Less binge watching, more productivity....

There are a lot of things that I could be doing throughout the day, yet never make time for.  Instead, I wind up on the computer, either binge watching shows or putzing around on facebook and twitter....usually both.  That has to change.

1. I need to get healthier.  The best way I know to do that is to eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, and exercise.  So, I'm going to start doing yoga every morning.  I have the 108 day yoga DVDs which are about an hour long.  I'm also going to try letting go of unhealthy sugars (fruit OK, HFCS not OK)

2. After Yoga, take a shower, and then practice the violin.  I usually practice anywhere from 1 hr to 4 hrs.  I want to play professionally, so practicing more is definitely a good thing (so long as I don't overdo it).

3. Get back into art.  I haven't drawn or painted anything in years.  I'm dying to get back into it.  I figure set aside a few hours each day, after playing the violin.

4. Write more often.  Right now, I'm only writing about 2 days a week.  I used to write constantly.  I would like to put aside a few hours minimum to work on my next novel. 

In-between all of that, I plan to take breaks and hang with my kids or cook or clean or watch something on TV.  Whatever.  I might find it easier to work on art and writing on alternate days.  Perhaps let my passions dictate what I do.  Also, sewing when possible.  I need to find time for that, too.

It's hard being a creative type.  Most people don't do much that's creative and not on a regular basis, or so I've been told.  Me?  I'm always dreaming and wanting to create something, from music to art to clothes to stories.  I love doing all of it.

A new life

I used to use this blog for my writing, but after a while I stopped so I could put more of my attention onto my novels.  Now, however, I have decided to use it once more, but for a very different reason.

A lot has happened in my life over the past three years.  I've published three novels, been diagnosed with (and conquered) fibromyalgia, and moved to an entirely new part of the country.  I've finished my fourth book (which will be out in August 2017) and have started my fifth.  I've even taken great strides in controlling my fibromyalgia pain completely through my diet and overcoming my agoraphobia.

Over the past twenty years I have slowly developed many sensitivities to food.  So, it was no surprise when I learned last year that food was the cause of my fibromyalgia.  Eliminating certain foods (Leaky Gut Diet) eliminated my pain completely.  No more need for pain medication!

For the past three months I've been considering becoming a raw vegan once more.  When I was pregnant with my daughter (who was born in 2005), I found that all I could eat was raw foods.  Anything else came right back up.  Being on a raw vegan diet was great!  You wouldn't think so, but it was.  The only time I had any negative pregnancy symptoms was when I had too much sea salt one day and wound up with swollen ankles.  That was it.  Plus, I had a lot of energy, which was good because I had a toddler to keep up with.  Eventually I went back to what is known as SAD (Standard American Diet).

Now, being a raw vegan is a really huge step.  But, the healthier my diet becomes, the more I wonder if all of these food sensitivities that I've developed over the past twenty years have been pushing me towards raw foods.  It makes sense in a way.  Every time that I have gone raw I felt better.  I never understood why I stopped.  So, I've decided try to go raw again.

I'm going to start doing yoga again too.  Yoga gives me a sense of calm and makes my entire body feel great!  I haven't done much exercise in a while, so I'm starting off with gentle yoga before I work my way up to where I used to be.  I know myself, if I try to do too much before I'm ready then I'll burnout and quit.  I really don't want to quit.

So, I'm changing this blog from one about my writing to one about this journey I'm about to undertake.  I plan on sharing recipes I find and tips as well as my experiences (both good and bad).  My hope is that perhaps it might inspire others to do something healthier for themselves.  Perhaps not to the extreme I'm heading towards, but healthier just the same.

One note...I'm not sure if I'm going to completely cut meat out of my diet.  I have learned to follow my body'.  If my body indicates that I eat meat, then I'm going to have some (cooked of course).  It is far better to follow the body's lead when it comes to certain types of cravings, especially when eating raw.