Peace of mind-a start

I have been rediscovering myself in the past few months. It has turned out to be a very good thing. I quit my full-time management job and went back to part-time. I am re-discovering the vegetarian way of life that I lived for many years as a teen and while raising my own daughters. My husband and I are in a sort of "re-discovering" phase, or maybe a discovering phase, but whatever we might call it--it is a good thing too. I am taking a couple writing classes to get motivated in my writing which has been neglected for a couple years.
A lot of things have been neglected for years now. The reasons for neglect don't matter--they are never good reasons anyway. The fact that the neglect has been discovered and laid out on the kitchen table like the Sunday newspaper is what really matters. Now it can be dealt with. Now there is a place to start.
So I have taken some time to sort life matters into different catagories, decide which are priorities, what I really care about and put others to rest.
All of this sorting has led me to what I truly want for the rest of my life--peace of mind.
In this search that will start with me and end with me, I have decided that I need to be healty enough to venture on my quest and this has led to some changes in my personal lifestyle.
First and foremost is my health.
For health and environmental reasons and animal rights, I am transitioning back to a vegetarian diet. For two months now I have not eaten anything with legs. I have made a conscious effort not to eat eggs and milk--meaning I still eat pasta even though it is made with eggs. I still eat cheese (rennet free) and occasionally seafood and fish. I buy organic as often as I can.
My philosophy on animal rights is this: I don't care if people eat animals. But I do believe that if you are going to own or eat animals, it should be without cruelty. This means that I personally am against factory farming and caged chickens or any industry that brutilizes animals so that people can eat them. Most of these animal industries have a detrimental effect on our environment too. PETA has a list of animal-friendly industries on the web.
I haven't made a lot of other changes health-wise--not exercising more or drinking beer less, but I am feeling really, really good. And I think this first step toward peace of mind has been good for my relationship with my husband.
We have had early breakfast together on Saturday mornings and then headed over to the Kalamazoo Farmer's Market to buy veggies. He is a sport when I try new recipes (and new veggies, although okra isn't a hit with either one of us). He even shucked two bushels of corn while I was at work and then helped me put it up in the freezer. He made a strickly and very tasty veggie dish to take to a potluck at his sisters!
It was his idea to buy a freezer. He is even going to help with the garden next year, but not weeding. I've been warned.
I will continue to document on this blog the changes that I am making toward peace of mind--a peace of mind that comes with being right with myself, my relationships and the world.
I would love to hear from you--but not argue with you. Arguing doesn't promote peace or peace of mind, dialogue does.