The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost

I had some time to think yesterday, a lot of time as I was traveling alone most of the day. I was thinking about this blog, my first blog, Gluten Free Heaven, and how great I feel. I have tons of energy in the mornings and go all day long until 10:00 pm. Every once in awhile I over do it and I am surprised when I feel tired and sleepy in the afternoon (but I do listen and slow down). This is a very sharp contrast to 5 years ago, when I couldn't make it through the day without a 2 hour nap. I had so many unexplained health issues; dry skin, intense sugar cravings, water retention, a swollen abdomen, depression, hair loss, arthritis, low energy, abdominal pain and the list goes on. How thankful I am for this journey and where it has taken me. This experience has become sacred to me. My body has become hallowed ground. I never hesitated that this or any diet would be too hard, I jumped in hoping for relief. It has been a huge change for my family, 2 of my 4 children are now eating gluten free, we rarely go out to eat, it is not easy, but very worth it.

How do you express thanks for such a life changing experience? How do you share with other people your excitement without becoming totally annoying? I want to stand on my rooftop with a megaphone and tell the world how wonderful things are, funny thing is they wouldn't understand. It really has been an experience meant for me, there are not words to express my joy. I cringe when I see the people in my life load up on morning coffee (3 cups) just to get moving and fill their day with caffeine and/or sugar just to get through. They push their bodies, refusing to listen. Then they take medicine to mask the damage and keep on going, how bad will the pain have to be before they will they finally listen? The way they see it these toxins are their friends, they can't make it through the day without them.

One thing I have learned the hard way is that if they won't listen to their own body screaming at them all day they won't listen to me. Becoming aware of my body, I have become more aware of the world around me, the temperature outside after a rain storm, the intense green of the mountains this Spring, the baby birds in the nest on my porch, It all keeps telling me to slow down, cut back, take the time to enjoy right now. Which is exactly what I am doing. I look forward to each day with gratitude in my heart.