Take a Ganders at the Molting Chicken: Conventionally Raised, Trying to Live Organically

Of all the things I have time for right now, rejoining the world of blogging is not even making my top 50. And yet, this was therapeutic once upon a time and changing times call for documentation, so here I am. How hilarious to see that my last post was for a bread recipe. Oh how much has changed! And yet, in reading this post, very little has changed at all--except my breadmaking ways.

So what's new with this particular American bizard? Oh....everything. The very humble origin of this particular blog was documenting my pregnancy journey some five years ago. Obviously, having children changes any person's life in many notable ways, but in me, it sparked something of a consciousness revolution. It was slow at first: switching household cleaners to homemade, non-toxic versions, eliminating perfumes (nausea would not permit them), making a few recipes here and there totally from scratch, and using cloth diapers. And then a trickle turned into a downpour, a monsoon even. Five years later, I have another precious child and I'm:

• gluten-free--mostly grain-free
• dairy-free
• make absolutely everything from scratch
• grow a small portion of my own food
• 85% refined sugar-free (estimated; it slips in here and there before I realize it)
• only buy organic food if I possibly can (or skip altogether)
• attempting to eliminate or minimize plastic in my life and household
• attempting to minimize and zero-out waste and household trash by employing the 5 Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot (compost) 
• still trying to be a balanced human being

There were myriad things that precipitated these changes, perhaps most notably a change in occupation and a dramatic decline in my health. The thing is, despite these changes, I am not a different person--not really. I still like all the same things (including candy, God help me!) and my life, my family and friends are not all that different. I am still a bizard. :) I have the same sense of humor. I do not have a paid job outside the home, although I feel every bit as fulfilled as when I did. I do a lot of unpaid jobs for free and with gladness in my heart for the difference I think they make to the people and ideas I do them for. The visible decline in my health probably began with my first pregnancy, though I did not really understand the signs my body was giving me (even the really traumatic ones!) until my second child, precious Caroline, was about 6 months old. And so it began to rain.

The changes I've made are mostly about living a healthier, gentler, less toxic life on this Earth-- a longer life with my husband and children, but at times I feel they have isolated me. Anyone who has made sweeping or dramatic changes in their lives will tell you that despite the positivity of the changes for them personally, it often generates some negativity from those around them. I believe this is often because a shift in behavior is often perceived as others by a judgement of how they live their lives, even if this is not the case. I'm not here to judge others, though like everyone, I sometimes do, though certainly not related to gluten-free. We're all on our own journey and this is where I am right now; it's the truth I am living and I know it is not everyone's.

And speaking of where I am right now: it's not especially pretty, but it is 100% authentic. I am the molting chicken. I am a person in transition in nearly every aspect of my life. I have some of my old feathers and a few new ones and a few bald spots that I can't quite get a handle on. I've lost 30 pounds (great!) and my clothes are comically large (oh well). The food I make is super nourishing and healthy, but sometimes I still think it would be great to just go get a donut (It would actually make me feel horrible, so I never do, but the temptation is real!). But if I don't embrace who I am now, I am telling myself happiness is only for those who are perfect and remain so. I don't believe that, so I am not going to live it.

True to molting chicken fashion, I will be updating this blog template if and when I have time. This blog is in transition, just like me, but it will be so nice to visit here and muse over the things I am doing, even if no one is listening. My heart is listening. My soul is listening.

Welcome to The Molting Chicken and thanks for being here.