Broccoli Cupcake Presents….
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I watched Food Inc. – Now What?
Wow! I think it’s going to take some time to digest (no pun intended) all that I took away from Food Inc. I don’t think anyone can watch this movie and not be moved to take some sort of action – whether it’s at home – or on a larger scale. I pray that I can convince my husband to watch it. I’m sitting here with so many thoughts going through my head about positive changes we can make that aren’t a huge stretch from where we are now, but then I remember how picky my husband and son are and how hard our healthy new habits are for them. To put it in perspective, my husband lost a bet at work, to pay up had to eat 5 bites of vegetables chosen by the winner. He couldn’t swallow any of them without gagging and they cut his penalty to three bites to keep him from throwing up all over the cafeteria.
It has taken time, but I know we are on the right track to improving our health and I believe there is more we can do as we continue to learn. The more I read the more I understand how important what we eat is to our health and the health of the environment.
I have to admit that after watching Food Inc. I wanted to forego my “everything in moderation” philosophy and try to eat solely off our (soon to be planted) garden and CSA share. I seriously considered trying to feed my family without going to the grocery store at all. Don’t worry. I slept on that idea and came to my senses. That’s not realistic for our family or for me. We haven’t even been able to make it a month without eating out! So here’s what we can realistically do. The Food Inc. website lists 10 simple things anyone can do to change our food system. I’ve listed them below with my notes on what we’re already doing or planning to do to meet these. I think this is a solid start for now.
Have you tried to implement any of these into your life? How did it go? What else are you doing to improve your family’s health?
- Stop drinking sodas and other sweetened beverages. – We’ve done this for the most part although we still have an occasional soda when out to dinner or on a road trip. I’m going to work on eliminating even the occasional soda from our diets.
- Eat at home instead of eating out. – I’m proud of the progress I’ve made in this area because we used to eat out ALL the time! We’re down to an average of two times a week, but this is still a lot. I’m working on my meal planning skills and time management and working toward saving meals out for special occasions and date nights.
- Support the passage of laws requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information on menus and menu boards. – Click here to learn more and sign a petition to support this legislation.
- Tell schools to stop selling sodas, junk food, and sports drinks. – Visit Chef Ann Cooper, Renegade Lunch Lady, for ideas on how to improve school lunches (brown bag and cafeteria). I’m planning to talk to the director at my boy’s school about a garden. If you’d like more information or ideas about starting a garden at your child’s school email me at calie@broccolicupcake.com.
- Meatless Mondays—Go without meat one day a week. – I know I have days where I don’t eat meat, but I can’t say the same for my husband and oldest son. We’re going to work on going 100% meatless on Monday’s and build from there. If you have yummy (and simple) meatless recipes please post them below. I’ll share mine as I discover what works for our family.
- Buy organic or sustainable food with little or no pesticides. –Because we’re cutting back on meat I’m going to apply the money we save to upgrading some of our fruit and veggie choices to include more organic options. We’re also planting a garden at the end of the month and will be participating in a local CSA. These options will help us get the majority of our fruits and veggies pesticide free. For many families, this is a financial issue so simply commit to doing what you can. If you’re following tip #1 and giving up soda, apply the money you save to upgrading a few key veggies to organic options. Plant a garden or look for a community gardening project you can join. You may not be able to buy everything organic, but if you eat a lot of apples start there.
- Protect family farms; visit your local farmer’s market.- We discovered that the local farmer’s market is a really fun family outing. They usually have live music, animals to visit, delicious breakfast or lunch options and lots of products to buy and sample. Here’s a link to find a farmer’s market near you.
- Make a point to know where your food comes from—READ LABELS.- This can be extremely overwhelming so I like to look for a few key words on my packaged products. Local, organic, and humanely treated are few that let me know the item is worth a closer look.
- Tell Congress that food safety is important to you. – I wasn’t sure where to start with this, but then I found there are lots of organizations already working on it. Rather than write my own letters and researching where to send everything, I’ve looked for relevant campaigns that I can join by signing online petitions or copying pre-written letters to send to my local representatives. Here’s a link to get started. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/899970673
- Demand job protections for farm workers and food processors, ensuring fair wages and other protections. – I honestly wasn’t sure where to start here, but the Food Inc. website linked to the United Farm Workers site so I’m now following them on Twitter and Facebook to learn more.
A Cleaner Clean
I’ve spent the last year focusing on improving our health and wellness and a huge part of that effort was learning how to eat. I’ve talked with doctors, nutritionists, chiropractors, and chefs. I’ve watched movies, read dozens of books and participated in pantry parties. I still have a lot to learn, but the resources available to me are endless. This is not the case in other areas where I’d like to make improvements.
I’ve known for a long time that our home could be healthier. We could use more natural, chemical-free cleaning products; improve our air quality by adding live plants and much more. Although I switched my traditional cleaning products like Lysol and Soft Scrub to more environmentally friendly products awhile back, my choices were based on the marketing on the labels and not really educated/informed decisions.
After reading that there is a 54% higher cancer rate in women that are stay at home moms, and that the numbers are partially attributed to the time we spend cleaning and sitting in our chemical filled homes I decided to move this up on the priority list of things to change.
Environmental Protection Agency studies have shown that indoor air pollution can be 3 to 7 times higher than outdoors. The EPA conducted a study that found that toxic chemicals in household cleaners are three times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air pollution. Studies found that this is significant for stay-at-home and work-from-home moms who are more likely to clean their own house and spend more time indoors.
As I look for new options to keep our house clean (and by clean I mean dirt free AND chemical free) here is what I’ve come up with. We basically have three options.
- Make our own cleaning products – This is probably the safest and most affordable option for most of our cleaning needs. At least, for most of my cleaning needs. You can find tons of recipes for specific cleaning products and tough jobs online. Martha Stewart is one of my favorite resources. Here are two that work for most day to day cleaning.
- Simple all-purpose cleaner – fill a spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water and shake. Acetic acid kills viruses, germs, mold bacteria. Good for countertops, sinks, toilets and tubs.
- For tough stains or stuck on food (think messy stovetop) trying baking soda and a damp sponge or cloth. It acts as a scouring powder.
- Tree tea oil (tough on mold), lemons and hydrogen peroxide are also great additions to any green cleaning arsenal.
- Online Companies – You can purchase non-toxic, earth friendly products online from companies like Melaluca, Shaklee and BioKleen. They’ve been around for 20 or more years and seem to offer safe and effective products. I’ve tried several products from each company and have been happy with all of them. I don’t have a loyalty to one yet, so I’d love to hear about your experiences. If your cost conscious, the websites offer price comparisons to traditional products like Tide, Clorox and Cascade.
- Store Bought – You can find safer, less-toxic and more earth-friendly options at most stores. Some are better than others, but most are a significant improvement over what I was using. Right now, I really like Seventh Generation when I have to buy from the store. I’ve also find products from Method and Mrs. Meyers that are pretty good.
Just like food, not all products are created equal and not every family’s needs are the same. In my experience, sorting through cleaning products is significantly more challenging than sorting through food. There aren’t clear cut rules like buy fresh, whole foods or shop the outside aisles. I’m not a chemist so reading the labels still presents a problem. Right now, I’m really enjoying the vinegar/water all purpose cleaner. But if I’m being realistic, I don’t have time to make all of my own cleaning products so I’m going to have to settle on a pre-made product I can live with. The verdict is still up in the air, but Melaluca has my attention.
Women’s Wellness Weekend
I’ve been thinking on this all day and wondering how to sum up two days of workshop, speaker and attendee interactions. I’m still exhausted and a little overwhelmed, but I’m so encouraged by the positive feedback we’ve received. At the end of the day Saturday, we asked the attendees to write down what their next step would be once they left the weekend. I thought their responses would be the best way to summarize the weekend.
- Start taking better care of myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually so I can be a better person, mother, wife and friend
- Surrender my will and my life, my thoughts and my actions to the care of God
- I will ask God to help me take care of my body
- Continue to heal from the inside out
- Be a healthier me for me, so I can be a healthier me for others
- Live better – Live well – Pay it forward
- Forgive myself
- Nurture my family
- Create a better relationship with my husband
- Start the healing process and let go of the past
- Love myself so I can love others
- Rest with God
- Forgive myself and others
- Be with my soul mate who loves me unconditionally
- Be in a place of service and giving and create affluence for all
- Prepare meals and snacks on the go
- Continue with the research on healthy foods, what each thing does for me
- Breath deep and relax
- Finally start eating better and exercising
I’m so grateful for each of the women who attended and what they brought to the weekend. The process of planning the Women’s Wellness Weekend brought me in touch with so many amazing people. It challenged me and helped me grow. I’m looking forward to continuing my journey to wellness with lots of wonderful new friends.
Broccoli Cupcake – The Back Story – Raw and Unedited
Here it is…the story of the last 5 years and how Broccoli Cupcake and The Women’s Wellness Weekends came to be. This is our families journey – complete with all of our flaws and imperfections. Thank you to The Tennessean and Jessica Bliss for sharing it. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100223/FEATURES01/2230316/1004/FEATURES/Women+s+health+tied+to+emotional+well-being
4 Tips to Jumpstart Healthy Couponing
Here it is. The guest post I promised. It addresses the issue of the expense of healthy living. I admit, I’m not very good at couponing or bargain hunting so I called in help from an expert. With Sami’s tips on jumpstarting healthy couponing we can begin to overcome one of the most common obstacles to healthy shopping – cost! She’s a smart lady! Check out her tips and share your own below.
- Start by saving money on non-food items
One of the first remarks I always hear from people as a reason for not couponing is, “I don’t eat any of the things I find coupons for.” While I can usually find holes in that argument, my quick response is, “That’s fine, use the coupons for non-food items.”
Even my healthiest, most organic friends typically don’t live 100% organic. You have to choose where to spend your money these days. So my advice: save money with non-perishables so you can put it towards purchasing your organic fresh foods.
Start couponing with paper products, condiments, toiletries and the like. For instance, I haven’t had to buy toilet paper since moving to Nashville. Between Publix frequently offering Greenwise Toilet Paper as their Penny Item and the plethora of $.50 Angel Soft coupons in the Sunday inserts (that gets doubled to $1 and they are often on sale for $1), you’d be surprised at how quickly the savings start adding up. Take the money you save on these products and apply it to your organic shopping items.
There are also a lot of freebies you can get that can be helpful towards others. Whether it’s free condiments that you can bring to BBQ’s or free paper plates & napkins that you can contribute to a birthday party, it always pays to have such necessities on hand before the time you actually need them!
- Use competitor coupons
Myth: “The things I really need, like produce, dairy and meat, never have coupons!”
Fact: Almost every grocery store offers coupons in these areas and most grocery stores accept competitor’s coupons. So even if you don’t have every grocery store near you, it pays to sign up for their email lists so you can have their coupons emailed to you.
For example: Food Lion just emailed me a coupon for $1/$5 produce purchase. I don’t shop at Food Lion, but all the stores I do shop at accept competitor’s coupons. Publix also just offered a coupon in one of their in-store ads for $2 off a ground beef purchase. This is a great way to get your organic meat & produce for less.
- Sign up at your favorite companies websites for samples & special offers
Places like Mambo Sprouts and Horizon Organic have great eNewsletters and email coupons ALL the time. Go online to your favorite brands and look under their “Special Offers” tab – you’ll be surprised at how many coupons you’ll find. Wait until they go on sale and you’ll get a great deal!
- Stock up on produce when on sale and freeze
When organic produce goes on sale, stock up! Wash, prep, and cut it up, then spread on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Once frozen, you can double bag the produce and have it
on hand for when you need it. This is great to do with fruit for smoothies or veggies you want to use for stir fry or chili.
Whatever you do, keep my basic couponing tips in mind. Collect as many coupons for your favorite items as you can, then you can really stock up when they go on sale. Whenever possible, stack a store coupon (like from the Whole Foods Whole Deal) with a Manufacturer’s Coupon (that you’d received from the Sunday paper or online) to maximize your savings.
It is possible to save money and eat healthy – so get to it!
*Sami’s blog, http://www.econemicliving.com/ helps people live their dream life…for less! She makes it FUN to live the frugal life and takes advantage of making memories with her family whenever possible.
Disclosure: I asked Sami to write a post on this after a conversation we had that really helped me. She did this out of the goodness of heart because she’s awesome like that!
Coconut Water and a Deal!
Ahhhh! I can’t believe the Women’s Wellness Weekend is only 5 days away. So needless to say this week is going to be crazy and I probably won’t be spending as much time online as I’d like. So I’m leaving you with a quick post and arranging for a guest post later this week that I think everyone will enjoy. It’s based on a conversation I had with a great new friend who helped me see that I can still take advantage of all the great deals out there AND stay committed to buying whole, clean foods.
Now back to this post. I don’t know about you, but every time I open a book or magazine lately I’m reading about the benefits of coconut water. I bought some at Whole Foods last week, but kind of forgot I had it so I haven’t been drinking it. I did taste it and it was pretty good. Not too coconuty like I thought it might be. Today, I saw that Kroger had a 10/$10 deal on O.N.E coconut water. This sounds like the perfect opportunity to give it a try and see if it holds up to the claims.
Here’s what they’re (I don’t know who they are, but let’s assume they’re someone credible for now) saying about coconut water:
- Natural isotonic beverage
- Healthier than whole milk with no cholesterol
- Packed with natural sugars, salts and vitamins making it a natural energy drink that combats fatigue
- It’s said that regular consumption can naturally improve immunity, increase metabolism, and detoxify the body.
- Regular consumption is also said to help regulate digestion and intestinal function.
- Identical to human blood plasma (I’ve read it’s been used for blood transfusions in war)
Do you drink coconut water? Are you planning to try it? I’d love to hear what you think and how it’s working for you. Don’t forget to take advantage of the Kroger deal if you’ve been thinking about giving coconut water a try. I’m headed there tomorrow to pick up my 10. I’m going to get my sis to try it with me this week. (So excited to have her visiting from California for the conference!!! )
Fitting health choices into busy schedules
Being busy is one of the most popular excuses for making poor choices when it comes to diet and exercise. With two boys under 5, my job, blog and upcoming women’s wellness conference I understand how busy can get in the way. I’ve used it as an excuse on more than one occasion. But over time, I’ve found several effective ways for fitting healthy choices into my busy schedule. Below are just a few tips for squeezing good nutrition and fitness into even the busiest days.
NUTRITION:
Preparing nutritious meals is great when you have a lot of time to plan and cook, but what about the days when all you have time for is a quick pot of spaghetti? What if you’re on the go and don’t have time to eat? I’ve learned that by spending an extra 15-20 minutes on my grocery shopping day I can save myself tons of time during the week and ensure we are eating healthy meals and snacks. Here are my tips and grocery staples:
1. Rotisserie chicken – I buy a rotisserie chicken almost every week. Peel off the skin, break it up and store it in the fridge ready to eat. I like to throw it on salads or mix it into pasta for a quick and easy meal that’s more satisfying than salad or pasta might be on their own. I also pack it in the boys’ lunches or dip it in hummus for a quick snack when I’m running out the door.
2. Frozen baby food – My kids haven’t needed baby food for over a year, but I still buy purred frozen veggies. I mix them into spaghetti sauce, macaroni and cheese, and smoothies. It’s a really fast and easy way to add an extra serving of veggies to a meal. The variety that Happy Baby offers helps me get creative. I just match the flavors and colors.
3. Buy lots of seasonal fruit – I put half of it in a bowl out on the counter to grab for quick snacks walking out the door. The rest I immediately cut up into a fruit salad and put in the fridge with a spoon. I try to serve a few scoops of fruit salad with every meal. It’s also great for a fast snack the kids can dish up themselves.
4. Keep straws on hand - I found that it was taking me all afternoon to finish a glass of water. I heard that when you use a straw you drink significantly more so I tried it and it’s true. Think about your water consumption at a restaurant. Don’t’ you drink more when you have a straw? I don’t know why, but it works.
FITNESS:
The thing I am constantly reminding myself is that I don’t have to take a 60 minute class to get a good workout. If I squeeze in 30 minutes throughout the course of the day that’s just as good going for a run or taking a class – especially when I’m pressed for time. I tend to get discouraged when I can’t get my workouts in because they clear my head and make me feel good. So committing to exercising whenever I have time – for as long as I can – has really helped me. Here are a few things that seem to work on even the busiest days.
1. Stock up on a few short but effective workout DVDs – I like The Shred with Jillian Michaels because it’s only 20 minutes, but you get intense cardio and toning. I’m always sore no matter how many times I do it. I also like the 10 Minute Solutions series, especially Pilates Perfect Body with Suzanne Bowen. It’s divided into 10 minute segments focusing on different body parts so it easily adjusts to my schedule. I can do 10 minutes of arms or 50 minutes and get my whole body.
2. iPhone Apps – These are so great for squeezing in a few exercises at home or on the go. They require limited equipment and I can do as many exercises as I have time for. One of my favorites is the Women’s Health Workout. I get to choose exercises by body part or by workout – cardio, toning, stretching, etc. If you don’t have an iPhone keeping a few workout magazines on hand is a great idea.
3. Combine healthy activity with quality time with the family – I love that I don’t have to choose between working out and spending time with my family. I can combine the two. Lately, we’ve had so much fun coming up with indoor relay races, building mazes out of chairs and furniture and army crawling through them, or just turning on some music and dancing. It’s great because we’re having fun together and everyone is getting a little exercise.
4. Keep a resistance band next to the TV – If I haven’t had time to work out, but I’m sitting down to watch a favorite show I’ll grab my resistance band and squeeze in a few exercises or jumping jacks during the commercials.
5. Kiss your spouse – When the day has just been too busy and I haven’t stuck to my healthy habits I can fall back on this. Kissing burns 2 calories a minute and reduces stress. Make this your fall back plan. It’s good for you and your relationship!
When I’m busy it’s easy to let my healthy habits fall by the wayside. I’m focusing on reminding myself that I don’t have to be perfect. I don’t need to beat myself up when we run through a drive through or skip a day or two of exercise. But focusing on theses small ideas makes it all more manageable – even on the busiest days.
How do you make time for healthy meals and activity on your busy days?
Healthy Jambalaya
Earlier today I sent a tweet that said I was making a “healthy” version of Jambalaya. I had several people ask me to share how I make Jambalaya healthy so I’m doing a quick second post. Wow! Two posts in one day. I don’t think I’ve ever done that.
So you can understand why this is my healthy version I’ll tell you that I used to make Jambalaya using the Zatarain’s box mixed with low fat Kielbasa sausage. I stopped making it for about six months when we first started our “clean eating” effort, but it was a family favorite so recently I went in search of a new way to make it.
Being a mediocre cook and really busy the last few months I didn’t want to follow a complicated recipe with a lot of ingredients. I had two objectives. 1. Replace our pork sausage with a healthier meat. 2. Replace the Zatarain’s mix with fresh ingredients.
So here it is. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s healthier than our old version and very tasty. I’ve actually made this for friends and had them request the recipe (a term I use loosely because there’s so little involved). It doesn’t taste exactly like traditional jambalaya, but it works for us.
Ingredients:
1 package of organic mild Italian chicken sausage (we get ours at Publix)
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
1 small onion
1 cup Quinoa (we like Bob’s Red Mill)
2-3 tablespoons of expeller pressed coconut oil
Directions:
On medium heat, melt 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil and drop in the chicken sausage. While that’s cooking, wash and slice green and red peppers and small onion. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add 1 cup of Quinoa (we use Bob’s Red Mill). Bring it back to boil, reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer for 12 minutes. Remove Quinoa from heat, fluff with fork and let it sit for a few minutes. Add the veggies to your chicken and sausage and cook for just a few minutes – until desired tenderness. Serve chicken sausage and veggies over quinoa with a little juice from the pan. The flavor of the chicken sausage mixes really well with the veggies and quinoa so you shouldn’t need any other seasonings. But my husband usually adds a little sea salt and pepper to his.
That’s it. Fast and easy and it tastes good! If you make it let me know what you think. If you try a variation please share your recipe. Do you have a traditional favorite like jambalaya you’ve made into a healthier recipe?
Count Your Blessings
I’ve had one of those weeks where it feels like everything that could go wrong has. I hesitate to type that because I know it’s not really true. Of course, things could be worse. But the point is I’ve had a rough week. I’ve been fighting a miserable head cold that has me way behind on work because I can’t put a coherent thought together. School was closed on Tuesday and then both boys ended up catching my cold. The house is a disaster and I haven’t had the energy to clean it. I’ve had two important meetings cancelled due to the weather. There were several other things that went wrong throughout the week. Nothing major…just one little thing after another and it’s all been piling up. Then today, something I was really counting on fell through just as my email was being hacked.
I tried to hold it together. I thought, I’ll go to the gym and run. That will help me relieve my stress and pump out some positive endorphins. But it’s President’s Day and the gym is closed. Then I thought, I’ll take the day off of work and go do something fun with the boys. Quality time with the boys is always fun and they would appreciate it as much as me. Then I remembered. The roads are icy and it’s still snowing. So, I tried to find a quiet place in the house to breathe and collect myself, but every room I entered was a mess waiting to be cleaned. And that’s when it happened. The tears started falling.
I sat in a chair and decided to just let them fall. I obviously needed it. Then I called my mom and she suggested I count my blessings – nothing like a little perspective to help lift your spirits. So here they are, for everyone to see, but mainly for me – a reminder of all that’s good in my life and the fact that this too shall pass.
• I’m feeling better and the boys and I all handled our upper respiratory infections without steroids or breathing treatments! Yea!
• We have a warm cozy house to snuggle up in while the winter weather continues to roll our way.
• My husband and I both have jobs and we are able to pay our bills and care for our family.
• Our babysitter asked if the boys could be the ring bearers in her wedding this fall. (I’m a dork but I’m so excited about this. I can’t wait to pick out their little suits.) We’re lucky to have a sitter that is like a part of our family since we have no actual family in town.
• I spent my ninth Valentine’s Day with my husband last night. Each one has been better than the last and I love him more every year.
• I won a ticket to Blissdom when it was totally sold out and had the opportunity to meet so many amazing new friends. I’m meeting with one of them tomorrow!
• Over the last 12 months, we’ve gone from being a family known for being sick to being a resource on health and wellness. It’s been an amazing and rewarding journey.
• I have people in my life who listen when I need them and remind me of what’s important.
What are some healthy ways you handle a bad day (or week)? What blessings are you thankful for today?
Review of Sex, Lies & Religion by Randy Elrod
As I prepare to review Sex, Lies & Religion by Randy Elrod, which I received free from cre:ate 2.0 Publishing to read and post a review on my site, I feel it’s important to give you some background on me and where I’m coming from.
(I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.)
I was raised by my father in a Catholic, Italian family and went to Catholic, all girls high-school. (Does that explain a lot?) I don’t remember anyone ever talking to us about sex outside of the standard it’s forbidden before marriage message. At school dances, couples who stood to close were told, “leave room for the holy spirit.” There was no conversation about why, no effort to help us understand our feelings or emotions – it was simply forbidden.
The “sex talk” I received from my dad wasn’t much better. It consisted of a dictionary and instructions to look up and read the definition of every sexually transmitted disease. Is that TMI? Sorry if it is. My point in telling you all of this is simply to say that growing up my two main takeaways on sex were 1. It’s forbidden and 2. It can make you sick. As a married woman, I haven’t held fast to these ideas, but they did shape my opinions and experiences.
When I read Sex, Lies & Religion I suddenly became aware of another side of sex and intimacy that I had honestly never considered.
Reading the words “sex is sacred, a gift from God” made me stop. Really? I had never thought about it like that. It’s not that it’s such a shocking statement; it’s just that I had never even considered it.
As I read on, I found myself rereading paragraphs over and over hoping to store important messages for future access. There were things I needed more time to process. Things I wanted to examine further and even discuss with my husband. Did he think sex was a sacred gift from God? Why hadn’t we talked about that?
If you’ve been reading my blog for any amount of time then you probably know that my personal journey has taught me that to be truly healthy as a whole person we have to give attention to our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual needs. But what about our sexual needs? Where does that fit into the picture? How many of us have experienced issues related to physical health or the health of our relationships because of sex? I know I have. Have you read my hormone post?
Sex, Lies & Religion made me sit back and evaluate how my own views on sex and intimacy were impacting not only my marriage but my relationship with God. There were parts that made me uncomfortable. Thinking about God’s intention for my sex life wasn’t “normal” or easy for me. But it now seems like a worthwhile exercise.
Randy writes, “The way we live out our sexuality expresses who we are, who God is, what love is, how we relate to others, and why we are here. It is the essence of existence.” What does my sexuality say about me? What can I learn about myself, my relationships and my faith by examining this side of me?
Reading Sex, Lies & Religion hasn’t changed my sex life (yet), it hasn’t erased ideas and expectations that have been ingrained in me since adolescence. It has challenged my thinking and given me an opportunity to reevaluate and reshape my beliefs on sex for a healthier, more fulfilling level of intimacy with both God and my husband. More importantly, it has started conversations – conversations with me, conversations with my husband and conversations with God. It’s a book I won’t soon forget and probably one that I will come back to over and over.
“The journey is the destination,” writes Randy. This is just another stop on my journey to improve my health and happiness by addressing all the pieces that make up me – mental, physical, emotional, spiritual AND sexual.
Read it and see what conversations come up for you.
