Finding a voice... and a philosophy

I have constant ideas of things to write about in my head. I read endless inspirational blogs. I get excited and hopeful. My mind brims with possibilities...... But then I don’t end up putting ‘pen to paper’. I procrastinate and store the thoughts up for when the time to write is right.

Well, the time is now, as they say! Sometimes you just need to start. Somewhere. Anywhere. You don’t need to explain everything all at once. Learning to understand someone and all they encompass takes time and that’s okay. This blog is just a little part of me. The hidden, (often secret )and deep part that usually remains mostly private. I'm cautiously and vulnerably opening myself up to share with you and embrace this path of Living Brightly.

This blog is quite simply about me. Its about feeding the soul and feeding the body. It’s everything that inspires me to live a healthy, holistic, and happy life. Its about healing and recovery from illness. It’s about food as medicine. Good, tasty, nutritious mouth-watering food to heal and nourish us. It’s simple.... and it’s complex. Just like most girls really.

I am a reader, a researcher, a thinker. For me that means that little is simply black or white. I consider ‘the other side’ too much, and almost everything has a grey tinged corner if you look close enough. This inevitably has it drawbacks and its benefits but it leans towards compassion and sensitivity.

Therefore, for instance, I am not going to quote myself as being one particular type of food advocate. I’m still learning and discovering too much to do that. My intuition directs me towards a Paleo style diet full of healthy omega 3 enriched grass-fed organic meat with tons of organic fruit and vegetables. A diet based on what our ancestors ate before the agriculture era.

But then my brain also acknowledges many merits of the raw food lifestyle. I hear the passion ring out loudly, deafeningly, from both crusades (and many others.) In truth these 2 particular ideals both have beautiful merits and they both wholeheartedly agree that processed, sugar laden junk food is bad. Very bad indeed. Paleo’s may use their cookers and heat their food, but they may also eat more (raw) vegetables than a typical vegetarian too.... You can see the grey corner creeping in here cant you?

My point is that sometimes its impossible to decide which route to follow. Which philosophy seems the best? Your heart may guide you one way, but your body and your health could pull you in the other direction. 

Deciding on a philosophy is all about informed research and experience. But ultimately follow your intuition. That will be always be the ideal starting point and it will take trial and error. It will encompass a journey and it could lead to to places you couldn’t imagine.

My philosophy is an eclectic mix of all that I believe. I can’t define it in one word. We are all unique individuals. Food and the way we eat make up a huge part of ‘us’. As does our lifestyle choice and how mindfully we live out lives.

I ultimately believe in pure foods and this is the basis of my food philosophy. By this I mean whole foods grown in the earth, picked from trees, or once alive. I combine merits of many ‘diets’ and I make my own tasty picnic. 

One thing I will never touch, however, is gluten. For anyone with an autoimmune disease (like myself) this stuff is poison. I don't like sugar either, or processed food, or trans-fats. That's not to say that I don't enjoy a few squares of dark chocolate now and again but I go easy. My answer to a sweet tooth is to bake bake create! There are so many alternatives which are much more tasty and healthy.... Oh and I love fat by the way! I rage against the fat-ists! Fat doesn’t make you fat... But that’s a whole other post!........

Giving up foods should never be about denial. Its more about choice and alternatives to be delightfully discovered and embraced. Once you do embrace your own path I doubt you will go back.

I’m on my own journey right now. In so many ways. I’m recovering from a long-term mystery illness (we can call it ME or Autoimmune Disease if you like but that doesn't really cut it.) I’m trying to re-build a life after being primarily housebound for long periods of time.  

I’m luxuriating in all the possibilities the future can bring and dreaming of business plans, friendships and fun. Of health and happiness. I also make certain that I make the most of living brightly right here in the ‘Now’ too. It is our most precious moment. 

I will always gratefully carry with me everything that I have learnt so far along the way. I pack the yoga, the meditation and the mindfulness in my suitcase of life. Food wise I'm also experimenting. A lot. I'm sure my own ‘philosophy’ will constantly evolve, but for now I have a very good starting point.

C xx