Today’s episode #70 is about a topic I’ve never before discussed on The Nourishment Mindset and it’s both personal and vulnerable. Although my parents both grew up in devout Christian homes, my brothers and I were not raised with a religion. As a child growing up in North Carolina, the only time this really bothered me is when some condescending adult might say something like “bless your heart” (which doesn’t mean that) when she learned our family didn’t belong to a church. This type of comment served to make me feel lesser, but also rendered me skeptical about the religion itself. If Jesus taught kindness and forgiveness, how was this behavior congruent?
My search for Divine Connectedness has been an on-again off-again journey. While at Duke I decided to take a class in the Divinity school and enjoyed it. Then began reading some religious texts and visiting different churches. Although interesting to me, I didn’t feel “IT” and I was frankly disturbed by the concept of Hell for non-Christians. Like vaccine mandates and threats, it made me feel that the “seller” was trying to hard. So I moved on with my life.
During the next two decades I sought spiritual connection through yoga and meditation, at times being more dedicated than others. And routinely and genuinely connected with the Divine through Nature. Then one day a few years ago, my son started asking some profound questions that I could not answer, so I decided to resume my search for that IT with him, but this time with some significant life experience behind (and before) me. Which is to say with a more nuanced approach, open heart and refined rebelle lens which freed me to pursue my own path.
Over the last few years we have visited numerous churches (wow is there a variety of interpretations!), a non-denominational house of worship and a Jewish Temple. I also sought counsel from the people I trust most to discuss my most vulnerable questions. Tune in to learn how I’ve reconciled what I know in my heart with my desire to know God. (Hint: the process is not unlike deciding to nourish yourself with real, whole foods or move your body with intention.)
I will leave y’all with this: once I opened my heart and soul to the Divine and finally felt IT, my fears and questions were answered in the most simple manner. The things I was sweating about are not what matters. In fact, Divine Connectedness is all that matters; from that all else flows.
Let me know what you think! And if you haven’t bought my book, consider doing so today, either on Amazon or my website for a signed copy shipped free.
Santé y’all!
Dixie
FINE READ-
The title for this section, Fine Read, is a misnomer today. Most of the books, articles or pods I put here are pretty inspiring. Today’s is not. It is instead a warning. I have been very outspoken about the problems with extruded, highly processed cereals. They are NOT health foods, even when health-washed with “organic” and other labels. Moms Across America had a bunch of them studied and the results are maddening, just not surprising. Remember, cereal is a made up marketer’s food. It ain’t real, whole food and it ain’t nourishing!
FINE FIND-
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE farmer and pioneer Joel Salatin and have twice read his wonderful book, Everything I Want to Do is Illegal. This is a YouTube video from two years ago about the food and farming sector, and specifically the importance of supporting local farmers and reprioritizing and reformatting our approach. I recommend it as highly as I can recommend a talk.
FINE RECIPE-
Today’s “recipe” is not a recipe at all. But it is something I’ve found to be a wonderful addition to my daily routine: creatine supplementation. In the past I thought of this as a body builder’s supplement, but after more research I decided that it would be a great addition for me given my age and perimenopausal status. I love me some Gary Brecka and his Ultimate Human podcast, and this episode goes into detail.
I have never and would never accept payments to promote a supplement or product, and I only recommend those I regularly use. Since I began regularly supplementing with Lineage creatine a month ago, I see stronger gym performance (leg press from 210 to 230 lbs., for example) and most importantly, much less brain fog/word searching.
