Simple Living Month: Day 9

A quick look at several indoor plants so that you can see that there will be some plant to match your indoor style.

Everyone likes fresh, clean healthy-to-breath air right?
Well did you know that the air inside of our homes and office buildings is more than likely more polluted than outside?

That's right, all of those toxic cleaning supplies (we'll conquer those later) and carpet fibers, etc, fly into the air to make our homes extremely polluted.

So how do we end this madness naturally and simply?

Plant a plant or five to use in your house. They naturally detoxify the air in your home and not only that, they are natural mood boosters.

Scout and I have at least five indoor plants I can think of off the top of my head just inside our apartment.

So happy planting on this beautiful weekend!

And don't forget, it wouldn't hurt to plant a tree outside while you're at it either.

**Simple Living Month** Day 2

From my trip to Tunisia, Africa.

In case you are looking for something to do this weekend....

Turn off the TV.
It will save electricity, energy, and money.

and

Go outside.

Part of living simply, is living a balanced life so that we can feel and actually be healthier and more in tune with our bodies and our spirits. When we are surrounded by technology and noise all day, it only seems logical to need to spend equal parts outside in the non-man-made, quieter world so that we can decompress from our busy lives.

That may be near impossible if you work in an office all day, but try to spend at least a little time outside every day and then maybe get a good hike in or bike ride on the weekends. You don't have to go backpacking, buy a bike that resembles Lance Armstrong's, or suddenly take up repelling (though that would be cool), just go outside and walk or even sit if walking/jogging/biking isn't your thing.

Just be in nature.

This will not only be therapeutic, but if it becomes a habit for humans, it will no doubt decrease our ever-increasing obesity rates because we will be moving more.

Outside of Barcelona, Spain

I had the privilege of growing up out in the middle of nowhere aka- in the middle of nature... with woods and fields and a creek on our property. I am so grateful for this conscious choice my parents made for our family so that we could grow up with a great appreciation for the world around us.

This doesn't mean you need to relocate your family, it just encourages us to make conscious decisions for our family and ourselves that benefit our overall lifestyle.
And since it's literally as easy as walking outside...

Lake Como, Outside of Milan, Italy

If my words aren't completely convincing :), or you just want more proof that what I say is scientifically true or need some more inspiration, check out these articles:

Nature Deficit Disorder increases in our kids and families.

Nature's therapeutic effects.

Stuck on what to do outside? Check out this list.
(It has some stuff to do inside too, but I really liked the basic outside suggestions!)

Let me know what you end up doing on your outside adventure!

**My photos are from my travels. I have been very blessed to travel and hope you enjoy seeing the photos as I always enjoy reliving these experiences.

Want to see this.

In college, I was a part of a student group on campus known as GlobeMed. It was a FABULOUS, passionate group to be a part of and I miss them desperately. (It's a nation-wide group so check out if your campus has it.) Anyways, we met weekly and discussed issues of global health- the practicalities and the impracticalities and the necessity of global health equity.

Many times, religious belief stands in the way of health care. Being extremely interested in religion on multiple levels (I hope to teach religion on a college level one day- a dream I become more and more passionate about daily), I am naturally drawn to this impediment of health care. Oftentimes, it is the belief in witchcraft that hinders medical treatment. For example, a member of a community who suffers from leprosy will be shunned and isolated or even killed by the community for the belief that the sick man or woman is full of an evil spirit and literally DESERVES to be sick because of something he or she did to deserve it instead of receiving medical treatment. There is rarely an actual known reason of the evil deed of the person and is a superstition that obviously needs to be changed. Anyways, this movie seems to attest to this challenge in global health. It makes health care a big second to education in many ways in these areas of the world whereas it's often health care that needs to come first. After all, can't learn if you can't breath.