It’s been a while since I last posted, but I’ve definitely been keeping busy. I quit my long-time job last fall, one I’d been with for almost 9 years, to start a freelancing gig as an editor and writer. Scary stuff indeed! The change has been good for me and definitely less stress for the most part.

The other lifestyle changes happening really started last year with this blog and getting back to gardening. I wanted a healthier life for me and my family. We got back to what we’d done for years but had put on hold for a bit – eating healthy foods we grew ourselves. Last year I canned and froze more produce than I had in years, and boy was it nice this winter going to the cupboards and freezers to get something for dinner!

This year we’ve gone big again with the garden. Seeds are started by the windowsill waiting for that big replant day outside – still don’t have the greenhouse but we’re working on it! I’ve taken stock in what is left in our canning cupboard – what worked, what we ate, what we haven’t touched with a 10-foot pole. I have a bunch of new recipes just waiting to be tried, and I’m looking forward to all the experiments again (sorry family!).

Probably the biggest lifestyle change, other than what I’m eating, is I’ve discovered essential oils. I originally was looking for scents for my soaping adventure (that will be another post!), but what I discovered with my research is the health benefits of essential oils.

Those who know me know I have fibromyalgia, lupus, hypothyroidism, and now pretty bad knee osteoarthritis. Those who know me have seen me try just about everything out there, from following the advice and prescriptions from my rheumatologist and PCP, to all the extra supplements and diets that supposedly work to improve the symptoms – and that’s the key for me, I think. They only helped with the symptoms, not the actual problem. So I failed with all the above treatments. I could hardly move, had “fibro fog” brain issues where I couldn’t remember s**t. I gained weight because I couldn’t move because I was exhausted – the usual realm of symptoms one has with these lovely diagnoses.

Last fall I went to my orthopedist, who told me that yes, I have a pretty good case of knee arthritis and to plan on a knee replacement fairly soon down the road. He offered me steroid injections (been there, done that), which I refused. I’ve had enough steroids thank you very much. So I hobbled on home defeated. I’m only 48, and while I may feel 84 on some days, I am not ready for knee replacement surgery.

So….as I was searching for fragrances for my big soaping adventure, I was reading a homesteading blog that I follow for all kinds of helpful homesteading tips, recipes, and what-have-yous, and I saw a post about essential oils. I clicked on it, read it and made a note of it. It sounded good, but that’s about all I did. A few months later, Kevin (who also follows this same blog) saw the post about the oils and said I should look into it – so I took another look.

This time I contacted the lady to ask her about essential oils, and I am ever so grateful I did. It has been life changing for me. Not only have I been able to kick my prescription drug habit to the curb, I don’t think I’ll be needing that knee replacement anytime soon. I can go up and down the stairs like a “normal” person instead of taking “granny steps” one at a time, praying my knee doesn’t give out on me. I have more energy to do things now. I still notice twinges of knee pain on occasion, especially after riding in the truck for very long, but all in all, what I’ve found has given me a new lease on life.

With my improved knee pain and ability to move, I’ve also gotten back on the exercise bandwagon. Again, those who know me know I hate to exercise, but at least now I can go for a walk and try to get rid of some of this medication-induced weight gain. I’m looking forward to getting out in the garden and working outside – and going up and down the stairs during canning season.

The biggest change for me, however, is I have a renewed sense of hope. Hope that I can overcome these diseases that have plagued me for over 10 years. Hope that I am getting better – I feel like a new person, or at least the old person I used to be 20 years ago. I’ve made positive changes in my life, and all it took was one little email to someone I didn’t know, who has introduced me to something amazing.

I’m one of the biggest skeptics out there, believe me. I don’t believe anything unless I see it for myself or try it myself and notice a change. I tried these oils and supplements just “knowing” nothing could help me because, of course, I’d already tried “everything” already, and nothing had helped before. After 1 week – yes, I said 1 week – of being on a suggested supplement, I was a believer. And I’ll never, ever be without this product again. It’s that life changing. Really. Truly. Life changing. If you, dear reader, want that same life-changing experience, send me a message or comment below. Even if you’re a skeptic like I was. You’ll thank yourself in the end.