I turned thirty a couple of weeks ago, and while I know that a) 30 is just a number, and 2) it’s not that big of a number in the reality of an entire lifetime, it is a benchmark birthday. Because of this, I feel that it is appropriate to engage in a little reflection. With the coming of this birthday I do recognize that I’m much more growed up than ever before. The most important aspect of this is that I’m wanting to be grown up, stable, consistent and a part of the adult world. Success in career notwithstanding, I was not ever quite ready to stay put in a geographic area, or to take care of myself physically and mentally in the way that I really needed. I wasn’t ready to commit to putting down roots of any kind.

Certainly since the beginning of my blogging back in January of last year, I’ve been in the process of major change. I’ve committed to staying in one place for a while, with the major commitment of saving for a house of my own being the biggest achievement. I also make positive food choices, and remember to advocate for myself to get to bed on time, workout and generally go gently with my psyche.

It feels great to feel so good, and I’m very much looking forward to the next part of this journey. My energy, confidence and joy with the world are evident within myself and I think to those closest to me too. I have myself to thank for these changes along this path, but certainly the BTD has been a tool used as a support.

To continue with the reflection, but also to get some “mail” out of the way, I’ll go over some of the rather curious messages from fellow followers of the BTD received recently. Many people feel “cursed” in their AB blood because of so many food restrictions. I know that we “can’t” have chicken, beef, corn, and a few other very popular American culture foods. But there is so much that we can have, and that is how I’ve chosen to look at this diet. I know that it’s perhaps been a bit easier for me, because I had been following a vegetarian diet for ten years prior to restarting the BTD. I like fruit and veggies!! I don’t care for meat, so in my eyes, this diet gave me all of my favorite foods, and told me that they would make my blood sing!

If you are feeling like you don’t have enough choices with the BTD, shake yourself off and get a little perspective. There doesn’t have to be any “all or nothing” attitude. You’ve been eating avoids all of your life up until you found out that they are avoids. If you’re reading this, they didn’t kill you. Maybe they made you a little sick, so you have to choose how crappy you want to feel by eating them. I’ve said it before, and repeat it here: Some avoids are worse than others, so choose what you can and can’t bear in your diet. I drink coffee every day because it makes me happy. I don’t eat chicken, corn, oranges, or drink milk anymore because they do things to me like make me feel sluggish, bloated, gassy, cranky and generally yuck.

The last thing that I will say on my little soapbox at the end of this obnoxiously long blog is that you need to use a little common sense with this diet. A few people have wondered about gaining weight while eating all that they want of certain foods with no thought to portion size, because after all, they are highly beneficial. You could drink a gallon of water in one sitting, and then promptly throw it up all over the place because your stomach can’t hold that much liquid. Would you dream of saying that you don’t understand why you couldn’t keep down the water?

I don’t want to come off as angry here (because I’m passionate about this, not angry), but one of the major tenants of the diet (and of life really), is that you are in control of your choices. You are responsible for you. The only silver bullet for health is making good choices consistently, and a series of good choices over time will show improvement in your physical well-being. Remember not to lose your common sense just because you found a great web-site or book that speaks to what may work for you. We are each unique, with our own needs…we need to be the responsible party in our daily, weekly and life choices.

So with that my friends, be well, go gently and remember to smile…

If ever I doubt the wisdom of moving back to the East Coast in general and Southern New Hampshire specifically, all I will need is a morning like this one. Three inches of fluffy, sticky snow created road conditions such that prompted school officials to delay school’s opening for ninety minutes (yes…Ms. Shear gets to hit the snooze button today). Fast forward to the morning commute through a park-like snow-globe setting…the trees were all coated with pristine, freshly fallen white snow. All the way to the mountains and across town looked like a picture perfect postcard. The only thing missing were Norman Rockwell-esque kids running around with sleds and long, knit stocking caps. It takes my breath away, and I count myself ever-so-lucky to be living in such a beautiful part of this land.

As far as the BTD goes…I’ve been compliant and feeling okay. There are so many viruses going around school that I feel like I’m always fighting something. I’ve been eating lots of parsley soup and other bennies, as well as trying to get as much sleep as possible. As always, for an added boost, I’ve bulked up on superfood and added lemons to my daily water too. Here’s hoping that this finds you all safe, content, happy and healthy. Be well…

I am feeling very happy to have moved back to the East Coast these past couple of weeks. It has been bright, sunny and RELATIVELY warm (as in up to freezing, not below zero). Granted, it’s 75 degrees with total sunshine back in Southern California, and the mountains probably look amazing (as they always do this time of year), but I am happy to be back by the Atlantic. In fact, this weekend I expect to see, smell and breathe in the perfect salty tanginess of the ocean on this side.

It has been great to be out walking these past several days enjoying fresh air and warm light on my face. The melting snow leaves in it’s wake sparkly streams that wind their way through the cracks on the sidewalks. Truly, it is nearly as beautiful as a freshly fallen snow. Living a HIGHLY BENEFICIAL life is easy when the weather is warm and sunny…I could even handle all three (four?) months of winter if it stays like this!!

Alas…I won’t know how I’ll make it through when the weather turns ugly again, but for the time being I am enjoying the benevolence of old man winter. Remember to drink your water and eat compliantly…life can be good, and spring may be near…will the little guy see his shadow or no…so many wonders to fill the mind on a “warm,” sunshiny February 2nd morning…be well…