A Little Smug at 61

And the first ingredient can NOT be sugar

I’m back in the States for a few weeks. It’s hard to say no when my family offers to fly me in and out and feed me while I care for their home and pets. They’re in love with cruising.

My travels helped me see that all Asian countries are not the same, nor are South American ones, and appearances tell you nothing. So I freed myself of some pre-conceived notions and stereotypes, but sadly now I have new ones.

I miss the lids on plastic bottles being attached and money offered to recycle cans and bottles in Ireland, the UK and many other countries. I miss seeing recycling bins everywhere like in Vienna.

After reading the ingredients on a Fruit Loops box, the “organic” yogurt and the “power trail” mix available to me, I headed to Aldi’s to read labels for myself and found raw nuts and organic, full-fat yogurt. The FIRST ingredient in Fruit Loops is sugar. They don’t even try to put something “healthier” first. Not that I would eat Fruit Loops anyway, I was just reading to scoff at those who do.

I’m a little smug about how healthy and strong I am at 61 and how attentive I am to my body. Mouth to anus, so to speak. I make my own toothpaste and moisturizer, use bar shampoo and conditioner, avoid grains, refined sugar and seed oils. I take as much magnesium as necessary to stay regular and always tend to my gut. And I’m thriving. There’s quite a bit of, “if you would do what I do, you too could be free from injury, illness and pharmaceuticals.”

I found myself this morning anticipating being trim and fit, “looking” healthy, with my new, small-breasted body and doing it all with only qigong and walking. Plus a dreadful surgery, of course.

I’m making $2000 daily deposits for four days to pay for some big western medicine for my explant surgery next month in Mexico. And planning how I’ll return to natural health and recover from anaesthesia and antibiotics and the rest.

I see people rolling their eyes when I question a lunch where I don’t get to choose the menu or refuse to eat trail mix that contains cottonseed oil. I am pretty sure none of my people believe that the magic of qigong is real. But I’m determined to arrive in Mexico as fit and pure and strong as possible, so I endure.

With love from wherever I am,
Lauren

PS. Post-surgery I’m spending a month in Tlayacapan, in the State of Eternal Spring.