Carolyn of Ancestral Approach // Wellness Women.

We are almost to the end of APRIL. What the what!? I cannot believe how fast this year is already flying by. I am pretty sure I type that every time I write a blog post these days. Ha. But it’s true! I guess that means we are goin’ + blowin’, and maybe I’m not taking the time to notice + be present with the little changes of the seasons.

I would use the word “busy” but I just really hate that word. It’s been way OVER-glorified, IMO. Like, more is better, being stressed is better, sacrificing self-care is better……for…what? Gasp. #yafeelme?

I think we as a culture have been pursuing a life of “busy + hustle” because we feel that if we aren’t, then we aren’t doing anything meaningful with our lives. And I am here to tell you that is just fucking FALSE. These over-scheduled, over-whelmed, over-stimulated, over-worked, over-medicated ways of going about life, are really not living at all. Right?

I mean, think about it. WE HAVE CONTROL over our schedules. And yet somehow, our schedules control us and dictate our every move. You may think you don’t, but truly, you do. Of course, some things we can’t control, like job start times or kids needing to be tended to, but are you tracking with me?

NEWS FLASH: You have the power to set up a less rushed life. You don’t HAVE to participate in every little thing that comes your way. You don’t HAVE to “hustle” just for the sake of an expectation that really makes us all miserable. (Of course there is a time and place when you gotta get shit done, but you get what I’m saying, right?!)

You have control over what you say “Yes” to just as much as you say “No.” Hint: I say “No” more and more these days, and friggin’ LOVE it. #noshame

Perhaps it’s the introvert in me, but the thought of every minute of every day being dictated by someone or something else just exhausts me. I lose inspiration, creativity, motivation, and purpose when I’ve gone too long without freedom to rest and simply BE.

Now, I’m not saying go and be lazy. Hell, but if you are so busy up to your eyeballs, you might need a few days to Netflix and Chill before you begin to claim your newfound freedom.

What I’m saying here is, slow down and carve out the time to do the things that bring you joy. JUST BECAUSE YOU LOVE THEM. Not to monetize, gain anything or please anyone. But solely for the sake of your love for it. Just to create. Just to rest. Just to read a juicy teen novel. Just to play with your pups. Just to spend quality time with your loved ones, unplugged, and away from all devices.

Maybe, just maybe, this idea of slow-living will open up more joy, peace + presence in your life, making you feel fulfilled and whole in your relationships. This idea of less hustle and more heart will bring you joy in the work you are doing, no matter if it is for yourself or for someone else. This idea that it has never been about the end game, but rather realizing that enjoying the journey is the whole point.

So, what do you say? You can start small. It doesn’t have to be extravagant.

I don’t know about you, but I am a-okay with being in a sort of adequate, vanilla-flavored, average state of just….whelmed.

Yup, sounds good to me.

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Alright on to this week’s Wellness Woman, Carolyn! We met at the NTA conference in Portland a few months ago, and I was just instantly drawn to her! After finding out a bit of her story, and the Dreamland (seriously it’s my dream) she is creating in Pennsylvania, I couldn’t wait to share her with you guys! Read her interview below!

MEET CAROLYN

Hi! I’m Carolyn Marotta, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, RESTART Instructor, owner of Ancestral Approach and part owner of Dreamland Farmstead. My husband, Ken, is my best friend, and we have the pleasure of raising three amazing kiddos – Mason, Adeline, and Amelia on our 200-year-old farmstead in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Ken and I have always been passionate about food, sustainability and where our food comes from. So, our recent project, Dreamland Farmstead, is literally a dream come true!

FAVORITE FOOD, TREAT OR INDULGENCE?

My all-time favorite dessert is a warm fudgy brownie with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge. SO GOOD. Now, I make a gluten-free version with coconut milk ice cream, like the Nada Moo brand. Delicious!

MUST HAVE SELF-CARE ITEM?

My essential oils, I use them daily for concentration, focus, sleep, skin, relaxation, all of the self-care!

WHAT TYPE OF MOVEMENT BRINGS YOU JOY?

I love being outside and using my body to move in natural ways. My favorite workouts are not the ones in the gym, they’re the ones in the garden or on the farm where I can get my hands dirty, lift heavy things and create projects outside.

SHARE A BIT ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH JOURNEY:

A little about me…I began my health journey after my son turned one year old. My husband and I always thought we were eating healthy and that we were healthy. But after trying a 30-day whole food reset diet (think paleo) we felt unbelievably amazing. For me, a lifetime of eczema issues cleared up seemingly overnight. My IBS (undiagnosed, but I had alternating diarrhea and constipation for years) was no longer an issue. I was in my mid-20’s carrying Imodium and Tums around just in case! I was also seriously addicted to sugar. Like, eat a whole bag of cookies or pint of ice cream in one sitting, addicted.

After changing our diet, I noticed my sugar cravings, PMS, anxiety and mood swings diminished significantly. After eliminating common allergens like wheat, dairy, soy, and legumes, I no longer needed either over the counter meds for constipation and diarrhea. Simply by changing my diet. That’s it!

Today, we follow a whole food, nutrient-dense template including fresh vegetables, some fruit, local meat, raw dairy (milk and cheese) and eggs, nuts and seeds, and seafood. We realize life is too short to be too dogmatic about food so when we are out and about we do the best we can with our food choices and don’t stress over those choices.

Think 80/20 rule – 80% of the time we eat high-quality food, 20% of the time we loosen the reigns within our own bio-individual needs. This came after years of healing though, which is what I help my clients achieve – remove the stressors, strengthen the defenses, reintroduce foods and enjoy life all along the way. It’s an empowering process of education, self-awareness, and healing. Through this experience, my passion for nutrition was born and I decided to pursue a career in nutritional therapy.

IF YOU ARE IN THE HEALTH REALM, PLEASE SHARE MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO!

Nutritional Therapy and specifically helping folks cut sugar cravings!

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO CONVEY TO OTHER WOMEN SEEKING OPTIMAL HEALTH?

Give yourself permission to heal slowly, be kind to yourself, and take one change at a time. It’s OK to not be perfect 100% of the time and know that your body has the ability to heal itself, it just might need some time to do so.

IF YOU COULD GIVE ONE TIP TO SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT ON THEIR HEALTH JOURNEY, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Focus on one positive change at a time. It can be overwhelming learning about nutrition, fitness, mindfulness, better sleep, toxin-free living, the list goes on! There’s a lot to discover and learn when you start, so pick the thing that speaks to you the most and go with that until you’re comfortable exploring a new topic. Maybe you start taking processed foods out of your house and cooking more at home. Then you discover you want to limit the chemicals in your household cleaners, so you start eliminating one toxic bottle at a time. Keep it simple, slow and steady wins the race.

SHARE YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SOURCE OF INSPIRATION.

I love quotes. My current favorite is by Anonymous “Be bold enough to use your voice, brave enough to listen to your heart, and strong enough to live the life you’ve always imagined.”

HOW CAN SOMEONE REACH OUT TO CONNECT WITH YOU?

You can find me at www.ancestralapproach.com, @carolynsancestralapproach on Instagram, or facebook.com/groups/ancestralapproach You can follow the Dreamland story @dreamlandfarmstead on Insta, www.dreamlandfarmstead, or facebook.com/dreamlandfarmstead

IF YOU COULD PICK TWO WORDS TO REPRESENT YOUR PERSONAL MANTRA, WHAT WOULD THEY BE AND WHY?

Gratitude + Simplify

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Thank you for sharing with us, Carolyn!

Tune in next week to see the next #WellnessWomen feature, and if you or someone you know should be featured, email us and tell us a little more about you! 😉