mind + body

Over the past 4 years I've been focused on my mental + spiritual wellbeing.It's been a very challenging journey for me that has seen me in some pretty horrible places.I'm personally in a much more positive place now & even though I know this is something I will forever constantly be aware of,it isn't something that bothers me so much anymore.All the things I have absorbed from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy,cognitive therapy,books,strangers,friends,family,
professionals I am constantly processing everyday to make my life the best life I can live & worth living.

Because my mental health is a little more stable now I'm starting to focus on my physical health which I've neglected over the past few years.I've gained around 20kg's in the past 4 years due to bad eating habits + lack of physical exercise + mental issues + medications + being diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome & it bothers me.I'm not as healthy & it bothers me more than the actual weight.My size does bother me as it's the largest I've ever been,but it's more my physical health that I worry about especially since I am turning 30 at the end of this year & it does get harder as we get older to maintain our physical health.But just like my mental health,I can't bash myself up for this,it's a process & one that I need to focus on & be kind to myself just like working through issues with the mind.

One of the first things I have changed so far is my eating.I'm trying to eat more natural,less processed.Just little changes so far like Organic Full-Cream milk & butter & other dairy.I've been learning that dairy labelled with 'diet'.'lite'.'low fat' etc. may just be those things,but the fat is replaced with a huge amount of sugar which is a lot more harmful than fat.This tiny change in my eating has already proved to be working & I'm really excited about that.I've also started to make eating more of an event,rather than just something you have to do as part of your day which usually ends up in shoveling some type of food in your mouth that you're not really mindful of.

Food is beautiful! And to share delicious food with the company of those we love,whether it be one person or a whole group is a special part of our day.The one thing I miss most about eating in the Philippines is how it's so communal,everybody eats together,laughing,talking,relishing in the food & company.Over here we're accustomed to just rushing & trying to get things done that eating is just another thing that gets ticked off the list.So I've been making meals that I can share with another or others,or even if I am by myself,I put the effort into make something wholesome & yummy & really be mindful of what I'm eating,take my time & enjoy eating so I am satisfied.


This is only a tiny step towards my physical health,but I already feel good about it.Bren & I try to do something outdoors & active together over the weekend,whether it be bushwalking,beach wandering,swimming,surfing etc. as we both love the outdoors & doing activities like that is something that we can share as well as keep our hearts pumping.

I'm not on a mad quest to be a size 8,but I do want to be healthy again & whether that takes me another 6 months or another 4 years,it doesn't bother me,as long as I am moving forward & not backward into unhappy,unhealthy body.