Experiments in … health + wellness: getting clean!

Today I’d like to share how my elimination diet experience is going, as well as what I am doing to support the overall healing of my Self during this process.  I should first probably mention that this experiment, which just began as a simple elimination diet to reset my digestive system, is becoming something so much bigger and more profound as I continue to experience new sensations and awakenings, and to learn more about the many different ways to heal and support healing in my body, mind and spirit.  What began as unpleasant drudgery is more and more becoming exciting revitalization and restoration.  And no one could be more surprised about this shift in the experiment than I am.  

Despite being a longtime student and proponent of holistic healing, it seems I am only now “showing up” and really walking my talk rather than sputtering so much rhetoric.  My past is filled with examples of this unintentional hypocrisy.  I smoked cigarettes for years – even while I was practicing yoga and massage therapy.  (Gasp!  Yes, it’s true.  I admit it begrudgingly to make a point.)  I started fitness plans that I never completed.  (Can anyone identify?)  I offered loads of simplified, healing wisdom to my clients, but often fell short of incorporating that wisdom into my own life.  (Naughty, naughty!)  Oh sure, I had my toes in the waters, but I never had the courage or the self respect to just dive in and swim.  But, now, it seems, I’ve finally taken the plunge.  And it's delicious!

In my last post I mentioned that I was going to continue the elimination diet through the month of March as I felt I still had healing to do.  And I was right.  Soon after that posting I underwent a second wave of detox symptoms.  This round was slightly less intense than the first, but no less real.  As this round of symptoms started to die down, I made the decision [finally!] to kick the elimination diet up a notch by eliminating all fruits.  Yikes!  I knew all along that I really should eliminate fruits from my diet as I am consistently plagued by candida overgrowth*, but I really, really didn’t want to do it.  But ... I did it anyway. I’ve been fruit free since Monday, 17 March, and, so far, it’s not so bad.  Don’t get me wrong:  I miss fruit.  I miss it a lot.  But I’m managing okay without it ... for now.  And that’s how I’m supporting myself when I feel like tackling the fruit vendor in the market for just one little berry:  I’m reminding myself that this is a temporary gig.  I will have fruit again.  And when I do, I will be healthier, and the fruit will be even sweeter … and it will be better for my body.  It’s win-win!

When the fruit left my diet it was replaced with another round of detox symptoms.  (Further proof that I made the right decision.)  These are slowly starting to lessen in intensity and number, and I’m feeling even better than ever.  I’m only asking myself to be fruit free through the rest of the month of March, so only one more week to go.  I can certainly do that!

In support of my transition during this experiment, I’ve also been experimenting with various healing home practices and supplements.  I’m starting small, implementing a few things at a time, and hoping to build these practices into an actual holistic vitality-inducing lifestyle that will support me indefinitely.  Below I’ve written about some of the things I’ve already started adding in to my daily routine, but others I’ll post about as I incorporate them, so stay tuned.  I’d also love to hear about the things you do to support your Self in everyday life.  Just leave a comment with your favorite practices and/or supplements below.

image via wkdg.com

SLEEP:  First of all, I’m trying to get more of it.  Generally, I have always been a person who does best with around 9 hours of sleep.  However, that may be relative to the state of candida in my body, so we’ll see if that changes.  My goal right now is to try to reset my schedule in such a way that I am pretty regularly going to sleep and waking at the same time everyday.  My work schedule doesn’t change until April, and even then it’s going to be a bit of a challenge on certain days, but I’m going for overall consistency, not militant regimentation.  I’m also trying to prepare my body-mind-spirit for sleep by creating some evening rituals like stretching/yoga asanas, anointing my Self with essential oils, and giving my Self a Reiki treatment while listening to soothing music and burning incense.  So far, it’s working pretty well.  While I don’t get to do all these rituals every night, I try to do at least something – even if it’s one small thing, like breathing in some essential oil before hitting the pillow -  to cue my Self that it’s time for sleep.  These evening rituals just feel so luxurious, and remind me that I am divinity in human form.  I have an obligation to care for my Self in a way that reflects that.

image via essentialsurvival.org

ORAL CARE:  Okay, I am going to have to make a confession here.  While I always brush my teeth, I have, my whole life, been horrible at flossing.  In fact, I rarely give much thought to oral care.  I’m lucky that I am predisposed to healthy teeth and gums, but I am learning more and more about the importance of oral care, and how it relates to the whole body’s health, so I’m trying to make holistic oral care a priority.  I’ve been making my own dentifrice for a long while now, so that’s taken care of.  I am now implementing an ACV (apple cider vinegar) rinse following brushing.  It’s kind of fun as the collision of acid from the vinegar and alkalinity from the baking soda [of the tooth powder] create a fizzing action in the mouth.  It helps to remove plaque and freshens the mouth beautifully.  This is a great video from Living Libations that explains the process.  (You can ignore the pitch for their products if you like, but, as an aside, they have some really great quality products available.)

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Then, in the morning, I scrape my tongue to remove toxins released during sleep.  In the evening, I am, you guessed it, flossing.  *sigh*  I don’t enjoy doing it, but it’s necessary, and my teeth and gums feel better when I do it.  That’s going to have to be motivation enough for now.  To give the flossing an extra boost of healing oomph, I am coating the floss in [safe for consumption] essential oils.  I’m also rubbing this essential oil blend over my gums morning and night.  I’m lucky that a local shop here in Durham carries locally made Thieves style essential oil blends that are safe for consumption.   This product is a great comparable option, too, though, if you’d rather.

image via youngandraw.com

BODY SKIN:  Three words:  Dry.  Skin.  Brushing.  I’ve been a fan of this practice for years and years, but I often get busy and forget to actually do it.  No more excuses!  I’m brushing my body regularly!  Sometimes I’ll do a wet brushing in place of the dry, but I’m focusing more on the dry brushing to stimulate my lymph system as well as exfoliate my skin.  I’m also taking regular hydrotherapy in the form of aromatherapy baths, milk baths and salt baths, and am trying to be better about moisturizing my body skin with natural oils.

image via myyogaonline.com

MISCELLANEOUS HEALING PRACTICES:  I’m working a couple of the following practices into each day.  I listen to my body and let it tell me which practices it needs on any given day.

My sinuses have been a little cranky what with all this crazy fluctuating weather, the first signs of spring pollen and grasses, not to mention the clearing reactions from the healing work, so I’ve been trying to use my neti pot more regularly.  I’m currently just doing a classical sea salt nasal douching, but I may move on to some more specific rinses if the impetus arises, using either milk or herbal teas. 

I’m trying to spend a little time every day or at least most every day practicing some pranayama.  Pranayama is essentially a practice of breathing exercises.  I’m keeping it simple here at the start, as pranayama is one of those things that I believe in, but find very difficult to commit to practicing regularly, so I don’t want to make it a big deal.  Let’s just keep it easy and relaxed and maybe it won’t seem like drudgery.  I’m working with alternate nostril breathing, kapalabhati breath, and 1-4-2 breathing, though not all at the same sitting.  I’ll try to write more about these breathing techniques in an upcoming blog post.

This past weekend, my friend and colleague, Caroline, and I went to Asheville for Level 1 and Level 2 Reiki attunements.  It was a wonderful experience.  I’ve been interested in Reiki since even before my massage therapy training, but it never seemed the right time to do the training.  Thankfully, the stars finally aligned, and now I’m an official Reiki practitioner.  As a way to both practice my new craft and to support my healing journey, I’m performing Reiki on my Self every day.

And then there’s nauli kriya.  Nauli is a yoga kriya, which is basically a practice used to strengthen and cleanse the body to make it ready for spiritual work.  Nauli kriya is also known as abdominal churning.  Having a long history of abdominal dysfunction and inefficiency, I have also had a fascination with, and resistance toward, nauli practice lasting me a decade and a half.  It’s finally time I jump on that horse’s back and take to riding.  So, I’m starting a nauli practice with teeny tiny baby steps and am looking forward to a tortoise’s journey of victories with it.  I’ll try to post more about nauli again in future, but here’s a great video about it if you’re interested.

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image via biosanctuary.com

SUPPLEMENTS:  I’m taking Vitamin C in relatively high doses – a heaping teaspoon before every meal and at bedtime, cut with a ½ t. of baking soda.  I’m also continuing to take my probiotics and triphala for digestive health, and the Chinese herbs my acupuncturist gave me for my nasal issues.  (Once these herbs are finished, I’ll be switching over to some Chinese herbs more specifically for candida control.)  I drink Chlorophyll every morning and every evening.  I’ve also just introduced maca root and raw cacao powder into the mix.  Maca is a superfood that helps support energy levels.  Raw cacao has a host of benefits, chief among them are its high antioxidant and mineral levels, mood-enhancing effects, and energy boosting qualities.  Please note that I am talking about raw unprocessed cacao here, not processed cocoa.  I'm sneaking bentonite clay into my diet in small amounts to act as a chelator for heavy metals and other toxins.  Lastly, I’m drinking daily shots of aloe vera juice to support healthy digestion and to help heal and repair the inflammation of my gut linings.

There are several other supplements that I will be introducing as soon as I can afford to add them in.  Unfortunately, these healing foods and supplements aren’t cheap.  But, my health is worth it, so I’ll add them in as I can.  I’ll write more about these as I start using them, but you can expect to see things like medicinal mushrooms, velvet antler, pine pollen, high antioxidant berries like camu and goji (when I’m doing fruit again), chlorella, and other such healing superfoods. 

image via news.brown.edu

MOVEMENT:  I’m still doing the Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis matwork 5 days a week with my friend, Katy, and have added 30 minutes of rebounder cardio work on those days.  Plus, I have the added benefit of walking everywhere I go.  (Reason #21 to get rid of your car:  It’s great for your body-mind-spirit – built in exercise, sunshine and fresh air!  Actually, that’s three reasons.)  There’s the evening stretching, too, which I intend to turn into a more formal yoga practice as my schedule becomes a little more integrated. 

So, there you have it.  The next phase of this journey is taking shape and I’m feeling really good about it.  I’d love to hear from you.  Have you ever tried any of these practices or supplements?  Do you have any favorites that weren’t mentioned here?  Leave a comment, let’s discuss!  It really does take a village to live a full and productive life, and you are part of my village.  I welcome your wisdom.

Hoping you are all having a beautiful transition to Spring!

image via richardpeters.co.uk

Namaste!

Melanie

*Note:  The article linked here was chosen for its universality in language, meaning it uses terms and practices that most Americans understand, and that fit in with our current health care paradigm here in the United States.  I actually believe that the treatments suggested here are much too lenient to actually heal a candida overgrowth that has been present in any body for any significant length of time, so I do not necessarily condone this treatment.  However, if it feels appropriate for you at this time, then please feel free to explore it, and let me know how it works for you.

March's Resolution and February Recap

Hello lovely readers,

Please drop by the Resolution Revamp blog (here) to see how I've been doing on my elimination diet, and to check out what's in store for March.  I hope you're having a beautiful tail-end to Winter!

xoxo,
Melanie

Experiments In … Health: Why I Am Choosing To Do An Elimination Diet.

As you probably already know, I am experimenting with an elimination diet during the month of February.  (If you didn’t know, and would like a little more info, click here to read more about it.)

Anyway, I thought it might be helpful to share a little bit about why I am doing this, and why certain foods made the cut list.

There are a couple of reasons I am choosing to do an elimination diet right now. 

The first is that I have a history with gut dysfunction.  I have made small steps in addressing the various dysfunctions, including a half-assed attempt at an elimination diet about 10 years ago, but have not really put my full attention to healing my gut.  It feels like the time to finally do that.  Gut dysfunction can cause/be caused by food allergies, food sensitivities, poor lifestyle choices, unhealthy environments, and more.  I know that I have several food allergies/sensitivities, and a propensity toward candida (yeast) overgrowth in my body.  An elimination diet is one of the most effective and least invasive ways of pinpointing these allergies/sensitivities and balancing the candida populations in my body.  Game on! 

Reason two is more mental/emotional in nature – on the surface, anyway.  I have a looooong history of emotional eating, craving foods (and I mean hard-core craving), and using food as rewards and/or punishments rather than fuel.  This diet, in addition to being an opportunity to reset my physical relationship with food is also an opportunity to reset my mental/emotional relationship with food.  One really interesting thing is that food cravings are often a direct sign of food allergies:  We often crave the very foods to which we are allergic.  Bummer.  So, our mental/emotional relationships get skewed when the physical relationship goes sour (sometimes literally). 

Now that you have a better idea about the whys of this decision, let’s move on to how some of these foods made it to the elimination list.  Here’s the list of foods I’m eliminating:

Sugars (exception:  fruit)

Grains

Corn

Dairy (exception:  butter)

Soy

Legumes

Yeast

Caffeine/Coffee

Alcohol

Nightshades

Here’s a bit about why these foods are getting the ax this month:

SUGARS: Many of us have heard arguments about the dangers of refined sugars in the diet.  Refined sugar is addictive (chemically, it’s very similar to cocaine).  It is devoid of any nutritional benefit, and, in fact, “leaches the body of precious vitamins and minerals through the demand its digestion, detoxification, and elimination makes upon one’s entire system.” (Source.)  Regular consumption of refined sugar leads to a hyperacidic condition in the body, further depleting our bodies of the mineral-rich foods we do manage to eat by putting those minerals to use in balancing the alkalinity of the body.    If taken regularly in the diet, sugar can eventually, and negatively, affect every single organ of the body.  (Source.)  If that wasn’t enough, there’s the association with dental decay and weight gain.  All good enough reasons to eliminate sugar from my diet, but if even that wasn’t enough, check this out …

Sugar is used in the body to replenish glycogen stores in the liver.  Glycogen is used to provide fuel for things like exercise.  After a particularly grueling session on the treadmill or an especially rigorous cardio dance routine, your glycogen stores are depleted.  Eating some type of sugar after these kinds of workouts will help to restore those glycogen levels.  However, most of us aren’t eating sugars post-strenuous-workout.  Most of us are eating sugars while sitting on the couch, or at our desks, or in the car, or at the bar.  Most of us eat sugar when our liver is already full of glycogen.  In these instances, the liver turns the sugars into fat.  “Some of the fat gets shipped out, but part of it remains in the liver. The fat can build up over time and ultimately lead to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.”  (Source.)

Yuck!  Who wants a fatty liver?  Not I!  Besides, if I’m going to refuel after exercise, I’d much rather have a delicious piece of fruit.  It’ll replenish those glycogen stores just as well as refined sugars, and will taste just as good without the negative side effects. 

So, there you have it.  Any questions?  This is a particularly informative article for those who’d like to read more. 

GRAINS: 

I could piece together a treaty on the reasons why grains are inhospitable guests in the human body, citing a number of different resources from all the research I’ve done over the years.  But … this article states it all so beautifully and so accessibly, that I am going to simply suggest you read it.  If you would like more information or more sources to do conduct your own research, message me and I’ll send them to you.

CORN:

Corn is … wait for it … A GRAIN!  It’s not a vegetable like many of us have been lead to believe.  So, once again, I refer you to this article on why grains are unhealthy food sources for humans.

DAIRY:

I could go on and on about the reasons I try to avoid dairy from large commercial dairy farms:  the inhumane treatment of the animals, the debilitating effect on the environment from such husbandry/farming practices, the high amounts of antibiotics and hormones in the end products, the way pasteurization kills off any remaining healthy aspects of dairy products.  However, the reason I am eliminating dairy from my diet during this experiment is primarily because it is a common potential allergen (usually resulting from the aforementioned tampering with dairy products by large commercial products) and is mucilaginous, meaning that it causes mucus.  Excess mucus is already a problem for most folks with gut dysbiosis, and I certainly don’t want to exacerbate it.  I am hoping to give my body a chance to heal before reintroducing local, unpasteurized dairy from happy animals. 

This is an excellent article on the important factors to consider when determining whether or not you should consume dairy in your own diet.

SOY:

Soy is a food I don’t really consume in my regular diet anymore, and I’ll list some of those reasons below.  However, the main reasons it made my elimination list this month are because it is a common allergen and it is almost always genetically modified.  In fact, it is incredibly difficult to find any soy products that have not been genetically modified, and even if you think you have found some clean soy, it is probably still genetically modified as there are still no labeling regulations for GMO foods here in the good old USA. 

These are the other reasons I generally avoid soy (Source):

1.  Most soy in the west in used in the form of soy protein isolate.  Soy protein isolate is made by putting soybeans into large aluminum tanks with an acid wash.  The acid causes the soybeans to absorb aluminum.  They are then treated with nitrated and other chemicals.  Aluminum has been linked to many mental disorders including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.  Nitrates have been implicated in cancer development.

2.  Soy, a natural goitrogen, has the ability to impair iodine absorption and reduce thyroid function.

3.  Like grains, soybeans have high phytate concentrations, which leads to an inability of the body to absorb vital minerals.

4.  Soybeans are legumes.  (See below.)

LEGUMES:

According to the Weston A. Price Foundation, legumes are well-armed with anti-nutrients such as phytates and trypsin inhibitors, and some have specialized complex sugars that can wreak painful revenge upon the mammalian gut that consumes them without proper disarming.

It has also been noted that while legumes are relatively high in protein, they are comparatively even higher in carbohydrates.  This means that eating legumes in large quantities can lead to large insulin spikes that can tax the body unnecessarily. 

And, well, let’s not forget the old adage about being good for the heart … the more you eat them … well, you know what happens.  Whole 9 Life’s Legume Manifesto tells us that because some of the short-chain carbohydrates (sugars) found in legumes aren’t properly digested and absorbed in the digestive tract, they can act as food for bacteria living in the intestines. These bacteria then “ferment” these carbohydrates, which can create unpleasant symptoms like gas and bloating, and potentially contribute to gut dysbiosis – an inherently inflammatory condition.

YEAST: 

I am eliminating yeast because it is a common allergen, but also because, as previously mentioned, I have a history of yeast imbalance in the body.  I want to give my body a chance to restore balance, and adding yeast foods can only exacerbate any imbalance that is already present.

CAFFEINE/COFFEE:

As you likely already know, caffeine can cause a host of side effects in the body such as insomnia, irritability, increased heart rate, anxiety, restlessness, and other such unpleasantness.  Plus, to release caffeine from the system causes some pretty gnarly withdrawal symptoms.  (Ever have a caffeine withdrawal headache?  Horrible!) 

I figure anything that can be realistically referred to as a drug and causes such a mess when removed from the diet, should generally not be ingested during an elimination diet.  Know what I mean?

ALCOHOL:

Let me just refer you to the explanation for CAFFIENE/COFFEE. 

An additional reason to eliminate booze this month?  I have a bit of rosacea which causes facial redness and inflammation.  Alcohol exacerbates rosacea.  Boom!  Who says booze makes one prettier?  I say not having booze makes me prettier. 

NIGHTSHADES:

Nightshades are common food allergens. 

So, there you have it.  My main reasons for eliminating the things I’m eliminating this month.  I’ll try to post in soon about my progress.  It’s proving to be a pretty interesting experiment so far.  Hope you’re all having a beautiful February, and that your hearts are overflowing with love, love, love!!

Xoxo,

Melanie

February at Resolution Revamp

Hello beautiful readers!

Just wanted to let you know that I've posted February's intro post at the Resolution Revamp blog.  Click here if you'd like to check it out.  I hope you're having a beautiful beginning to this month of love.

xoxo,

Melanie

It's on, 2014!

Here I am.  I’m ready.  I’m showing up for 2014. 

It’s January, dearies … JANUARY!  2013 snuck out the back door real quiet and quick-like. 

I threw a handful of seeds into the air late last year.  Now, I suppose, it’s time to start cultivating and propagating.  I am feeling a great sense of possibility on the chilly January winds.  Do you sense it, too?

Okay, so I know I owe you some reporting on my Spanish adventure, and I do still plan to get to that before too long.  But, right now, I’m feeling like I need to take a few moments to clear my head and get a little organized.  And it being January and all, I’m going to participate, once again, in the age-old tradition of resolution setting.  Just as last year, I plan to use these resolutions as motivations for living a more fulfilling life.  I do not see resolutions as immutable commands.  It is not my intention to set up a minefield of self-shaming opportunities.  Rather, I am using my resolutions as inspirational guideposts – cheerleaders, if you will – to remind me that I am awesome and I deserve to be living an awesome life. 

First, let’s take a moment to revisit last year’s resolutions.  And while I was a little unconventional last year and tried a few different avenues for expressing some resolution-type growth, these were the most concrete resolutions that emerged:

1.  Meditate daily (minimum of 5 minutes)

2.  Yoga practice daily (minimum of 15 minutes)

3.  Eat clean.  (No emotional feeding.  Real planned meals.)

4.  Do something creative every week

5.  Drink 4 liters water daily

So, how’d I do?  Well, not too badly, I’m pleased to report.  No, I didn’t follow these perfectly.  Yes, there is still a great deal of room for improvement.  But am I happy with my progress?  Absolutely!

In fact, my current resolutions will reflect a very similar (and in some instances, identical) ideology.  What are my resolutions for 2014, you ask?  Well, here’s what they look like at present:

1.  Organize home and life.

2.  Treat myself to an elimination diet during the month of February.  Then adjust everyday diet accordingly to eat for optimal health and not for emotional reasons. 

3. Get moving!  Exercise regularly and joyously.

4. Do something creative every week.  Make actual artist dates a la The Artist’s Way.  Have some kind of finished project to show for your efforts at least once a month.

5. Cultivate a meditation practice.

6.  Give myself days off of work and don’t work on those days!

7.  Save some money.  (Yes, I have more specific parameters set out for this one, but I’m keeping them private.  A girl’s gotta have some mystery.)

8.  Be more social.

9.  Make room for some kind of Self care every week.

10. Volunteer at least once a month.

11.  Try something new at least once a month.

12.  Cultivate spiritual practice and attune to Nature by observing Wheel of the Year, Esbats (full moons) and Astors (dark/new moons).

Savvy readers may have noticed that there are twelve resolutions to represent the twelve months of the year.  I suspect I will be working on many of these simultaneously throughout the year.  (In fact, I’m already working with several of them!)  However, I’m setting it up this way so that if things become a little overwhelming during any part of the year, I can choose to simply focus on the one resolution that corresponds to that month until I feel it is mastered and then can move on to the next.  I’m really looking forward to making these resolutions actualities.  I will try to start each month by writing a little about my intentions surrounding that month’s resolution – a little introduction of sorts.  Then as the month progresses, I hope to check in with progress reports and notes.  Should life get hectic, I will at least try to sum up my experiences of the previous month’s work as I introduce the new month’s intentions.  (It’s good to be realistic sometimes, right?)

And since January is (gasp!) nearly spent, let me introduce and update Resolution no. 1.

RESOLUTION no. 1:  ORGANIZE HOME AND LIFE.

This resolution was as much a side effect of my recent move as it was a conscious decision.  And, as unpleasant as the act of moving was – especially during the holiday season, I feel like the change in location and perspective has allowed me somehow to regain control over my life in a way that has been eluding me for years.  Yay and hooray!  So I moved from a vintage little duplex apartment (that’s the polite phrasing) into a shiny spacious loft apartment on the edge of downtown.  Needless to say, most of my sweet vintage shabby chic furnishings and decor were completely unsuited to my new living space.  What’s a girl to do when that happens except, well, get new furnishings and décor, and get creative so it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.  Thank goodness for IKEA!  Redecorating my home as I unpack it has almost forced me to consider new avenues of organization.  The Virgo in me, of course, LOVES doing this.  The house is coming along nicely, if a little slowly, but I have always been a big believer in the “slow and steady wins the race” philosophy, so I feel like it’s all good in the new ‘hood. 

So, that’s home covered, but what about life?  Well, I should confess that I am very sensitive to my environment.  And when my home environment is chaos, my life is chaos.  When home is organized, life is much more organized.  So, I’m already halfway there.  Taking the time to actually construct my resolutions list gets me even more organized by giving me some concrete ways to start working on lifestyle changes.  And I’ve been updating my calendars to reflect these resolutions so I don’t accidentally (or subconsciously) manage to overbook myself.  (As many of you know, over-scheduling is a constant struggle for me.)   Et voila!  My life’s getting more organized already.  By implementing a structure for positive change, I feel like it will be easier to enact that change and hold myself accountable. 

How do you get organized?  Or do you?  If you have any good organizational tips, suggestions, or things to say about organization, resolutions, or life, in general, please leave a comment.  I’d love to know I’m not in this alone!

Happy 2014 everyone!

xoxo,

Melanie

NEWS:  I was just asked to rejoin the Resolution Revamp blog, so that is where I will be writing about my resolution progress.  I will link from here for those who are interested, but it's a great read headed by my friend, Erin, who is one of the most interesting and inspirational people I know, so I highly recommend spending some time over there.  

Prodigal

I know I am long overdue for a proper post.  And, as always, I offer my apologies in its place. However, I thought I would send a quick update on what's been going on since my return from Spain.

First of all, Spain was amazing.  I still plan to write about it as soon as I get a moment to breathe.  I managed to do that thing I often do, which is not leave myself enough time to sit with one experience before diving into twelve others.  To be fair, though, I just didn't feel I had the luxury (or the nerve) to ask for more time away from work after so kindly being granted an entire month.  So, the busyness of life was waiting for me practically the moment the plane touched down in RDU.

I did learn some good lessons on my journey, and am working on putting them into play.  Part of forging this new path found me boldly making the decision to sublet my apartment and rent a swankier (read: more expensive) one.  It's definitely a good move, and I'll explain more about it later, but it means that I am now in the process of packing up my house and working tons to pay all the new deposits and such.  This holiday season will be a different kind of busy for me this year.  It is hard, definitely, but a necessary beginning, and I am glad to be doing it.  So, that is why, dear reader, it is taking me sooooo long to write about my trip. But write about it I will.  I hope you'll stay tuned ...

On the Verge

photo via: Historias Troyanas

I owe that I am seriously overdue in my writing.  I also confess that I have shamelessly allowed my resolve to dissolve over the past couple months.  There is so much that can happen in this busy-ness called Life that distracts and distorts all that is importantly true and truly important.  And I have been swallowing gallons of mundane minutiae and mania since last I took digits to keyboard. 

However, it’s all for good tale.  I have been working so hard (and so often) for the sake of that which is on the verge.  On the last day of this very month I leave for Spain with my Dad and one of his childhood pals to walk on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.  We’ll be gone a month walking and waking, talking and making new roads of our own as we reintroduce ourselves to ourselves and to each other.  My heart is so full for this adventure.  I am tying up my loose ends and preparing to disconnect from the world of ones and zeroes and reconnect to the world of blood and bones and breath.  I am ready to engage in the world community again in the way only the traveler can.  I am ready to spend some quality time with my Dad, affectionately known as The Dude.  (And, no, this is actually NOT a reference to The Big Lebowski.)  And when I return, I will tell you all about it.

No computer goes with me on this trip, only my phone – for tunes and photos.  I will carry paper and pen and record my impressions the old fashioned way. I’ll look forward to sharing it all with you.  Should I get access to any internet cafés, I may shoot out a few updates here and there.  Be on the lookout.  I will miss you all while I’m gone, but you will be with me in spirit. 

Have a sweet slip into the melancholic nostalgia of Autumn!  And enjoy the cool crisp mornings and evenings as Summer’s grip begins to loosen.  Ciao for now!

Xoxo,

Melanie