Inbarbsworld

Golden

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He said my journey to wellness wouldn’t be a straight line. That there would be ups and downs…good days and not so good. Patience…dear Lord this takes patience, but mainly with myself as I learn to eat kale and actually enjoy the taste sauteed in olive oil with some minced garlic near the end. I didn’t think I’d ever buy kale, much less eat it.

This journey is taking me into natural markets that I’ve heard of but couldn’t imagine shopping in as I stock up on fruits and veggies twice a week. I watched a YouTube video this morning on starting a compost pile, because it feels wasteful placing a banana peel in the trash each morning. The gardener in me is curious to see what I could grow to eat, so I planted a spring mix of salad greens and they’re starting to sprout.

I’m in week 5 of doing what Dr. Jason suggested and the printouts they gave me during my first visit said most people start to feel a difference between 4 to 6 weeks and I can. I’m not tired anymore, but around week 3, all my body wanted to do was rest.

Healing takes patience, but when we obey our bodies, the rewards are astounding and this is only week 5. What’s week 55 going to be like? His parting words from our previous visit were, “Don’t hurt yourself, Barbara”. Just because I feel strong and energetic enough to move a mountain doesn’t mean I should.

He gave me a stern look and said, “This is what people your age do once they start feeling better they injure themselves.” Been there, done that and don’t need to relive it.

Aging doesn’t mean we stop, but we do slow down and become more mindful of how we want to spend what time we have left. It’s when we slow down to the point of not enjoying this God-given life that we begin to feel old. Our bodies need movement to remain agile, so I started walking again now that the weather has cooled. Yesterday, I saw a man jogging and he yelled, “It’s cold!” I just laughed and thought, “You need to talk to my friends, Dwight and Anne before you claim this as cold.”

Fall and winter is my favorite time of year in Texas and I’m grateful to be reclaiming the body and mind to enjoy it. My daughter left a postcard here that says, “You are solid gold, baby”, and by aging well…waking up to a new day feels pretty much golden.

New socks for walking. 😂



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16 responses to “Golden”

  1. annemariedemyen Avatar
    annemariedemyen

    I love that you are making your health a priority, Barb. I don’t know where you will be in 55 weeks, but I know you will look back to where you were 5 weeks ago and you will be grateful that you started a serious focus on your health and well being. Feeling so much better physically, mentally, and emotionally, you will realize how difficult it was for you to start – but you did it! I am grateful for my ‘old’ self ALL the time. Even when I have a set back, I know I can handle it easily because I took that first difficult step four years ago. Way to go, Barb! Minus 9 C (below freezing) this morning. There’s no wind and there is bright sunshine. Dan and I were both saying how beautiful it was when we walked Molly. 😂

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Barb Avatar
      Barb

      It’s funny Anne, but in my mind I’ve been health conscious for most of my adult life. Watching what I eat and taking vitamins and minerals the body needs, but after going to a professional, I realize how little I knew! It’s as simple as seeing how your body responds after putting something in it. I didn’t know my body disliked dairy until I felt good without it and then ate it. Ooof.

      Yes, ma’am, I’ve been leading up to this all year and it really feels like acknowledging all my previous selves and am grateful for them guiding me to this point. The hope is that my future self has a path filled with light and energy. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement and yeah…that jogger is clueless to what cold really is! It’s in the 80℉ range here! Moody Texas. 💚

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      1. annemariedemyen Avatar
        annemariedemyen

        I’m glad you could find a professional who can help guide you to the next level. People really should come with a maintenance manual when they are born. Then we wouldn’t fumble around for decades figuring it out. 🙄

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Barb Avatar
        Barb

        Thank you Anne. This is Phase One and there are 4 phases! I’m hoping when I see him in a couple of weeks he’ll move me to the next phase, but we’ll see. It’s a journey and a year long commitment, which you know all about. A maintenance manual indeed….maybe you should write one. You have so much knowledge to share! 🧡

        Liked by 1 person

      3. annemariedemyen Avatar
        annemariedemyen

        I think every person’s manual would have to be unique. But I have considered a general manual. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Barb Avatar
        Barb

        Well, lovely that surrounds almost everything in life. We find our own path, but some guardrails would be sweet! 😍

        Liked by 1 person

      5. annemariedemyen Avatar
        annemariedemyen

        That is true, Barb! Have a great rest of your day! 💞🌞

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Barb Avatar
        Barb

        Thank you Anne, and you too! 💖

        Liked by 1 person

  2. agingwithgrace104771094 Avatar
    agingwithgrace104771094

    You are a Superstar! ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Barb Avatar
      Barb

      It takes one to know one, your majesty. 💖

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  3. PatNewMex Avatar
    PatNewMex

    Ah the Golden Years! I am loving reading about your adventures with nutrition and loving your body and paying attention to it. I often do what I call body testing with food in my hand before I even cook it. It’s not for everyone, but it has worked for me. I’m also one of those nut cases that loves kale. Just not the curly type. lately I’ve done winter squash with ground lamb/bison or venison with sautéed chopped onion and a bunch of kale all chopped and sautéed. So good as quick comfort food and healthy.

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    1. Barb Avatar
      Barb

      Hi Patty and I truly appreciate your love and support during all my journey’s, but especially this one. I need it! I just came back from a walk and saw a neighbor who I haven’t seen since June and as I was stepping away, he yelled…”Hey! You look good!” That made me smile knowing he could tell a difference in the way I look, but also my energy as we chatted standing side by side.

      I didn’t know about body testing food by hand, but it makes sense. That’s basically what Dr. Jason did on my first visit. He tested how my body reacted to tiny vials laying on my tummy filled with herbs and dehydrated food. Your winter squash recipe sounds divine! I’ll have to add that to my shopping list and it’s odd, but I find kale very comforting. Much love to you. 🙏🏻

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      1. PatNewMex Avatar
        PatNewMex

        Barb, such great news about the compliment! Mark Twain said, “A man could live a month on a compliment!” (Paraphrasing). When I learned about body testing a friend would take items out of her fridge, put them in one of my hand. I would not look so I would not ‘skew’ the test. My other arm was stretched out. She would push on my arm. If my arm went down, that was a NO GOOD food for me. If my arm stayed where it was, it was okay. You can do a similar test while out food shopping! Look up body testing for food using hands/fingers. I use a finger test. My friend also told me to do it more than once with the same food. In other words, one day lemons are okay, next week, maybe not? Something like that. In any case, I can see you fairly GLOWING with health from here! Gold star.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Barb Avatar
        Barb

        Hahaha…I was flattered because he’s not the type to give a compliment. Wow Patty! That’s what Dr. Jason did! He used the reflexes of my arm to gage what my body wanted that was in those vials laying on my tummy! He called it a Bioenergetic Assessment, but body test works too! I hadn’t thought about doing it at the grocery store before buying something that might not be for me, so thank you so much for sharing this! 🙏

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  4. Dwight Hyde Avatar
    Dwight Hyde

    Right on, so much gold in “when we obey our bodies, the rewards are astounding”! Slowing down and tuning in to what we’re eating (and how it hits us, body and mind) is pretty amazing stuff. Anne’s been demonstrating that! Up here I’m ready for any kind of weather with a closet full of layers, and your socks made me smile — I get the same little thrill pulling on my SmartWool ones! Keep tending to your beautiful garden of you, Barb. ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Barb Avatar
      Barb

      Yeah, Dwight…I finally crossed that fine line between ‘listening’ and obeying! It’s interesting because yesterday my brain fog returned, so last night I didn’t eat any dairy and this morning I feel sharp as a tack!

      I LOVE layers and just returned from a walk wearing three layers, but by the time I got home I was ready to start peeling them off. My daughter and I started giving each other those funny socks years ago and every time I slip a pair on I think of her and how much fun we had living together. Thank you and I’ll keep you posted sweet soul. 🧡

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Grab a warm cuppa and cozy up to inbarbsworld. I’m Barb, the writer behind this blog and I share through a clear, simple lens. I’ve lived a life filled with everything that money could buy, but in 2014 I left that life to feel myself living. Now, I know what abundance truly is and it can’t be bought.

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