The 10th ining!

I want to thank the loving and understanding men of the world here. I woke this morning with my period. There's no polite way to say that and since I don't believe it's a bad word I'm going to hope I don't alienate any one and just keep typing away.

Results of my cleanse so far. I was curious if this cleanse would change the horrific experience that is my period. I have a whole host of symptoms, and truth be told this is why years ago I gave up white flour and using white sugar. I didn't think about white sugar being in most of my foods until this year. I usually have a 3 day window before where I can feel my body getting sluggish, my mind gets fuzzy, and while I know I'm over reacting to things it doesn't change the fact that I have to take moments to myself through out the day to cry or yell or what have you. I fully admit to the people around me that I'm in PMS mode and I will be talking and interacting with everyone much less for the coming week. Day 1 I typically hide in bed or if it's particularly bad in the tub. Before I eliminated the white flour and white sugar I would spend most of the first day puking. Imagine your worst food poisoning. Yea, now know it's coming every month. Live with that for years. You too would want to find a better way and be willing to toss out any offender.

This month I didn't even realize it was coming until the night before. I was really really cold and so I took a nice hot bath with apricot oil. I light some candles and just relaxed. I spoke lovingly to myself and took time to value how kick ass this body, mind, soul and heart is. I thanked myself for my hard work, and ability to love despite being hurt and shattered. We've all been there and the most successful couples I know (my parents being one such couple) went thru hell and back, before they met and after. I took time, we don't do that any more and we all should regardless of need, because we need to heal and remember how awesome we all are.

Today I'm taking it easy, I came home from Tai Chi and napped for 2 hours. Nugget, my cat, snuggled up with me and we let the sun shine in and both took a nice well deserved cat nap. I am drained and exhausted but not in any pain. This is a first, in over 10 years (I can't honestly say I remember how old I was) I've not had a pain free period. This is a big wake up call for me. I thought I was kicking but, and I was but wow, these 30 days may just turn into forever.

My Tai Chi instructor (or Sifu in Chinese) saw me this morning and after guiding me thru some breathing exercises took us for tea. He reminded me that once upon a time women would go outside the village and for 3 or 4 days to the 'red tent'. God how I miss those day! I read plenty about this subject years ago when I first started trying to heal myself naturally. I think he thought I would be insulted by that but frankly you know those tents were full of laughter and relaxation. 3 days a month no man could bother the women, relax exchange massage, play games and just be. The good old days. We spoke of how women are pitted against each other in this culture. We don't have the support we used to have, and taking a day off is weak. In reality when you're body is going thru a change you need to take time off, to let your body work, respect it and let it.

While I understand that, I'll still be slinging Brazilian food at the Woodspoon tonight. However for today I'm having a fully loaded extra cacao filled smoothie, a warm bowl of sweet potato soup, and a giant pot of ginger tea. I'm going to use honey for the first time in my cleanse with my tea. I'm snacking on organic strawberries, and before work I'm having the other piece of salmon with my home made tomatillo sauce and brown rice. I'll take pictures after lunch!

Thanks for listening guy, and to the women out there, EMBRACE the beauty that is you! We come in all makes and models and yours is perfect. If you need to heal and can, and if you want help I am always here to support you!



 ahhh perfectly cooked. I like it just seared on the outside.

about to be devoured.
salad and salsa verde
salmon and brown rice. Yum!