Everybody has an image inside their heads that
represents “me.” The “me” is our center, how we define who we are in relation
to the rest of our world. Mine just got blasted into wacky-holistic/crunchy-granola/out-there
land.
Being the wonderful, supportive, and humble husband
that I am, I have been more or less onboard with Laura’s holistic journey. The
changes seemed pretty normal at the beginning:
Laura: “Husband,
maybe you should give up fast food for a while, it’s bad for you in so many
ways”
Me: “Yea,
you’re probably right. Just for a little while. I’m not giving up my McDonald Shamrock
Shakes in March though...”
Laura: “I
think we should switch to all organic foods. I cannot believe how fake
everything is with chemicals and hormones.”
Me: “That
sounds expensive. I feel okay after a couple of corn dogs at the fair, but…we
can try it for a little while.”
Small changes – but I could roll with it. “I’m still a
pretty normal guy” I told myself. However, the slippery slope was getting
steeper.
Laura: “We
need to triple our vegetable intake; let’s join a CSA; here, try this bone
broth; I just learned how to make non-chemical deodorant for us…”
And while I was dropping 25 lbs. of extra weight and
feeling better than I had in years I kept thinking, “What the heck is going on
here? None of my friends have freezers full of chicken feet, drink raw milk, or
take fish oil after every meal.” That’s the kind of strange stuff that
sandal-wearing tree huggers do. Not me.
But this week I had to look smack in the face at
reality and admit that the sandals did fit pretty well after all.
I had a painful, angry rash that had been under my arm
for about a month. I tried a variety of treatments with no success. Just as I
was about to make an appointment with my Oriental Medicine doctor, Laura says, “You
need pro-biotics, you should try putting Kefir under your arm.” To which I
lovingly replied, “Kefir is spoiled milk – are you crazy?! “ Laura replied, “I’ll
bet that it will clear up the rash, and if you lose the bet and your arm gets
better you have to write about it on my blog.”
Thankfully nobody at work asked me about the new
cologne I wore for a week called “Curdled-the essence of bizarre.”
Did it clear up the rash under my arm? Would I tell
this story to the world if I hadn’t just lost another bet to Laura?
Yea, I guess I have to admit that I am pretty far out
there. But…it doesn’t feel as far away as I thought it would!
Ryan (Husband)
Love this! Holistic husbands unite...this is the story of reluctant holistic husbands everywhere.
Posted by: Jacqui | March 01, 2009 at 08:15 AM
You remind me of my husband!
Posted by: Andrea | March 02, 2009 at 04:12 PM
Teehee - too funny!! (Don't tell my husband...but he's headed down this track too.)
Posted by: Anne | April 06, 2009 at 06:35 PM