Day 13 Raw Vegan (posted by Janine)

WEIGHT: 134.5 lbs.

Well I'm quite happy to report that I feel a bunch better. I have more get up and go to get some important things done this weekend that I've been procrastinating on. Certainly, there is plenty of uncertainty in my life, but I feel as though I can control many aspects of my own happiness. Part of the appeal to eating raw foods is that it helps to even me out. I realize that I'm still very much in the process of detoxing, which can be a pretty trying time. But once my body gets used to the changes, my mind follows suit and there is a sublime kinda contentedness that clings to me. Helping me direct my energy and make the right choices. When I started this raw vegan trip with my friend Emma a couple of weeks ago (seems mush farther away), I was pretty certain that I would be more diligent about my process. I've tried to convert myself many many many times in the past and have falling to failure and felt really horrible for not sticking it out. It's not the I believe that eating raw vegan is the answer to all life's problems, but it certainly is a great starting point on the path of finding your own personal joy. I walk through my days have a set list of values and principles, and in our society of quick convenience it's often very easy to allow my values to fall to the wayside in exchange for fast satisfaction. Eating raw foods is not only for the health of my body and the healing of my body, but it's also a very sound political and environmental choice. Since completely converting to using cloth re-usable shopping bags in place of plastic (that just piles up and takes eons to decompose...), I've also made strides to develop other environmentally friendly habits. I'll try to re-use even the clear plastic bags you use for produce, or I won't plastic bag my produce (celery, carrots etc.) at all. I try to was zip lock bags. I'll save elastic bands and re-use them. I try to buy second hand. I'm very conscious of buying products that have less packaging. My diet helps me to create much less recyclable and non-recyclable waste without even trying too hard. For the ladies in the house, I bought my first "keeper" or "diva cup" which is a little rubber cup that you insert in your females bits when you're menstruating. I have yet to try it, but I'm hoping that I'll be able to fully abolish my use of maxi pads and tampons entirely. Save money. Save the planet. I've always tried to be conscious of turning lights off to conserve electricity. I have a few personal environmental goals to achieve during our challenge. I would like to convert to using environmentally sound products in the household. This includes cleaning products, toilet paper and personal hygiene products. I'd like to replace all the light bulbs in Jess and my apartment with energy efficient bulbs. I'd like to reduce my water use by taking shorter showers. I'd like to reduce my energy consumption by using less electrical appliances. Find a way to put up a drying rack or clothes line for my laundry. Plant more plants. Buy more locally grown organic produce. Simplify and purify.

I also wanted to mention that beyond diet and environment, I have re-newed my contract at my job which will keep me fed until the middle of September and they've also offered me a raise with retro-active pay dating back to the beginning of March. I'm not quite sure what do do when all of that comes to a close, and Jess and my lease is up. But perhaps the unknown can be more exciting than excruciating. Perhaps there is more abundance than I sometimes open my eyes to.

The sun is shining and there are things to be done. I hear the kids busily playing in the neighbourhood. Enough missing out... Much love to you all!

neenie