The Truth Will Set You Pesticide Free... & Buying Organic

I'm weird. Have I told you this before? It's been a process, but the further I get into this health stuff, the more strange I become. Ok, if you've known me for a while maybe you've always thought I was a bit off. Whatever. I'm just telling you it has progressed further.

I am that person that buys mostly organic, lip-bitingly analyzes food and cosmetics labels for toxins and worst of all, offers health advice when you haven't asked for it. Pour Splenda around me and expect to get a lecture. I can't help it. I try to bite my tongue but, it has become a reflex. If I do this, you know that it is because you are loved by me. I just want to make sure you know, then you can decide for yourself.

This is what happens when you work in the world of alternative health care. Four years ago, when I would hear people say "Don't eat that - it causes cancer.", I was always the cynic that would say under my breath "Yeah, yeah, everything causes cancer." But now I see it. Every day, in fact. Because it's part of my job, I see the news, the studies, the science and I can't ignore it anymore. The Me of four years ago would have thought the Me of today is REALLY strange.

At first, I became paranoid. I felt like I couldn't win. Too much to change requiring WAY too much effort. Where do I start? Should I begin growing my own food? Hmm...on second thought, with my reverse green thumb I would probably starve. Amish. I can become Amish! I can't cook, sew, garden, and look really bad in a kerchief so that's out. So I gave up for a while. Can I please go back to a simpler time before I knew about all this stuff? But over time I began to slowly make a few changes.

The result is mostly organic, little packaged food, natural cleaning products, natural cosmetics, shampoo, soap, etc. What I discovered is that it's all about having the knowledge to make informed decisions. Am I always going to choose the right one? Heck no. Recovering sugar addicts don't change over night. It gives me the power to say, yeah I know that this Twinkie is loaded with sugar, high fructose corn syrup but I'm going to enjoy it! Ok, so I don't like Twinkies - that's why I used the example, but you get the point.

I recently saw "Me" if I continue in this same direction over the next few years. She was in the shopping line ahead of me. You know you can tell a lot about folks by what they buy at the grocery store. I surveyed the goods. It was all organic : the cleaning products, foods, deodorant (I haven't gone there yet) etc. She had "weird" items like apple cider vinegar and Amy's organic products. Oh a kindred spirit! Then I looked at her and my enthusiasm waned. She was wearing what looked like all natural clothing, shoes made out of grass and her hair was in dreads. Whoa.

And that's my line. I'm not going there. Actually, I'll probably be a few lines up from that. I'm just letting you know. Unfortunately, my vanity keeps me in check on that one.

What I have learned is it's true that ignorance is bliss, but knowledge is power. My mindset has changed a little at a time. An organic apple here and vitamin there and before you know it here I am: a full-fledged weirdo. One of those people. I just thought it was about time let you know.