Inspired Living

I've had an epiphany.

I've decided to live an Inspired Life. A beautiful, wise friend of mine talks about doing what you are inspired to do. I dedicate this post to her. ♥

Many things have fallen into place this year. The kids are at a new school which suits them much better and caters for and supports them as individual, whole people. The hubby has dealt with some family situations and is in a much less stressful situation. The friends I have around me love, respect and support me as I do them. All of a sudden I don't have much to fill my time. Seriously. I've never had so much free time. This has given me an opportunity to sit back, weigh my options and make some choices.

At the moment I donate baked goods twice a term for the school to sell at tuckshop. I participate in excursions and class activities. I attend ALL school events in which the kids are involved. I'm happy with that.

I have a whole lot of scrapbooking/stamping/crafts supplies which aren't inspiring me much at the moment. I'm thinking of selling some of it but not all of it. I have some arty ideas forming in my head that will need to be given life sometime soon.

The thought of going back to work full-time to the Accounting/Management work that I used to do fills me with dread and is as appealing as poking my finger in a black hole.

I've discovered a whole new delight in baking and cooking. Sure, I've baked and cooked before but I really enjoy it now. Really!

We eat takeaway food once a fortnight now instead of 3 or 4 times a week.

I cook as much food as possible from the simplest and freshest ingredients possible.

I've developed a whole new understanding of where our food is sourced from and what many manufacturers try to push upon us that is disguised as food in order to make a few bucks.

While society was busy working two jobs, accumulating stuff, over-achieving and over-scheduling their families, others were planning how they could work that situation to their advantage. They decided to sell us a whole lot of cheap stuff that they can tweak so that it look likes food. Then they sell it to us at prices waaaaay higher than what it would cost us to make it ourselves. They justify all this by by claiming it will enhance our life by saving us time or making us feel like we are treating ourselves and having a good time when we consume it. And we buy it. And we pay for it.

Most of the time it is not real food. Check the label.

Let me tell you what I've discovered. After I have eaten real food cooked without additives after a while a few things happen.

• Prepared, packaged food tastes god awful.
• I can smell the chemical additives in the "food" and "drink".
• I feel physically ill after eating it.
• Real food tastes amazing. Simply amazing.
• Sourcing and preparing my own food gives me a whole new appreciation of food.
• I feel good. I feel lighter, I have more energy, I sleep better.
• I have developed an appreciation for the farmers who provide the food that I eat.
• I have saved a whole lot of money.
• It doesn't take any longer to prepare a meal from scratch than it does to prepare a meal with "prepared foods".

 As always, I don't ask you to blindly believe me... try it yourself.  Just for a few months cook your own food with real food ingredients. It's not hard. There are plenty of recipes out there. Do some menu plans if it helps. Whatever works for you. Then see how you feel. See how much money you've saved by not buying takeaway or processed food. You may even be able to quit your second job. ;)

So for now I'm inspired to:

• Create - by making stuff whether that be with food, art supplies or cloth.
• Source the freshest, most reasonably priced quality food for myself and my family.
• Continue to nurture the wonderful friendships and relationships I have in my life.
• Continue to recognise and let go of what doesn't inspire me.
• Appreciate the real, uncomplicated, authentic things in life.

Live with Joy. Live with Love. Inspired Living. I'm lovin' it! ♥