I'm sitting again in my chair near the window.  I want to post an "out my window" blog, but something stops me.  

The last several days I have been, while not in agony, in considerable muscle and joint pain for unknown reasons.  I walked two miles on Wednesday, a bit farther than usual with the weather a pleasant 48 degrees.  My knees immediately became inflamed and swelled up.  Within hours a cold front pushed its way into east central Iowa.   The next morning, everything hurt.  I moved slowly through my chores, stepping carefully to make sure my weight was distributed equally on my knee joints.  Even a little off and they threaten to give way.  I'm a little worried about twisting a knee since the ground is uneven under the snow on my path to the barn.  I fed horses four times in the wind and blowing snow, as opposed to my usual twice.

What's the origin of the problem?    Toxins in my system, in my new 1910 house's walls, carpet, or re-poured basement from this spring?  Not enough water, since I know I've been dehydrated.  I read about health, monitoring what I eat, drink and breathe.  It's probably a bit of everything, plus stress.

Christmas holidays were a food free for all, or at least I had more food than normal and desserts.  The price I paid was the first viral illness that I've had in years.  Fortunately it didn't last long. 

I know weather affects my joints and muscles, too.  I had a good run free of the regular soreness since I started eliminating gluten, dairy, and walking nearly a mile every day.  I've had some fatigue, since I got back on the health wagon after New Years.  I hate backsliding.

Many illnesses are because of the American lifestyle of processed foods, little exercise, thousands of tons of toxic chemicals added daily to our environment, high carbohydrates, high stress, lack of sleep, little community and family time, and long hours.  The great thing is that we together can change that, either by lifestyle choices like eating, exercise, rest, purpose, friendships, or spirituality, or our reducing body's toxic load  from our food, water, air, and environment.  

Wouldn't it be fabulous to be able to somehow reduce our need for healthcare by 80%?!  That's what I'm looking for in my reading and study. That's why I started yoga, the Wahls Diet, and  now "Blue Zones."

The idea behind "Blue Zones," were identified in studies by Dan Bruettner a National Geographic writer, of the five healthiest communities in the world.  People regularly live longer and healthier lives, and have nine characteristics in common.  They are Okinawa, Japan, Sardinia, Italy, somewhere in Greece, a peninsula in Costa Rica, and Loma Linda, California.  You can find more information on them online at www.bluezonesproject.com 

I joined the Cedar Rapids Blue Zone Ambassadors last week to create a Blue Zone here.  Great starting place (ouch.)  I can surely get healthier.

Sorry I started out complaining.  One thing I know when I'm sick, I remember how it awful it feels and you can't do anything about it!  I know I feel more empathy for those suffering from illness.  

 I am thankful for the health I have.  I still can get up each day, work and do most things for myself, and even help others to be healthier.   Those who are not blessed with good health,  don't give up.  Keep looking.  Join the Blue Zones, good luck.

Best health to all of us, day by day!