle of bleach.

I also know, change can feel hard, there can be resistance. However I can tell you from experience it’s been the BEST shift we have made in our home.

If you are curious about learning more of how you could make a holistic shift in your home I would be happy to answer any questions or get you hooked up with the highest quality essential oils out there!

If you are looking for various Eco friendly products that go beyond Essential Oils I highly recommend one of my favourite stores, The Eco Den. She ships all over Canada and now to the US as well!

For anyone local to Owen Sound, Ontario we have an incredible learning opportunity coming up next Saturday!

Please join us on Saturday October 30th in Owen Sound from 10am-12pm for an IN PERSON Post Convention gathering!

Invite your customers to experience the new products, make an emotional aromatherapy roller bottle, receive an AromaTouch hand massage, gather with like-minded community, and participate in our giveaway draws!

Please register here: https://transformationalessentials.com/post-convention-tour-reenvisioning-wellness/

We can’t wait to gather with you!

If this date and time doesn’t work or you are not local please REACH OUT and we can set up something virtually! 🥰

A Year Ago Today

Trust has been a word that has challenged me throughout my life.

This past year, has been a true testament of learning to TRUST in the current day.

A year ago my husband fell. As this day continued to creep closer, and this scooter is still in our lives, I could feel the resentment building again, the sadness from the unknown and uncertainty and I felt myself sinking, again. The past year has been a journey…

But then, after I sat and did a lot of writing I realized this was NOT how we were to remember this day.

This has taught us so much, we have grown even closer as individuals, as a couple and as a family.

We know even stronger the utmost importance of empowered individual health, holistic health and modern medicine ALL working together.

Always listen to your gut, your intuition, even if you are told otherwise. Learn to listen to yourself, it works!!!

That sometimes all you can do is trust and that IS enough.

If you feel you need to rest, REST! If that means dishes sit and there is dog hair all over the floor, do what YOU need to do.

Self care is crucial for everyone’s mental and physical well being.

These oils and Reiki truly are magical and greatly appreciated in our lives.

Eating FOR our body is incredibly key!

Focus on what IS within YOU… for me as I felt myself sinking I reminded myself where I wanted to literally re-direct my focus. I’ve known this for a while, it has taken over 2 months working with my energy guide to shift this.

It’s OK to ask for help. No matter who you are or what the reason.

Communication is KEY! Truly so important. Between all in the home.

EVERYONE needs me time. An important part of self care.

When in the midst of it, the to-do list can wait. Seriously. If you push yourself and you aren’t in the right mindset, you will hurt yourself, physically or emotionally/mentally. What helped me was not thinking of what I needed to do, and just literally looking around and doing what I saw needed done. BE in the moment.

Drop expectations, especially for other people. The ONLY person you should expect anything from, is yourself!

Journal, meditate, get out in nature, lean into your passion, laugh alot! ❤

Getting Into The Flow

Getting into the flow.

It hit me this week, as we approach this weekend, just how challenging the past year has felt at times.

I was 100% neglecting ME.
Granted it was for my husband and kids, BUT I was still putting me on the back burner. With all the excuses of why…

In March I realized I needed to bring myself to the forefront. I did really good until mid May, 2.5 mths later when living in even more unknowns rocked my heart and soul pretty hard.

This room, that is to be my sanctuary, my Zen Den, my space, once again became the ‘dumping ground’ for shit I didn’t want to deal with at the time. Where many, many tears have flowed and I have prayed for strength and patience.

Honestly, like a weight on the soul.

In speaking with my guide, she solidified what this room actually meant to me and kept pushing me to move past the excuses (there were alot of them) to do this for ME.

Just do the work.
Fucking simple.
Do the work.

Last night, after our Wednesdsy night call getting me totally fired 🔥 up…
I DID THE WORK!

I still have the other half of the room to do and need to figure out where all these photos are going… but I am so fired up and totally feel re-ignited!!!

I LOVE IT!

A space for ME that is ME!
With some oils, crystals, my camera stuff, photos, reiki and all the energy awesomeness, some gifts from my kids when they were wee. It’s me and I’m truly grateful we have this space in our home for me to have a dedicated room as my Zen Den!

Do you have a space that’s truly yours?
I highly recommend, even if it’s not a room, a nook or something that is for YOU! Makes a world of difference ✌🥰💫

2nd Image is the before… which I feel the tightness in my chest looking at that… and then ahhhhhhhh 🙏💗

Finished with getting the diffusers going (slightly later last night) and a charcuterie board dinner with my love!

Oils!
Petigrain – Ancestry
Roman Chamomile – Spiritual Purpose
Sandalwood – Sacred Devotion
Bergamot – Self Acceptance


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#dothework #visualizeit #makeithappen #reiki #essentialoils #crystals #honoryou #beyou #grateful #zenden #happiness #momlife #mentalhealth #depression #ptsd #takecareofyou #leadbyexample #oilsandenergy

A Year Ago October 2020

Although we have come a very long way since that day, October 16, 2020, its truthfully been a journey. For him physical and emotional and me highly emotional.

I will never forget that morning, Friday October 16th, it was a “normal” Friday at work, I got the guys going and then instead of going back to my desk I went through things and got some other work orders organized and ready for when one of them came back.

I didn’t realize until I sat down to write this, how much pain is still trapped inside of me that I need to work through and release.

Its like God knew, I needed to get my mind in the right place because not long after I would get the shock of my life.

Thankfully, my husband survived the fall off a roof that morning as they were just getting set up to start a job. Sadly, the healing continues both physically and emotionally. Ive come to realize that PTSD is a very very real thing and should never be minimized by anyone.

My husband’s journey aside, as that is his journey. What has the past year looked like for me…

  • Normalize crying – if you haven’t already – its FUCKING NORMAL to FEEL your feelings.
  • Normalize emotions even more for our children and how important it is to FEEL.
  • Its ok to acknowledge the fear, the still continued unknowns and the intense sadness.
  • Its 100% NOT selfish to feel frustrated, sad, angry, hurt, overwhelmed all at the same time sometimes and need alone time.
  • Major highs and lows – the unknowns is what rocked me – even the simplest thing like a song “Waves” that came out this summer, an awesome song but wow did it ever make me bawl simply because our version of summer would not be like any summer before. I had to literally detach from SO much that was our “norm”. This was a process and we are both (all) in a better place now I truly feel.
  • Feel even more solidified in my belief of empowered holistic health care and ensuring a loved one is ALWAYS allowed in with you at ANY medical appointment. Your body, not the doctor’s. If something does not seem right – its not. Regardless of what it is, if you do not feel in alignment – why?
  • Always question… no matter who or what!
  • That I CAN do hard things. Truly grateful for our teenage son, while his dad has been unable to do alot of things this past year, he has been a huge help to me!
  • TRUST IN ME – my heart and soul really do know what’s up <3

Invest In You!

Money can feel daunting at times, especially when it comes to spending it on yourself. This has, at least for me, been a story that I have been healing and re-writing over the past 3 + years specifically! This is a story many of us need to heal!

My health journey into doTERRA Essential Oils provided an incredible boost not only in my health, but also in my personal development. As this is much of the core of doTERRA’s business – their people being the best they can be – physical and mental health!

In 2018 I took a pretty big leap and signed myself up with a personal coach. It was an incredible experience where I felt a lot of growth that was able to come through.

However, lately Ive felt I have needed more. But to be honest I just didn’t know what!

The past 11+ months has admittedly been challenging at times for me. Very actually. With many unknowns, going backwards, then forward again and then back. It has been very hard at times.

I had been watching an intuitive guide for a while, listening to what she was posting, enjoying the information, and then one day, she sent an email that when I read it, I instantly felt in alignment. I emailed to say I was interested in setting up an exploration call.

I felt zero hesitation during our call, I knew this was what I needed to do over the next 90 days. During our call at the beginning of August I said YES!!! Our weekly calls began a week and a half later.

What have I experienced in the past 8 weeks is a beautiful shift within my energy. Healing. I am a healer. The confidence to use my hands on myself, my husband (his leg and healing) and our kids. The biggest shift I have felt is with my eating. For many years, honestly as long as I can remember, I have found comfort in food. I was very much an emotional eater. This got better when I cut out gluten, however this has been a significant shift as I was previously still leaning on food for comfort. With the health challenges I have, portion control is crucial and not just eating whatever the package says, but listening to and honoring my body. Really feeling that “full” moment or even more so, feeling satisfied to not feel like I need more. I had been over eating for years, feeling the comfort in food. Something bad would happen and I would go to my food, I switched up my diet but would still ensure I had a healthy snack version. I literally couldn’t keep chips in the house (after I was told in June I cannot eat popcorn), I sunk even more at that time. This is one of the biggest shifts, along with shifting to a state of truly not caring what anyone else thinks of me – confidence in ME!!! As well learning to remove any “expectations” from anyone in my life, I am the only person I can put any expectations on. To honor my boundaries and most especially myself. My productivity both at home and at work has totally increased, I achieved a state within my work that I hadn’t in a while and it felt SOOO good! Ive been able to stop thinking of all that I need to do and just BE in the moment and do what needs done. What is also incredible about this, it drastically lowers any anxiety of thinking of “all that I need to do” and when I get into this mindset, time becomes infinite! Being much more conscious in my day to day. As well as supporting any fight or flight responses to anything external. I have realized that to-do lists actually stress me right the f*ck out and its more of goals I need to focus on!

The other beautiful thing, I have seen subtle but also similar shifts within my family who I live with. Most specifically my husband as he has been on his own healing journey, more physical.

I have enjoyed my time with her so much one on one I opted into her Chakra Mastery Academy as an Alumni which began September 21st and runs for 9 months. I felt this was the BEST way to continue on this journey so that even after the 3 months of working one on one, I am continuing forward and am very excited!

In a nutshell I have found the best investment to be within ME! I have shifted emotional eating that I fell victim to for many years. I have embraced every part of me and allow my confidence to shine through and… as I am a very visual person, getting organized within my head, home and work space feels amazingly good! Best of all, learning to put 100% trust within me and the choices I make <3

If curious, I highly recommend checking out Avalon’s website to see if her programs or her energy is a right fit for you. I have worked with a few “coaches” and I love how everyone continues to grow and shift in their own way. Its truly beautiful.

Investing in YOU with guidance as well as healthy eating and hydration, as well as how you care for your body as well and the products you use :) <3

One thing to always remember, is this isn’t a one fix for all, this is CHOOSING daily to be the best version of ME, every single day. To resist the urge of hitting snooze and getting my butt up each day, no matter what the day meant or how I felt. Honoring my space and how visual “space” means so much to me. Also allowing myself freedom, to not have to have a specific “routine” every single day thats down to the hour or minute but rather for me going with the flow of what feels right in that moment and doing it.

Be You Anyway – Reiki Master

Not everyone will understand your journey, be you anyway! <3

I am truly grateful for the way living a holistically healthy life has transformed my life that I took this one step further…

I am SO proud to say I have completed my Reiki Master Certification!!!

I have not only felt the powerful benefits of Reiki myself, this is a “norm” within our household. One that I once literally kept secret for a long time, worried what “others” would think…

The best thing I did was embrace it, live it and share the gift with others. Having felt the healing powers myself, which have also transformed my life and health in a VERY big way!

This is big for me, not only did I achieve something that once was an interest (I love energy!), in August I also achieved a very significant weight loss of 70lbs – yes SEVENTY! AND… Happy 40th to me almost a month ago!!!

My oils and Reiki truly kicked off this holistic lifestyle and I am truly grateful.

Rather than shying away from compliments, I now happily correct those who tell me how “skinny” I am…

I AM HEALTHY!
I AM HAPPY!
I FEEL GOOD!!!

Nature knows best, truly! ✌

Why Reiki…
Well for me, the dots were connected when I was working with @helenmurrayspiritualmoneycoach who connected the dots between my endocrine health challenges #pcos #endometriosis and the chakra system in my body. When energy sits stagnant in the body, this is when dis-ease can set in. Our body needs movement of some kind but not just that, we need to allow ourselves to feel and process emotions. This is huge! Rather than push down and bury or ignore something, bring it up, bring it to the light. Reiki can help in shifting blocked energy, to release and allow the energy within the body, through the chakras to flow with grace and ease.

Thank you @krystal_clear_healing for offering this certification I am truly grateful!

The past 11+ months has honestly been filled with so many highs, lows and in between… in August, to honor my 40th I leaned in, pretty deep to truly honor my heart and soul. To allow myself time, space and love to process what I needed to, to invest in me and find myself again apart of being a care giver, wife and mother. 🥰

The Battle With My Body and My Journey To Success ~ 70 lbs Loss

I haven’t truly celebrated this number! However back in the summer, I hit this milestone in my health and wellbeing! 70lbs naturally shed from my body and at 40 years old I feel the best I ever have in my physical and mental health!

Let me share with you what worked for me! Honestly it’s been a journey.

It has sadly been a battle between me and my body/health that began, from what I remember, in my early teens. Food was a comfort for me, but not just that it also became a weapon against me that I didn’t truly realize or understand until 2 years ago. I have had digestive challenges since my early teens, as well as feelings of anxiety and depression. Food was my comfort, but also the trigger. Clothes shopping was daunting. It was not fun at all. It was actually quite depressing whether it was clothes or bras. I truly felt like my body was against me. The search and cost for bras alone was depressing. Why couldn’t I be “normal”… now I ask “who determined what normal is?”… everyones normal is SO different!

Let’s explore…

  • Leaned into my curiosity of holistic health options – began learning about what options were out there and why its important to know what is going into your body. I chose to lean into essential oils and began weaning myself off over the counter meds that I had been using for many many years for the pain and discomfort I was experiencing.
  • 2015 began taking high quality supplements – vitamins, minerals and omegas
  • 2016 Nov-Dec completed my Reiki 1 Certification – did you know that our energy in our body affects our physical health!? Check out this link, I found it years ago and truly appreciate this information! It totally does and what I experienced in January, I am confident my Reiki training and receiving of Reiki treatments helped in this shift in my life!
  • 2017 January did a very gentle cleanse and restore to rid my body of toxins and chemicals. The weight began melting off of me. As a part of this cleanse I stopped eating any processed foods. This was significant!
  • 2017 approx I began taking Yoga Classes and although it felt so challenging for me, I stuck with it. I signed up with a friend who motivated me to keep going and I did for a long while. I truly attribute part of my success to yoga helping to strengthen my body.
  • 2019 I hit the 60lbs mark of total weight lost!!!
  • 2019 Late Summer a spleen health issue that pushed me to investigate my IBS challenges. November went Gluten Free and have found some other things I need to avoid (cashews, pistachios and some others). Digestive Enzymes are my friend!
  • 2020 February I completed my Reiki 2 Certification.
  • 2021 March I jumped into the beach body world and amazed myself at how I was able to create strength and begin building a lean body. I honestly was not focused on the scale, I was focused on inches – toning up, strengthening and releasing fat.
  • 2021 June – Allergy and Sensitivity Testing – Confirmed wheat, cows dairy and found out also tomatoes, peanuts, corn, all food colour additives, and some others. This felt challenging.
  • 2021 August – Hit 70 lbs total loss! LOVING my body SO damn much and SO proud of what I have achieved but honestly most of all, HOW GOOD I FEEL!
  • 2021 September – Master Reiki Course. I felt the shift. I embrace the shift. The first week was interesting and energetically slightly challenging however much thanks to my Reiki Practitioner and Life Coach ♥️

Here’s the thing. We are ALL different. Our bodies are all different. If I could give you encouragement in anyway, lean in and learn to get quiet with your body. Then listen. Listen as you do your daily things, you will begin to hear that quiet voice.

You may go through seasons. I know I do and although in the past I would get upset with myself for not “sticking” with it. Example, I joined beachbody at a healing point in my life, in a few ways. I truly loved it and enjoyed every exercise. Sadly due to a rib that likes to slip out at my collar bone I was forced to rest, this was a highly stressful time as we also found out at this time that my husband would require another surgery. I began sinking. I then felt horrible that I wasn’t doing my daily exercise to keep myself in shape.

What I know now more than ever, everything goes in seasons and that’s ok! During this time I have continued to strengthen my body and without trying I have reached this new achievement which I CELEBRATE wholeheartedly ♥️♥️♥️. I haven’t forgotten about my previous strength goals and know I will be back at it soon! Its ok to take AND enjoy this break!

The end of summer, my daughter and I went shopping. I had a gift certificate to use at a local fav store near our family cottage. I will admit, I used to feel intimidated by this store, not because of the people at all, because of years of emotional trauma with my body and trying to find clothes that would not just fit but that I felt comfortable in and that I truly loved myself in. I not only found Jean’s that I love, my daughter did as well and I don’t think I’ve ever been this healthy size.

I had another pair of the same brand at home that was from before I was pregnant with our son, so prob 17 yrs ago. My husband suggested I try them on, me thinking they would still be way too tight on me (this is what our ego likes to do to us…). I tried them on and not only did they fit, they were too big… by 6″!

I saw this on Insta and it fits perfectly…

Courage

There are times in life where we must dig deep to find our courage, truthfully that is different for all of us.

Courage to thrive in the best way possible in life that feels authentic and natural to me, to be my best self.

The road can feel lonely, winding, sometimes dark, but then the light appears, the path of the journey becomes clearer. When feeling alone, yet truly not alone, but am I? Yet standing tall, proud, regardless of whoever is around. Then without realizing yet, completely, you see you truly are not alone.

Then take a step back, widen the view, sometimes a narrow sight can also bring a narrow view. Step back, take a large step back and you realize you are not alone at all. There are others who are similar to you and even some who are not, all thriving together.

Sometimes finding that courage can feel daunting, it involves stepping out of the “norm” of what whoever declared “normal” should be and truly enveloping your truth, your authenticity that honors you.

As an introvert, empath, essential oil specialist, reiki master and photographer I know I am a unique kind and I embrace that with every ounce of my body! My life has been swaying from “the norm” for many years, but “openly” in the past 7 as we shifted to holistic health care.

Truthfully, what aligns with your heart? Honestly and earnestly. Regardless of what anyone else says, what is true in YOUR heart?

If you are into podcasts, this one below I listened to yesterday and is FANTASTIC!

Courage It Couldn’t Come At A Worse Time – No Gruff’s Given Podcast Link – https://castbox.fm/x/2iYuo

Side note – As I was out taking photos the one evening I saw this beautiful tall bird standing majestically in the middle of the river. I stood and enjoyed watching him for a while and capturing his essence. As I changed lens and pulled back from the zoom, I could see so much more. He wasn’t the only big beautiful bird in the river, there were multiple. Not just of his kind but of others as well and smaller birds of another kind.

It wasn’t until I was home, had downloaded the images and was processing them that I saw in the shadows of my first set of photos of the large bird. One just as large, perhaps larger, standing in the background in the shadows.

How often do we in life feel like we are alone? Or don’t feel understood?

Truthfully, we are not. Regardless of what your view is in any facet of life, EMBRACE IT. Embrace your whole self and heart entirely. Regardless of what anyone else thinks.

That truly takes courage and power, of your own life 🥰!

What is Convenience Doing to Us?

If I think of what has changed in my lifetime alone… think of how much has changed – with technology even.

What about food… think of how our food has changed in the past even 20 years. Both my husband and I grew up with a mom who made a LOT. I remember back in the day mom made all of our halloween costumes, she made my grade 8 grad dress too, even some for my close friends at the time too!

What has happened in the last 30 years that has switched everyone into do-er’s ?

What is so important that we cannot take the time to make a home made meal with real ingredients? Why are so many people saying “I don’t have time…”.

This realization last week of receiving my food allergy/sensitivity results has really had me thinking. As I blogged about earlier this week, this news hit me really hard. I felt myself getting angry and thinking how “unfair” it was that I “couldn’t” eat all the things I was told I had issues with.

Then it hit me… I realized as I went to the grocery store and began reading the labels and then the past two nights looking online to place our online grocery order (honestly so quick, easy AND only have to cover my face to go in to pick up and get out and can breathe freely again… which is important especially for anyone with anxiety), the labels can be helpful but also not. I felt like I was researching some big thing last night as I could NOT find any info for this one brand of Feta cheese – zero ingredients or info on the product. Hint… search for Goat and the goat feta, cheese and yogurt will come up!!!

As I looked through products, look at recipes I could feel myself calming, I could feel my shoulders beginning to drop back down, my tongue lowering from the roof of my mouth. I actually said to myself, this is us being reminded to take a step back – one little whisper that’s been knock, knock, knocking for a while now. I somewhat feel like a baby horse that’s just learning to get its legs under it.

When I was at first upset because I “couldn’t” have pizza or pasta or fettucine which I love… or cheesecake (which my daughter is incredible at making).

I was then reminded… almost everything I am showing an allergic reaction to could be considered highly processed… also packaged. Ive noticed in the past couple years alone that the old cheddar cheese we were buying, was not like it used to be at all. We purposely were buying the old cheese because the medium that we bought many years ago was feeling like rubber and not like cheese should, this was how the old cheese is now feeling and the “better” brand names too.

So what is it that “convenience” is doing to our health?

Sure to make spaghetti its super easy to go home grab a box of pasta and a couple jars of sauce, cook up some ground beef and mix it all up… Or to be able to literally go anywhere out to eat… I was thinking of this at lunch today, my husband joked with me and said how the questions I will be asking, that many of the waitresses and even owners wont even know the answers most likely – its truly sad that food has come to this where you literally have to dissect the labels and then hope that the company was actually truthful and put on what IS actually IN the product…

What if this is what I have been meant to learn this entire time.

Take a BIG step back from life as we know it, even more than we have in this past year and a half. To stop thinking of having to do this and that and get back to the simplest times in life. I know when this faded for me, when we went through infertility I lost a big piece of me, my heart and soul and then to be blessed with two amazing children in less than 18 months I will be honest I was not thriving, I was surviving, in silence.

We need to ALL speak out more about HOW we are feeling, about making home made meals, spending time as a family in the kitchen, but not just in the kitchen also just within the home space – living in peace and organization. Clutter is visually so daunting which can completely affect one’s ability to think properly and do more from scratch because you are already feeling in overwhelm. I get it! Trust me!

What if this past year and a half, although has felt like hell in moments, has also been an opportunity for spirit and the universe to remind us how much power we hold within ourselves. That we truly DO have more than enough time and resources. We can thrive AND survive the best we have ever! What if we involved our families MORE in the meal planning, prep and tidy so that the weight doesn’t fall on one person. This we have been doing for many years, but more so especially since my husbands accident. (Truly grateful for the teenagers not being toddlers at this time ;) ).

What if making spaghetti meant planning to make the sauce first before cooking some gluten/corn free pasta (hint – there is a corn in a LOT of things…).

I understand for me eating out at a restaurant, its going to be tough… Especially given that my body cannot properly digest re-heated starches! There is one restaurant I know I can eat fries at, thankfully they are local AND honest when they told me their one kind of fries are blanched but the fresh cut fries aren’t … Im here for that! Real potatoes and cooked in real time! I get the concept behind blanching, however again this is where “convenience” comes in, no one wants to wait, they want to order and have their food instantly…

All the while SO many people are either having issues with their health that is food related OR they are somewhat numb to their health and think their body responses are “normal”, I am not ignorant to admit that was me.

The next time you go to pick up that convenience meal at the grocery store or when you are out to eat – I dare you to put a bit more into the thought process… of what you are ordering, of how you feel after you eat, of how long it took to cook or prepare (if at home).

And… if you hear a woman in a restaurant asking if something is gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, tomato free, corn free, etc etc… kindness goes a long way! I remember when I first began my GF journey and going to a restaurant, the people we were with were joking (in their mind) by saying “its fine just order whatever you will be fine”, because I was asking the waitress various questions and she was newer and didn’t know so she had to go ask. My husband piped up and said he would rather I ask now and be comfortable later vs not asking and just going with the flow and being in horrible pain and discomfort later…

But truthfully, that did used to be me. I didn’t want to ruffle feathers, I didn’t want to upset anyone, I literally put my health and how I felt completely on the back burner and lived through years and years of pain, discomfort and it was like an awful yo-yo battle with my weight and energy.

Last week I felt so down about this, however in a week I have been able to navigate this shift, I know it wont be easy everyday, I know I will feel challenged as soon as I leave the comfort of my home and what I KNOW there for my nutrition, I know I will feel challenged eating at someone else’s house or at a restaurant. But… its MY health and no one knows it better, than I do <3 I am truly excited to share about this. To share my journey and enrich the lives of others who have potentially been suffering in silence, like I did for years!

You are worth SO MUCH MORE than the convenience of anything or anyone!

Your Life As Art Photography by Pam

Artist & Intuitive | Pamela Zmija

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