Hello Internet

I usually consider myself a very private person and am now beginning to question why I am so private. I do have a couple social media accounts, but I rarely use them. I am relatively new to the world of posting my life and/or thoughts on the internet. It is such a strange, almost foreign concept for me to preserve my world through photos and text online so that anyone passing by can see or read about me or my family. Honestly, it kind of scares me. Why? I'm not sure.

I think it may stem from when the internet was first introduced to me, back in the late 90's when I was a teenager. I vaguely remember being warned about the predators that were online and the instillation of fear of being preyed on was the result. Is this what has kept me from being a part of the social media world and so timid with the internet? Is that what holds me back from blogging? No. It can't be. Maybe it has been, but it no longer will. I've determined that if I am ever going to climb out of my protective shell to take a chance with my writing, now is the time and the internet via blogging is my vehicle. Besides, do predators really care all that much to prey on me? Doubtful.

Even though I have my fears of the internet, at the same time it intrigues me. It is awesome to be able to preserve my photos and text online. I know I'm contradicting what I wrote two paragraphs ago, but it is both awesome and foreign to me. Although I like the idea being able to come to one place and find memories and stories that I have written and seen through photographs.

The question remains, what will I blog about? Well, I'm not sure exactly. I'm hoping over time this blog will evolve and transform into the beautiful butterfly I know it can be. I figure if I stay true to myself and consistently blog what I know and love the rest should fall into place quite naturally. I do understand that I can blog without giving up my private life, but at the same time, I find my best writing to be my most personal. I will obviously keep some things private just for the sake of privacy, but I will also do my best to openly and honestly share the most interesting tidbits of my life.

I know for sure I will be blogging about motherhood, because I am a mommy first and foremost. Plus being a mommy is the hardest, most rewarding, best job I have ever had. How can I not blog about that part of me, when it is so much of me? And I can't possibly blog about my children without blogging about my husband and parents who are my emotional and physical support system along with some extended family.

Another important topic that will most likely have regular appearances on this blog will be my epic battle with writing. I have been trying for a little over seven years now to write a book. I will admit I have not been writing for seven years consistently. I do keep getting distracted with life, like when I took a few years off of writing to get married and have babies. But now that those babies are in preschool and kindergarten and my husband is encouraging, sort of pushing me to write, I have no more excuses not to write.

This blog may also end up being a platform for some of my more creative projects. I love being creative and thanks to my dad, mom and stepdad, I have some fantastic tools to create with, like my MacBook Pro, Janome Sewing Machine and my Cricut. Halloween is just around the corner and I love making costumes, so I'll for sure be posting those, along with the progress to get to the final product.

Over the last year, I've been feeling like I've been on somewhat of a life changing journey. Call me crazy, a yogi, a hippy, or maybe even a fanatic, but I swear that I have been receiving signs that are guiding me on this journey of transformation. Unfortunately, it may have taken both the deaths of my best four legged friend and the only grandma I ever knew and loved, to awaken me to receive those signs. Whatever it is, that has been happening to me, possibly a spiritual awakening, it feels like I should write about it and share those experiences.

Lastly, I imagine there will be some stories written on this blog about finding my way to better health. I have recently discovered that I have an autoimmune disease called Graves' Disease. It causes hyperthyroidism, which means my thyroid is working in overdrive, signaling the rest of my body into fits, causing it to work harder and faster than it needs to. I would like to, if at all possible, gain control over the disease and send it into remission with all natural remedies through yoga, meditation, walking and nutrition.

I have been practicing yoga for nearly 15 years off and on. My plan is to practice daily and now begin to add a daily mediation. I've never been much for meditating, though I learned yoga is meditation in motion. Everything I've been reading lately is telling me that mediation is a must for optimal health. I'm almost afraid to meditate for fear that I won't do it right, but I know that if I want to get better I need to get over my perfectionist fears. I believe that yoga accompanied by mediation and walking daily will help my body gain the strength it needs, to calm itself and stop attacking itself.

Over the last three years I've been playing with the idea of eating paleo, meaning I do a Whole30 and continue to eat paleo for a little while. Then fall off the bandwagon shortly after my 30 days are over only to gorge myself on processed foods and refined sugars that I have deprived myself of, which then sends me into horrible depressive episodes compounded with persistent illness. You'd think I would learn after my third Whole30, but I digress.

Three weeks ago I began the Autoimmune Protocol Diet (way more restrictive than the Whole30) in hopes of gaining my health back and sending my Graves' Disease into remission. So far it's been fairly easy to stay compliant, but this time the stakes are so much higher. I will do anything to avoid surgery, radiation and/or medication for life. It's looking more and more like eating paleo is not going to be something to play around with anymore. Maybe it's time to finally accept it and make a lifestyle change, committing myself to being paleo full time.

I am really excited to get started on this blog, and look forward to entertaining readers with what I write. Thank you for stopping by. Hopefully you will enjoy the words between my ears.