How I became "oily"...

I want to briefly explain how I got into essential oils and hopefully explain why I chose the brand Young Living, since I mention them regularly as part of my and my family's self care routine.

Almost 8 years ago my dad was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 52. Terminal brain cancer. He lived for 15 months after diagnosis. At that point I realized that cancer was no longer something that just happened to other people...it hit me like a tidal wave that it could and was happening to us. There was no stopping it. There was no avoiding it or running from it. I had to run into the wave and hope that I would resurface.  At 25 years old, I naively believed everything the food industry, marketing and modern medicine told me about health. I am an RN, so my background is in conventional medicine. Watching my dad die of cancer changed all of that for me.  Disclaimer! I believe in all of the above listed...just not as much as I once did. I began examining my diet. I cut out aspartame (Diet Coke being my main squeeze at the time) which is known to cause a plethora of health issues, not the least of which is brain lesions! WHUT. I also began by slowing adding vegetables into my diet, exercising more, I cut out food allergens (gluten and dairy)  and eating a whole food based diet.

I began my own journey of discovering the beauty of good and healthFUL foods. The nerd in me got excited as I began to learn how food changes us, for better or for worse, down to our very DNA (check out Deep Nutrition for a great resource on this). Fast forward to my dad passing away and me giving birth to our first daughter. My body was in shambles after years of neglect, stress, and the standard American diet which, sadly, is devoid of the nutrients we need to maintain health. I sought the care of a skilled naturopath after getting the run around at our primary care and very little help. Slowly but surely, I began to heal by giving my body the nutrients it needed and removing the various food and life stressors!

I became something I never thought I would be: an advocate for healthy food and all things "crunchy!" So it really was only a matter of time before I landed upon essential oils. I had been hearing about them for years, had had friends try to sell them to me, but just wasn't in the place to do the research of my own and take the dive. After all...there are probably dozens of brands of oils on the market today...how on EARTH was I to choose the right one? What is the difference?

So I began some market research, and a whole new world opened up to me. There are two main differences in oils: therapeutic grade and what are labeled as "pure" essential oils. Most of the oils that you will find at the grocery store are fragrance oils or what are called pure essential oils. The only requirement to have the label "pure" is that it must contain 5% essential oil. They contain synthetic chemicals  (up to 200 chemicals can be added without removing the "pure" label) instead of the actual plant and can this be harmful if applied directly to the skin or even diluted as recommended. This is why they are so inexpensive, and it also explains why I felt no difference when I used them. I almost gave up on the idea of essential oils altogether because of that.

I began researching Young Living oils specifically and was very impressed with their quality. Here are just a few of the reasons why I chose Young Living:

The main takeaway from the above graphic: You aren't paying a middle man! Every other essential oil company is essential a broker for oils, which means you are paying more to the middle man and getting less product for your money. The other little note on this: using 1st distillation as opposed to 2nd or 3rd means that you are getting the most potent part of the plant, vs a more diluted version. 

I never intended to sell the oils. I really just wanted a good deal so I could get started and learn how to use the oils. However, you kinda cant help but promote something that has benefited your life so much! We use them for almost everything, and at least every day.  I first started using them for emotional support (Lavender, Frankincense,and Stress Away), but then began using the other oils to support my and my little family's immune systems (Thieves and Tea tree), joint and muscle recovery (Pan Away),  purify the air and get stains out of various areas of the home (purification), encourage more fluid intake by adding Lemon or peppermint, support healthy breathing during the winter months (R.C.), and helping troubled digestion by DiGIze. The best part is that they are so versatile, that they have many uses and can often replace products you are already using in your home.

The BEST deal is to order the Premium Starter Kit. It comes with 11 bottles of essential oils (Lavender, Stress Away, Lemon, Thieves, Citrus Fresh, Tea Tree, Frankincense, Pan Away, Digize, Raven, and Peppermint) a diffuser, Essential Oil samples, travel or sharing size bottles, $160. Plus I through in my favorite Essential Oil Reference material ($25 value), and connect you with a whole team of support people to help you get the most out of your essential oils! This is an investment in your overall health and wellness and I promise is completely worth every penny! For the month of May, when you sign up to become a member, you will also receive a FREE bottle of Thieves Laundry Soap!                                                                                                                                                                  

When you purchase this PSK (Premium Starter Kit), from then on out, you pay the wholesale cost vs retail cost of every purchase. That's 24% savings on every order. You don't have to sell anything, but should you decide you WANT to, you will be well compensated. I'll post more on that in another post : )

I hope this has helped you to understand this brand of oils and why I decided to purchase!

You can click the link HERE to order!

Transition

Did I mention in the previous post that I'm not so great with transition? I mean, is anyone? I consider myself a fairly flexible person, but there are times where the change is so great that it exposes cracks just below the surface. I'm used to this exposing of cracks, and I've learned to embrace it, however un-fun it is.

As I mentioned, I was offered a part time position on my home unit, night shift. I was given a raise (favor), and to be able to come in to a part time position is pretty rare. My manager basically asked me how many hours I needed to work and handed me the job. So we began to make plans and get my husband signed up for classes to transfer to a local art institute. I didn't feel totally right about that particular school but continued to move forward because we didn't really know what other options there were. We happened to be having dinner with some friends, and "randomly", the husband stated that he had heard that this particular art school was closing. We didn't say anything, but both my husband and I were like "umm...what do we do about that?" So we set out to do some research, and low and behold, 13/14 schools had closed across the country due to lawsuits and fraud! WHAT?! 

My husband was notably upset, but I firmly believed that if that previous school was a no go, then God obviously must have something better. He wouldn't lead us to this point to drop kick us backwards. Well, he landed on an online school, that would require LESS schooling, same degree, and cost about 1/3 as much as the previous school! Almost ALL of his previous credits transferred, and unlike the previous school, everyone we have been in contact with to help us with the process has been TREMENDOUSLY helpful. In every way. We thought we would have to wait until spring semester (6 months from now! NOOOOOOO!), but they shooed him in and have, as of this morning, gotten him into his classes. 

There have been numerous small (but NOT small if you know what I mean) miracles along the way, and I can see that God is proving to my husband just how loving and faithful and GOOD he is with this whole thing. DH needed a light drafting table for for animating. This table would cost approximately $2000. We don't have $2000 to drop on a table. And wouldn't you know it?! We found a table FOR FREE on craigslist, that DH was able to make into his drafting table. All he had to buy was a light that cost $20. God is SO GOOD, that he gave DH the tools needed to create the perfect table, because he knows DH loves to create! So much goodness happening.

Meanwhile, I have slowly figured out a rhythm to this whole part time working, sleeping during the day, making sure I have some time to do the things I love (writing, teaching oily classes, time with friends), while being present with my girls. But overall, I feel like there is so much more balance in our home. I seem to thrive with a little something that I can do outside the home. And I am NOT carrying around guilt for being a working mom. This is something I've had to work through, but my husband keeps boldly addressing the double standard of the woman being the homemaker and the husband being the breadwinner. He is incredibly good and parenting, cooking, tackling the stuff at home while I bring home some bacon. And he doesn't feel diminished for the change in roles, and neither do I! 

How have I supported my body through all the stress and insecurity and vulnerability that transition brings? Well, God. Number 1. He has been walking beside me (or running and dragging me along, depending on the day), encouraging me. Digging into those deep places where the lies had made their home, exposing them so we could get rid of them. This quote says it all:

There are things we cannot bring with us into new seasons because they are not useful: self doubt, fear, insecurities and lies. As we grow, certain things and beliefs need to fall off so that we can become who we are meant to be, and grow into a new role or calling or what have you. So...what lies are you believing that are no longer serving your best interest? 

One of the other ways I support myself is through essential oils. I've mentioned them before in this post, but you can click on the link to find out more how I found them, and why I use them. The oils that I love to use in this season of lots of stress and transition have been Joy, Stress Away (the name just says it all), and my newest favorite: Sacred Mountain. It reminds me that God keeps me secure and grounded, so when I apply it, not only is the blend of oils promoting feelings of grounding and security, it helps me to meditate on the goodness of God, the security I find in him, and that I am safe and secure in his love for me.

Psalm 125:1-2 "Those who trust in, lean on and confidently hope in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides and stands fast forever. As the mountains are around about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from this time forth and forever."

Also...It is really strange to be living in the "land" that God has promised. That you had always hoped would be true, but couldn't quite see it. To be reaping in joy what has been sown in tears...I'll have more on that in a later post. But for now...Blessings and Increase to you and yours in whatever season God has placed you in!