I distinctly remember this running through my head two different times.
In two completely different situations.
The first time after living with progressively worse undiagnosed health symptoms for well over a decade.
It is finally what pushed me to see a naturopath, which led me to my endocrinologist and autoimmune disease diagnosis.
Ironically, the second time was at the beginning of my wellness journey.
I was at my rock bottom, and fumbling my way around the kitchen painfully trying to figure out the autoimmune protocol (AIP).
During this time, I struggled getting out of bed and barely functioning, so spending so much time and effort in the kitchen just felt wrong to me.
I did it anyway.
One morning, I opened up my supplement cabinet to a number of supplements my naturopath recommended (at the time, my body was not absorbing vitamins, minerals, or electrolytes).
After opening the cabinet, I could not bring myself to reach up and grab my supplements.
Instead, I just stood there and stared at them.
I could not believe my life had come to this…taking supplements, eating only unprocessed whole foods, meditating, trying to figure out how to sleep better, and struggling to get my autoimmune symptoms under control.
“I can’t live like this,” started running through my head on repeat.
Accompanied by “this is too hard.”
So I stood there and had a staring contest with my supplements.
My kids playing and laughing in the background distracted me.
A thought hit me like a ton of bricks…”if one of them were sick, you’d do ANYTHING to help them feel better.
ANYTHING.
So do this for them.
Make these hard choices for them.
Do these things you don’t want to do for them.
It’s okay if you can’t do it for yourself yet…do it for them.”
So I did.
I did it all for them until I loved myself enough that I started doing it for me.
I share this because I want you to know this lifestyle did NOT come naturally to me.
I had bad habits to painfully break.
I had new habits to slowly develop.
I had to work on my mindset.
But every effort, every session of ugly crying, everything, was ALL 100% worth it!!
Like anything in life, my new diet and lifestyle became easier with time and practice.
In fact, I do not even think of the way I eat as weird anymore. It feels ALL kinds of normal to me!
Further, the AIP diet and lifestyle is now second nature to me.
If you are where I was, please know:
it gets easier,
you can 100% do this,
and is SO worth it!
Take it as slow as you need to, or as fast as you want to.
Change is hard.
Be patient with yourself.
Love yourself through it.
On the hard days, simply hang in there!
It will all be worth it.
I believe in you!
This is the beginning of your comeback story, and I cannot wait to hear about your next chapters!
You CAN do this.
You are capable than so much more than you realize!
Sending you lots of love, support, and big hugs!
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