Making the Change to a Healthier Lifestyle

  

Lately I’ve felt the pressure of life weighing down on me. There is change in the air, and I feel it all culminating together, giving me more and more reason to finally yank myself out of this cultural delusion and lead my family into a happy and healthier lifestyle. 

Everywhere I turn I am disgusted by what I see. Our materialistic and capitalist society does not benefit the American people. We are sick; poisoned by chemicals, fake food, taken advantage of by government and worked to death greedy big business. Corporations gladly kill us and our environment for the sake of their profit, and deliberately ignore the evidence stacked against them that proves this, instead paying our government to benefit them and ignore the cries of the American people.

In an effort to keep from becoming utterly depressed by this, I have decided it’s time to commit my family into a different lifestyle. We already see ourselves as environmentalists--our love for the earth and nature surpasses many things, but I feel in the grander scheme of living an environmentally conscious and actively healthy lifestyle, we only just have our feet in the door—now I am ready to see what’s inside.

There are a number of things we currently do that work to reduce our impact on the planet as well as limit our exposure to hazardous chemicals. Some of these include:

• Using natural cleaning products or making my own with essential oils. (Check out this article on the dangers of chemical cleaners).
• Making my own laundry soap with just four simple ingredients.
• Recycling everything we can, such as product packaging, junk mail, produce bags etc.
• Avoiding products with unnecessary packaging.
• Meatless Mondays and reducing our meat intake in general.

There is so much more that I have wanted to commit myself to over the years, but I found that we have lacked the conviction to make greater changes. However, I know now that my family and I are ready, and I am excited to help forge a new culture with the countless others that feel as we do too.

Here are some goals I wish to achieve on our journey:

• Abandon processed foods and takeout, favoring organic and locally grown whole foods and cooking healthy meals.
• Reduce our chemical exposure from traditional shampoos, conditioners and soaps.
• Purchase organic and local produce when possible, as well as local and humanely raised meat products.
• Avoid GMO food products like the Plague! (Seriously, Monsanto is suing the state of Vermont for trying to label GMO products. Are you kidding me, why don’t we have the right to know!).
• Grow our own garden!
• Start a compost pile—I’ve been waiting to do this until we move into our new house.
• Collect and save rain water on our property with rain barrels.
• Learn to make my own body soaps.
• And Much More!

It will be a challenge, especially doing this without scraping the bottom of my purse as I do so, but it is a challenge I look forward to accepting. Join us on our journey to a new outlook on life!

31 Days Cigarette Free!

Today marks my 31^st day of no cigarettes, and my body is indeed grateful. I am actually quite astonished at the ease in which myself and my significant other were able to give up the deed. It only strengthens my belief that this is a crucial year for change for us.

I wish I could give some detailed description as to how we managed to quit, but we both quit cold turkey. The only methods I can really say we used involved exercise and changing our thought process. Whenever I would feel myself struck with a craving I used advise given by a friend, and would tell myself that I didn’t smoke anymore. My partner and I reiterated this with each other as well, each morning before parting for the day we would remind each other that we no longer smoked cigarettes. This really combated the urge and helped me to avoid any serious cravings.

There were moments, however, where the power of my thoughts were not quite enough. It is in these cases when I would throw on some sneakers, load the baby in the stroller, and grab the dog to escape outside for a quick paced walk. Being outside and getting my blood moving really helped to ease any tension that I had been feeling. Plus I could hardly deny that I was feeling healthier, even after just a few days of no smoking it seemed as though my lungs were already absorbing air better. This feeling within myself worked to bolster my motivation, and make me even more determined to stay strong and better my health for myself as well as my family.

Thirty-one days gone by, and I feel confidant that my significant other and I have kicked this dirty habit. We may still face a few challenges, especially from being around friends and others who do smoke, but I know we have the power to stay strong. As I have said before, this is the year for change for us, and it is just the first of many things that we will have to find the strength and courage to face.

Within us lies the world--quietly waiting for her chance to come alive through our actions--I am determined to see her live…

Here’s to the power of positive thinking!

Blessed Be,

The Pagan Mom.

GOALS FOR 2013:

 

This year I will make the life I want for myself.

 

I know it’s a little late, but it is still January so I thought I would start my blog off with a list of the goals I’ve set for myself this year. This year is going to be big for me, I can feel it in my gut. It is the year for change. The year for taking the steps I know I must to accomplish my dreams--good things are coming.

 

1. Write, Write, Write!

This is perhaps one of the most important goals for me to follow if I wish to see my dreams come to fruition. It is obvious that the only way to become a professional writer (my biggest dream) is to write, and write often. Starting this blog is part of my commitment to this goal. It will allow me to share my voice and my words, and to help me build confidence in myself and my capabilities.

As well as this blog, I intend to publish at least two articles a month on HubPages, which is a good outlet for my non-fiction writing, and carries the potential for future revenue. Also--and I may be starting to stretch myself a bit thin here, but I want to challenge myself--I will begin to compile a collection of short stories, and eventually submit them to various magazines and contests for publication.

2. Exercise Regularly, and Tone My Abs!

My goal to tone my tummy is simply for the fact that I am still young, and my body is still capable of doing so. Since I have never had a toned stomach, I do not want to let my opportunity slip by and never achieve that experience. This is why I have committed myself to doing a few stomach exercises each day, and I am eager to see how my commitment will pay off.

As far as regular exercise goes, this is less for my vanity, and more for my health. Being strong and healthy is important to me, and I want my daughter to grow up knowing its importance, and hopefully be encouraged by my example. My goal is to walk a half hour to an hour 2-3 times a week.

 

3. Make the most out of my time!

For too long I have held myself back from certain commitments because of the fear that I would fail. I don’t expect enough from myself, and often take the easier road. It has been a long time since I have faced challenge and pressed myself to the limit, but I know that now I must, if I hope to move forward in achieving my goals.

Though it may be difficult, I know that if I work hard I can accomplish all that I hope to. I have the power to be a good attentive mother and supporting partner. Within me I hold the capability to succeed in school, to keep my home clean, and cook healthy meals. I know it’s a little cheesy, but my latest mantra has become "I am Super Mom." Whenever I start to doubt myself, I repeat this over and over in my head, and it motivates me to keep going, and not to doubt myself.

 

4. Penny pinch and save money!

Need I say more? This year I am determined to save money, and to penny pinch in any way I can. It’s time for me to get thrifty and creative so I can build up some savings, because, although I hate to admit it, it is hard to get anywhere in our society without the almighty dollar--well actually--many almighty dollars.

 

***

Well that’s it, the goals that I am determined to accomplish this year. This list can also be seen as a vague idea of the sort of topics you can expect to find in my blog--with a Pagan twist of course--as well as more on positive thinking. So if your looking for an upbeat and motivating read with an earthy feel, then your in the right place. Thanks for reading!

 

-The Pagan Mom

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams” -Henry David Thoreau.

Well this is it, this quote has inspired me and motivated me to make many changes in my life over the past year, and now I am taking the next step--making a commitment to writing. This is why I am here, creating this blog, because I want to share my words with the world; I want my writing to someday be read by the millions. I seek to create, to entertain, and to inform.

I am a stay-at-home mom for my beautiful little girl Ember Raelee, and am blessed that my partner has been able to provide for us, allowing me to stay at home to raise our daughter. I admit that it has not been easy. Things are tight for us right now, and sometimes difficult, but I have the confidence that we are moving towards happiness and prosperity. The power of positive thinking is truly real, and I do my best to live my life with this in mind. In the fall of 2012 I returned to college, and finally found the courage to commit myself to a degree. College has proven to be challenging (especially with a 1 ½ year old), but I truly enjoy learning, and I love knowing that with each class I am one step closer to my dream of a degree in English.

I chose the title of The Pagan Mom for my blog because this is a huge part of who I am. I love my spirituality, I love the openness, and the freedom of it, and I love its earth-based core. However, it saddens me that many people do not understand what it means to be Pagan, often associating it with a negative stigma. I wish to encourage people to open their minds, and to educate themselves with the unknown. If there is anything I can hope to share with this blog, it is that.

My goals for starting this blog is to build a confidence within myself and in my writing. Writing is what I want in life, and I am taking the steps that I know I must in order to achieve it. I wish to share my random thoughts on raising a Pagan family, on being a student, a mom, a partner, etc. I am looking forward to this outlet for myself, and in seeing where this step will lead me. Here’s to much more written randomness soon, and thanks for reading!