My journey to vibrant energy, perfect health and spiritual happiness has spanned the last four years. Changes have happened in a step by step fashion and I'm grateful that I've felt better and better with each step. I started when I was 57 and I'm now nearing 62 years of age. I am now healthier and happier than I have ever been in my life! My blood chemistry, vital signs, weight and body mass index are comparable to a man less than half my age. This Way of Living costs me less in monthly expenses and takes no additional time out of my daily routine. I'm confident that anyone could enjoy these same benefits. Here is how my story developed:
In late 2010 I was a successful banker making lots of money and with a good future ahead of me. But I felt unfulfilled in this profession because I didn't see how I was doing anything helpful for others. I was married with four children, one of whom was finishing high school and the rest were on their own. My relationship with each of my children was one of the only sources of happiness I had at this time in my life. My marriage was troubled and, although I didn't know it at the time, we were headed for divorce. I was about 25 pounds overweight and taking medications for high cholesterol, heartburn, erectile disfunction and insomnia. I was keenly aware of my family's history with heart disease and knew that I too was vulnerable. One day, a friend suggested I try yoga to help me regain some sense of peace.
Yoga was very hard at first. I was not flexible at all and what little physical fitness I had from occasional running and walking was not too helpful. I remember the first class and the sweat was pouring off of me! It was a beginner level but somehow I felt I was the only beginner! I spent a lot of time in child's pose just to catch my breath. But, in the hours after class I felt some sort of special sense of peace and energy. It was enough to bring me back to the studio a couple of days later. It wasn't much easier the second time but I was starting to learn some of the postures. I kept coming back every few days, and soon a habit was starting to form. I just loved how calm, peaceful and full of energy I felt after each class.
As I continued my yoga practice into early and mid 2011, I found that it was a primary source of fulfillment in my life. I started to feel healthier and I had more energy. I began to sleep better, without the prescription medication. I was hooked!
Some of the new friends I made in the yoga community (we are called yogis!) encouraged me to try meditation. I had become a voracious reader at this stage in my life, so I picked up a couple of short books on meditation and started to "sit" for 5-10 minutes per day. Again, this was hard at first as the thoughts just continued to race through my mind. But, as I learned to focus on my breathing my mind began to calm down. I would notice the occasional thoughts and just let them pass along. The combination of the two practices, yoga and meditation, had me feeling better than I had in years.
About six months into this journey I went to a Friday evening potluck hosted by a friend from the yoga studio. Everyone there was a vegetarian, or vegan, and there were so many amazingly delicious dishes at the party! I had been a omnivore for well over 50 years at this point, and meat was part of almost every meal. But, I left that party with a determination to begin to move away from a meat-based diet.
Right away, I stopped eating red meat. This was a bit difficult because it was such a prominent part of my diet, and the family meal plans. But, I didn't miss the heaviness of the red meat at all. About six months later, I stopped eating poultry. So, I was technically a Pescetarian, eating fish along with vegetables and fruits. This continued for about a year and then I finally went all the way to a vegetarian diet, with only a little bit of cheese each week. It seemed like each step in this progression paid dividends in terms of weight loss, increased energy and improving overall health. I was able to stop taking all prescription medications and I lost about 25 pounds overall. This really impacted my wardrobe, however, as I went from a 35" waist to a 32" waist!
The last step in this journey, so far, started in late summer of 2013 when I moved from Charlotte to the San Francisco area. Following my divorce I had given up almost every thing we had owned together so I literally was able to move everything I owned in my 2005 Acura SUV. It felt so freeing to not have a bunch of stuff I didn't need to be comfortable and happy. I didn't know it at that time, but I was becoming a minimalist. This would dawn on my in January, 2015 when I realized that I really didn't miss shopping and buying things that were not essential to my life.
Throughout this journey I continued to read at least a book a week, sometimes more, and developed a deep awareness of my true self as part of the Spirit of God, and not the ego and person that I had thought I was all along. Some of this awareness has come from studying A Course in Miracles which is roughly based upon the teachings of Jesus, and some has come from the teachings of Buddha. I consider myself to be a deeply Spiritual person, but not at all religious.
Today, late January, 2015, I feel so grateful for my completely new life with perfect health, vibrant energy, the love of God, my Children, family, girlfriend, and friends and an abundance of the necessities of life. I practice yoga and meditation daily. I eat a whole food, plant based diet and I enjoy the freedom of having just the material possessions that I need to live comfortably. I have a "day job" that pays the bills, and I support this blog and website to help others discover this amazing Way of Living.
I'd be happy to answer your questions or help you in any way that I can. Just drop me an email at jim@purenaturalenergy.com.
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