One of my mottos in life is “everything in moderation”. Deep down inside I believe in this. It is not to say that I am not passionate about issues such as going green, homeschooling, eating healthier less processed foods, exercising regularly, and being fiscally responsible.
I have a good, better, best approach and it helps keep me sane. Can I do better in all of these areas? Absolutely. Has our family come a long way in the past few years? You bet. By focusing not only on how we can do better but also on how well we have done keeps that overwhelming feeling at bay.
Have you ever read any information about sugar? Here is an example that overwhelms me. It is not that I actually THINK sugar is good for you but pages and pages and pages of information about what is good for you and what is bad for you is enough to make me a little nuts. (by the way, apparently nuts ARE good for you – high in fat, the good fat as opposed to the bad fat)
Here is a mom who has kindly given a list of chemicals to avoid while shopping. Again, great information but I have to take baby steps. If I try to digest all of this at once I would throw in the “health” towel. For me right now it is about eliminating the High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) in the foods I am buying. Am I able to eliminate all HFCS? Not quite yet but I have switched bread, have made more of my own bread, and switched yogurt brands. We have rarely kept soda in our home and don’t buy much juice either. So all in all I think I am doing better. My goal is realistic. Read more labels be more aware – read a little each week to gain knowledge.
Going green is important. Recycling, reusing and shrinking our carbon footprint are essential for the health of our planet. We recycle bottles, plastic, paper, cans etc. I have started reusing paper in my printer to utilize both sides. I pay 99% of my bills online and have selected paperless options whenever possible. Is this enough? To some maybe not but for me it is better than nothing. I noticed a few weeks ago that the majority of people in my neighborhood do not recycle. Why? Perhaps for the same reasons I am not terribly interested in this option in my bathrooms. Habit? I am in the habit of recycling, I have taught myself to separate out the items and put them in a different location than my trash. Perhaps people who have gone paperless in their bathrooms have also gotten in the habit of not using toilet paper. Who knows and to each their own. We can all do more but at least do something.
When it comes to homeschooling I love this article by Kristen. I send my kids to public school. I love our school and although we have only been there for 18 months we have been welcomed with open arms. I also teach them a lot at home. I realize my place is to BE their teacher in more than just reading and arithmetic. I aim to teach them right from wrong, give them strong values and show them how to be a productive member of society. That is a big job that I take very seriously.
The concept of living in moderation is one I am diligent about and it is not easy. Sometimes we regress, sometimes we have weeks where we don’t eat as healthy as we should. I am all about being human around here. I never want anyone who is reading this blog to think for one minute that I have it all together all the time. I share what I have found works for me in life and I am still learning to walk in my “shoes” every single day.
Do you find you are extreme about certain things or do you live more in moderation? I love hearing your comments!
This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family.
Posted on Tuesday, 20th April 2010 by Catherine
