Dear Reader,
This blog is to be about BECOMING raw, GROWING to be raw.
There are more and more people who turn to raw living food regiment for health, enhanced spirituality, connectedness and other reasons. The dramatically improved health and consciousness they enjoy only inspires me to choose this path too.
However, I realized I am not a "100% overnight" person.
I started my raw journey in September 2007. I was raw for 4 weeks then -- that was a
part of the detox program I was on. I could not see myself being raw beyond that, and I was not. But in January of 2008 I made another attempt, and have been consistently raw for the most part ever since.
I have days when I have cooked food (and it's not even vegan -- there! I spilled it). I've had five of these so far.
It was somewhat easier for me to maintain a 100% raw diet in the beginning despite the fact that it had been especially bitterly cold in Chicago this winter.
I may now be transitioning into the next stage (where you would think I should have fewer cravings and struggles; yet "should's" are so rarely true, and this one is not. Well, not for me.), where I may be to face and work through (i.e., release) my old habits, stories, fears, pain and dysfunctional beliefs which are still imparing my life. I feel I am in for some serious healing.
I have struggled with an eating disorder ever since ... well, I can't even tell you precisely when it started. I think, ever since my early childhood, many factors have been leading to the development of a full-blown eating disorder in my adolescence: I was born with severe food and asthmatic allergies (I could not eat even red apples -- that was too strong for me; I was left with white rice, boiled meats, and green apples; even the smell of fried fish would made me itchy; running, jumping, laughing would make me gasping for air, as my lungs were packed and obstructed with phlegm), most of which I thankfully overcame in my teens, yet the childhood was marked by that health (or lack thereof) condition. Also, I grew up in the midst of strife and conflict as my family could not live in peace with each other. There was a lot of pain, hate, fear, and anger in my home when I was growing up. I could go on and on about this (as you can imagine, I had spent quiet a lot of time analyzing my past history), but I will stop now.
All I want to say is an eating disorder (I had bulimarexia -- I do believe anorexia and bulimia are one disorder which may interchangeably take on different disguises) starts long before it manifests itself (be it binging, or self-starving, or binging-and-purging, or compulsive eating habits, or emotional cravings); also, any eating disorder is an integral part of a person's psychological, mental, and spiritual make-up. And to heal an eating disorder means to heal one's heart, mind, and soul.
I do believe that transferring to raw living foods assists in detoxifying, cleansing, and revitalizing both body and mind; that's why I stepped onto this path. It may be an easy ride for some (or it may seem that way), but there are, of course, bumps along the way (as I have already learnt).
I want to share my experiences, positive and challenging, with those seeking to improve their health, or relationships with food, or emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being, and life overall.
I hope for this blog to be insightful and a source of support and encouragement for you.
Love to all,
Marina.
