Now more than ever. I realize just how instrumental a raw vegan diet is for the purpose of recovery. Having come back from the holiday and all of it's traps and indulgences; here I am, on the upward swing of recovery. Going off of my raw vegan way of eating made it painfully obvious that this is the lifestyle that works best for my continued health. I have talked with so many others who also notice the difference between life in the raw and the SAD (Standard American Diet).

Renewing my commitment to stay high raw and in most cases 100% raw (whenever possible) is a huge feat. I mean, after all, I said it. I put myself out there and I now stand accountable to myself and the intentions I have set forth. I suppose, I m not different than anyone else who set an intention or goal only to become frightened by the challenge of it. 

Yes. The anxiety still sets in. Despite being a natural health professional, coach and raw-food instructor, I still have to maintain my mental and spiritual resolve and remind myself that I mustn't go back. To do so would be a sure fire way of landing myself right where I was before: on meds, in pain, with a ton of fibro symptoms.

Some marvel at how drastic this is and even pessimistically question if all of this is even necessary? "Why do you have to eat raw when there's so much good cooked food out there?" I can only respond according to my personal philosophy and personal truth: "Desperate times call for desperate measures". The quality of my life before going raw was such that I HAD to do something drastic to get my health and life back!

Before... I knew what it was like to feel ok on some days and good on others. But now, I can honestly say that I KNOW what it feels like to feel WELL. Thank God for fibromyalgia. Through it, I got a life and a purpose which reintroduced me to my beautiful self. The aspect of being beautifully human with all of it's uncertainty and complexities keeps me humble at the fact that my body knows better than I ever could and nature knows best of all. This process of grounding helps me be kinder to myself thus allowing me to be a better therapist, coach and consultant because I too live with the memory of what it was like before recovery set in. Every pain free day is a precious gift.

I see the life that has been created as a result of going raw and truly it is remarkable and so much different than before. Now more than ever... I know that a raw vegan lifestyle will forever remain a core part of who I am. For through this lifestyle, I lost my old depressed and pain-filled self and got a new life filled with health, vitality, hope, inner peace, happiness and endless possibilities for continued restoration and recovery.

Now more than ever, I know that this is my life.  And truly, finally. without reservation...I AM grateful.