Good day, my fellow readers.
Before we get into today’s post, I just want to say thank you — truly — for taking the time to read my blog. I am currently working toward monetizing this space, and every single view means more to me than you know. I haven’t received comments yet, but I’m not giving up. Writing and journalism are my dreams, and I’m determined to turn this passion into something that can support my family and my future.
So thank you for being here.
Today, I want to talk about something that has completely shifted my mindset as I entered my 30s: intention.
I’ve officially been 30 for almost a week now, but my journey toward living more intentionally actually began right at the start of the new year.
Where My Intentional Living Began
The very first area I decided to become more intentional about was what I put into my body.
When I was pregnant in 2024, I had a lot of time on my hands. It was a high-risk pregnancy, and during that time I did an enormous amount of research. What I discovered honestly shocked me.
We live in a world surrounded by toxicity — and most of us don’t even realize it.
From the toothpaste we use, to the plastic dishes in our cabinets, to the water we drink and the containers we drink it from — so many everyday products contain unnecessary additives, preservatives, and chemicals that slowly harm our bodies.
And the most mind-blowing part?
There is a better way to live.
No, it’s not realistic or affordable for everyone to go completely non-toxic — and I’m definitely not claiming that switching grocery stores magically adds years to your life. Everything contains something. Clean living can be expensive, and that’s just the truth.
As someone who has lost everything before and is only now rebuilding — budgeting, managing money, and learning financial discipline again — I had to be realistic.
But I noticed something important.
By choosing not to eat out, I was actually saving money.
And that’s where everything started.
Eating With Purpose Instead of Convenience
Living in a small town, I realized something uncomfortable about myself:
I wasn’t eating because I was hungry — I was eating because it was something to do.
So I started asking myself different questions:
- Am I eating to sustain my body?
- Am I eating to give myself energy?
- Am I eating to properly manage my type 1 diabetes?
- Am I eating so I can be around long enough to watch my children grow?
That mindset changed everything.
I grew up in a household where eating out was normal — sometimes twice a week, sometimes nearly every day. Fast food was convenient, affordable, and familiar.
My baby sister, especially, grew up obsessed with McDonald’s cheeseburgers. To this day, at 18 years old, she would choose a McDonald’s cheeseburger over a fancy restaurant any day.
And that made me start asking why.
We all know McDonald’s. It’s a household name. It’s marketed perfectly — especially to children. But if you gave someone $1,000 and asked whether they’d prefer McDonald’s or a five-star Michelin experience (or even Gordon Ramsay cooking in their home), most people would choose the luxury experience without hesitation.
So why don’t we treat our everyday eating the same way?
The answers are obvious: convenience, cost, familiarity, and comfort.
But convenience comes at a price — our health.
The Wake-Up Call
I’ve worked at McDonald’s before. Many of us have. Everything is frozen. Nothing is fresh. No one is seasoning beef or forming patties in the back.
And I started thinking — if I’m paying for frozen food anyway, why not cook it at home?
That realization pushed me to eat at home more, and something beautiful happened:
I remembered how much I love cooking.
Cooking calms me. It grounds me. It’s therapeutic.
Now, not everything I make turns out amazing — let’s be clear, I am not a chef. I’ve absolutely made meals that made me question my life choices. But I enjoy it.
Before being intentional, I ate just to eat.
There were nights I would eat an entire box of Rice-A-Roni in one sitting — no protein, no balance — just rice covered in ranch dressing. Or mornings where I’d eat an entire rope of processed sausage by myself.
And seeing the research on processed foods, preservatives, and their long-term effects made me stop and reflect.
My eating habits were not sustainable.
Choosing Health Over Perfection
Now in 2026, my mornings look different.
I don’t call it a diet — because it isn’t.
I follow a low-carb, high-protein lifestyle, something that research consistently supports for diabetics. I’ve also committed to the gym on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to rebuild strength and muscle.
I’m not chasing fast results.
My body has been through a lot:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Pregnancy
- Homelessness
- Living in a car
- Extreme stress
- Giving birth to two children
So I’m giving myself grace — and time.
I’m not looking for a 30-day transformation. I’m looking for longevity.
You Truly Are What You Eat
Another reason I became more intentional with food was my hair.
Insulin alone can dry hair follicles. Add stress, poor nutrition, and years of heat damage, and it takes a toll. I wanted my curls back. I wanted my body to return to its natural rhythm.
When you realize that many hair products contain ingredients you can actually eat — coconut oil, aloe vera, avocado — it makes you think.
Your skin is the largest organ on your body.
What you put inside of you will eventually show on the outside.
And I didn’t want to keep seeing the effects of neglect as I aged.
Even now, with January coming to an end — and my baby girl turning one — I can honestly say I feel better. I have more energy. I enjoy movement. And even on hard days, I show up for myself in small ways.
Living With Meaning
This year, I made a promise to myself:
Everything I do should have intention behind it.
If I’m resting, it’s to restore my body.
If I’m reading, it’s to escape and learn.
If I’m speaking, it’s with thought and care.
I’ve learned to pause before reacting. To remove myself from conversations that don’t serve me. To not respond out of pain or ego.
That self-control — that discernment — is growth.
And it’s not easy.
But I refuse to meet hurt with hurt anymore.
Moving Forward With Purpose
I will go deeper in future posts about how I’m applying intention to my daily habits — especially in my walk with God — because that is something you must actively pursue.
I truly believe we can all be better than we were in 2025.
This blog isn’t meant to be polished perfection.
It’s meant to be honest, raw, and real.
Not vacations.
Not fake happiness.
Not curated perfection.
Just life — as it really is.
If you see yourself in my words, whether in strength or struggle, then I’ve done what I set out to do: build community.
Thank you for reading.
And don’t forget to stop by next week 🤍
