I really wanted to share my perspective on how we all must realize that 'healthy' includes so much more than 'what we eat'.  It extends to who you are spending your time with and how you are spending your time.   In order to have healthy relationships, you need to be healthy first.  Yes, I know, seems obvious but we are always pointing fingers when things go awry, when we need to first, look inward.  If you are unhappy with your health - mind, body spirit - this blog post is for you.  This website is for you!

it's time to look inward & possibly detoxify your life along w/ your diet.   I am doing both & it's freeing.  I genuinely feel different -I am surrounding myself with wonderful supportive people.  I am feeling - as of late - like the paperweight is off my back.  I also feel better about how I am spending my time.  The healthier I become, the healthier my environment becomes.  I am spending my time doing service projects for my church, having friends over for tea, dinner, laughs - going for walks with Marley to the dog park.   I am choosing not to gossip, not to surround myself with people whose source of entertainment seems to only be alcohol (stressing the 'only' b/c I have plenty of friends who meet over cocktails..big difference), not to be part of people's lives who are manipulative or simply up to 'no good' (0:  I exhibited some of these behaviors along the way- gossiping, etc.   So unhealthy and uncool.   It wasn't who I wanted to be.  You can change who you are.  You learn those type of relationships were pretty shallow.   You learn.  You walk away.  You start anew.   You are a Healthier You.       

I used to be involved in unhealthy relationships.  Why?  B/c I was a people pleaser, a bit insecure and looked to everything outside of the Lord for stability.   I was unhealthy.   It was me, my fault, my responsibility to change.  I didn't put God first.  I didn't value myself to the extent that I should have.  So because I was unhealthy, I attracted unhealthy people into my life.  I settled for a lessor version of me than God intended me to be.  I also settled for others that felt the same way.   Those days are over.

The more deeply rooted I am in my faith, the clearer my perspective about myself and how I want to spend my life, becomes.   What else is becoming more clear is 'who' I want to be part of my inner circle - yes, we get to choose.  We get to choose who it is that we will trust, love and share our hearts & lives with.   I am choosing wisely.  I hope you are too.  What will become evident to you is how warming it is to your heart, to be surrounded by goodness & wellness.  You will look back and be baffled at your old self, old behaviors, possibly old relationships.  

 I believe the saying 'Iron sharpens Iron'.   It's in the Bible and just sticks with me.  Who you surround yourself with matters.   If you surround yourself with people who belittle you, drink excessively, manipulate, etc., what does that say about you, your boundaries, your own self worth?  It says you need to re-evaluate your standards, create new boundaries and let some of these people out of your life.   No, it's not easy but yes, it is necessary.  If YOU are the one exhibiting these behaviors, than you need to change.   Seek therapy, a counselor, a pastor or deacon at your church.  Forgive yourself & learn to be a healthier you.

I also put entirely too much emphasis on what people thought of me.  Come on, we have all done this to some extent.  What a complete waste of time.  I realized that 'YOU' get to decide whose observations of you get to matter & whose do not.   This was a gigantic wake-up call to me.  I decide.   I ultimately learned that it only matters what God thinks of me & those who I hold dear in my life.  The others?  It truly doesn't matter...at all.   You decide whether to attach meaning to what others think.   Letting go of what others think of me was a critical step to me moving forward to focus on my own wellness.

You know, for those of you that do have chronic illnesses, please do not doubt that God is using this time of suffering, to teach you so much about yourself and others.   You are learning who you are, who you want to be, how to treat your body with kindness, who to surround yourself and finally, how to look to God for the answers - not others.  This is what I have learned.  All of these lessons did not come until January 2010, when I was diagnosed with a rare health condition.   I am grateful for the lessons.   I am grateful for forgiveness.  I am grateful for those that I have chosen to be in my life.   For those that I am choosing not to have in my life?  I am grateful to them as well b/c I have learned so much from them about who I do not want to be.  The irony in all of this?  I am more healthy now than I have ever been in my entire life.  The irony of what I just wrote is not lost on me.

Iron sharpens Iron.....God Bless!

Girl Gone Vegan,

Kelly Lynn