Health is kind of a big deal. And after thirty or so years of stupidity I've finally figured out how big. Feeling shitty every day kind of sucks. It can make you grumpy, lethargic, or totally apathetic. So making little changes in your life, like how you eat, or how often you exercise, can make you feel better, which can in turn, make you happier, more successful, and generally nicer to be around. 

On top of that, I feel like in today's crap-filled, chemical cluster**** of a world the odds are stacked against you. When you are living in an environment where almost everything around you is toxic, carcinogenic, and hormone disruptive, every little bit of fight counts. I don't know about you, but I ain't goin' down like that. I'm not about to let fat-cat polluters, corporations armed with bio-warfare, orhyper-consumerism take me out if I can help it. I'm going to cook my own food. I'm going to get off my ass and move around. I'm going to maintain a healthy mental outlook, dammit.

I know every thing has its time, and one day it will be my own, but if I have to go down, I'm going down swinging.

I am pretty healthy, and still relatively young, but even at thirty years old I've had to go through a couple of serious scares. Mystery migraines, hormonal roller-coasters, and unpredictable digestive issues have messed with me for my entire life. Earlier this year I had a serious cancer scare, and even after a negative biopsy I'll still probably have to go through a potentially life-changing surgery to reduce my risk. Oh! And it feels like my body is developing new and exciting allergies on a daily basis. That one is REALLY fun.

If it was just me going through this I might throw up my hands, shake my fists at cruel fate, and stamp my feet, but the thing is, it's not just me. Everyone I know has a story like mine. Everyone seems to be at least a little bit sick, at least mildly allergic, almost always tired. That doesn't seem right to me. Not one bit. 

So I'm determined to find my way off of the path the sickness, cancer, and lethargy that we all seem to be going down. I'm not super dogmatic, because I really believe that part of staying healthy and happy depends on maintaining a balance between ideals and realistic expectations. For example, I enjoy the feeling of eating a mostly vegan diet, but if someone hands me a chicken wing, I don't sweat it. I just eat the dang thing. 

I'm figuring out that learning to be healthy is a lot like learning how to cook. You never really get there, because there is always so much more to learn. Whether you are discovering a new ingredient, or realizing for the first time how your body reacts to something, your understanding is like a pot that can never be filled. As you simmer, the knowledge breaks down and the empty moisture evaporates, creating a stock that gets richer and deeper over the years. 

So with all that in mind, I'll break down my health goal in four words: Taking back my body. It's mine, and I want to be the one deciding what goes in it, so I'm going to pay attention. That's all. I'm far from perfect, I still eat candy and junk food now and then. I'm known to chow down on my fair share of shitty food, or skip exercising for a sci-fi marathon, but you know what? It's not about being perfect. It's about being in charge. I'm the leader of a one-woman revolution against myself. Well, myself and about one-million Doritos Locos Tacos. 

¡Viva la Revolución!