Sadje is the host for the latest WQ (Wednesday Quotes) challenge and she’s chosen Kindness as the theme.
I have long advocated for more kindness in this world. I get that we are all human beings but why must we be so horrible to each other? Why must there be wars? And violence?
If you ask me if I consider myself a kind person, I would tell you, “mostly,” because as I wrote, I’m human, there ought to be bias somewhere in my thoughts and speech, I’m not perfect, but I would say I try everyday to be kind, not only to myself but to others.
I was into all sort of diets 5 years ago – mostly intermittent fasting. It nearly destroyed me. There were days when I tried to hold out for 18-20 hours without eating. The other things I would have were water, black coffee, and salt with water.
Not only did the diets not work, it warped my mind, made me swing between being manic and depression. I also ended up gaining the weight back and more when I started craving sugar and sweets non-stop.
In early 2020, I began seeing a dietitian who introduced me to the concept of intuitive eating and within intuitive eating, there’s a thing called “gentle nutrition.” It was then I stopped do any kind of weight-loss dieting and started being kind to the body – giving it the nutrients it needs and more. It was one of the reasons I started my garden and kept expanding it year after year.
My mom and aunt often berate me that all of the vegetables I’m growing can be bought cheap at the grocery store but do they know what kind of pesticide was put on it? My aunt would answer back and suggest buying organic even though I’ve explained that organic doesn’t mean it’s truly organic. There are minimum requirements a food must be met in order to be classified as organic.
After eating from the garden and mostly a whole, unprocessed foods diet for the last 2 years, I’ve been feeling a lot better than before and I’ll admit that despite my hormones and other parts of my body are out of whack, I’m feeling a lot better than when I was doing intermittent fasting all those years ago. Life is too short to be unkind to one’s body.
This is Another Story 
Indeed. I’m glad you are kind to yourself!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I second that! Congratulations, Yinglan, on doing what you needed to do for yourself. I’m very envious on your garden because as you know, I have to many animal invaders in my yard. Recently I realized that the deer are eating the one lone shrub in my front yard. 😞
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. I would recommend getting some heavy duty fencing for your yard.
LikeLike
Thanks. Problem is, none of the fencing around my backyard is mine. Anyway, I’ve watched deer jump over it on several occasions. I would need some type of enclosure that covers where I would locate the garden area.
LikeLike
What about chicken wire? I don’t think you need any hard-core fencing. Sometimes, just something simple will work. Also, I know there are plants that deers won’t touch.
LikeLike
Maybe. Although I have groundhogs, too and they pose just as big a problem as the deer do.
I need to relocate. 😆
LikeLike
Haha, you sure do.
LikeLike
You’re doing the wise thing Yinglan by respecting your body and being kind to yourself. Organic- that’s completely homegrown is 100 times better than store bought.
Thank you for highlighting this important point about being kind to oneself first of all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, and with homegrown, I know what I put in the soil.
LikeLike
I’m happy for your success Yinglan. Keep gardening and being kind to your body.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post! I began practicing intuitive eating 2019 as part of my recovery from an eating disorder. It has been so freeing, hard work especially in the beginning but now food doesn’t boss me around. Keep up the good work! 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLike