Organic & Thrifty

Yes, it’s been too long since I posted.  To be honest, I’ve been having some major blogging anxiety. I didn’t know where it was coming from at first, so I had to take some major steps back. I wanted to focus on finishing my Nutritional Therapy Certification (and yes, I’ve now graduated!!!! Horray! More on that soon…).  So through lots of soul-searching, prayer, and lots and lots of kombucha I think I’ve come to enlightenment as to what the deal was. Read on if you are interested in a touchy-feely personal blog post.

The last several years have been, quite honestly really difficult for me.  As a (relatively) new mom (I consider a 5 year old pretty new in the whole scheme of things) I have been undergoing a major identity change the last several years. Not only that, but my body changed, my relationship with my husband changed, my job changed, I had major surgery (twice) and, well, I think that all adds up to lots of stress, both physically and emotionally.

Recently some pretty difficult spiritual circumstances were visited upon my family. While really difficult, they ended up being some of the best things that have ever happened because they drove me deeper into understanding who I am as a mom, a wife, a professional, a friend, and most of all, a child loved by God.  Through this journey of self-discovery I realized that my blog was becoming a real stumbling block.

Here’s why.  One thing I’ve learned about myself this past year is that I have a major weakness for pleasing people; everyone, that is, except for the people who matter most and are closest to me.  Because of this, I end up with a lot of “false guilt” and shame that I layer upon myself and I really obsess and tend to be tempted to find great importance in what others think of me.

Well it turns out that blogging is the perfect tool for that passion to be let loose and to grow into quite a bitter enemy to my soul.  But, as with all things, I can take this reality and either run away from it or let it teach me. 

So, even though I’m in the midst of figuring out what Organic and Thrifty is really going to be about, I haven’t arrived there.  This isn’t a home buisiness. If it were, I’d be making like a dollar an hour.  I didn’t start this blog hoping to make money or make it big.  And it’s a good thing I didn’t because I know it wouldn’t have been good for my soul at the time.

I write this blog to share the lessons and insights and tips I’ve learned along the way. I don’t consider myself a really great writer, but I must admit that I think of myself as pretty important some of the time and I figure that others need to know what I know.  Yeah, that’s something I’m sort of working on with God. The whole “self-importance” thing.  Instead of thinking that everyone needs to know what I know, I instead offer all that I’ve been taught to go on record for anyone else to glean.

Take what helps you, leave the rest.

I wish I could promise that I’ll be posting the perfect organic deals every day. Or posting elaborate recipes, or cheap dinners, or menu plans.  I’ve been there, done that, and will do it again. But I will not put a strict, stressful timeline on myself and get all obsessed with my blog like I have in the past.

But I won’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.  Organic and Thrifty is here to stay. If for nothing else, then to be a resource of meal plans, recipes, nutrition articles, resources, and stories of healing.

I plan to continue to post regularly but the focus will probably begin shifting more towards nutrition and how to practically and affordably apply the lifestyle and diet principles of Nutritional Therapy to your everyday life.

Right now I’m in the midst of discerning the next steps for me in terms of my Nutritional Therapy Practice that I’m in the process of beginning right now.  I am trying to maintain balance in my life as a homeschooling mom who still cooks nearly everything from scratch.  We now own a dairy goat, which provides a lot more structure to the day (and early, early mornings!) as well as lots and lots of milk to make yogurt, kefir, and cheese out of.  And there’s the garden which is growing very well this year, yet needs an occasional sprinkle of water or two!  Oh yes, and there’s my marriage and relationships with friends. And God.  And learning. Always learning.

So now I feel that I’m starting a New Chapter at O & T.  I feel different inside. I’m re-oriented and more at peace with what I’m doing here.  Not because I think I have something particularly unique, insightful, or important to say.  But because I need to practice saying it.

By they way, if you’d like to know more about my Nutrition Consultation services (and I promise this blog won’t become a shameless plug platform for my practice!) please check out my consultations page and drop me a line for more info!