Saturday, December 3, 2016

Why My Progress is Slow



I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5 (NRSV)

This blog, Faithful in Health, has been little more than the germ of an idea for far too long now. Although, I wish that statement would be followed by the assertion, “But now, I’m ready to roll!” it is not—for the reasons below.

In trying to answer a simple and straightforward question asked via social media by a friend this morning—which company do I use when sourcing certain key natural ingredients—I found myself writing a lengthy reply…only to have it vanish right before I was ready to post it, of course.
I write slowly as a matter of course for several reasons. 

1.     I like to have a bit of knowledge before I speak. This sounds easy enough, but when applied to something as time-consuming as maintaining a blog, one can get bogged down very quickly.

2.        To have that background knowledge, I must first conduct the necessary research. 

Sounds simple enough, right? If the premise of this blog is a blend of two areas of interest—faith (in God) and health (natural, holistic)—how difficult can the writing be? Ha, if you only knew the lengths to which some of us on the planet over-think anything before opening our mouths to share our opinions as ones that could possibly be valid.

Case in point, over the past several years I’ve transitioned from one willing (and eager) to eat the Standard American Diet on a regular basis—basically, to use much-processed foods to fuel this body from one task to the next—to one far more discerning, who better understands the power of real, whole foods to fuel this body for the moment and for the long term.

A few epiphanies along the way, generally followed by flurries of intense learning / research, have solidified this outlook. Then, just about when I feel enthusiastic enough to share my knowledge something happens to derail the process. 

3.    One tenet of my writing is that it is sincere, honest, even bald. Since I desire to know the Whys behind just about any topic worthy of discussion, you will NOT find clickbait on this site. (At least not written by me. I expect it to be the basis of peripheral advertisements which are necessary, and are not necessarily evil. Blogging is not free.)

As such, readers will find questions embedded within discourse, likely revealing the vast quantity of knowledge yet-to-be-gained by this inadequate, ever-inquiring mind.
 
3a. Ever notice the plethora of numbers-based titles around you? “Six reasons why…,” “Ten methods of…,” and “21 uses for…” crowd advertisements, pop-up windows, and marginalia. Ever since I “discovered” blogging, oh, about eight years ago (in late 2008, early 2009, I’ve been inundated with advice urging me to write such titles. They create curiosity and practically promise quick learning opportunities; however, they do not delve into the deeper reasons, the Whys—the meat of any topic. (Ha! I just noticed that, how meat is embedded into our cultural lexicon as being the important part of any meal. It needn’t be, I’ve learned. But, that’s another topic for another day.)

3b. Even those without clickbait, I’m talking about the good, informative, well-written blogs—there are several out there that I have found, many I have yet to find—are written, generally, for readers in a rush (see item #4, below). As such, each provides information on a very specific, focused topic. Since such focus leaves out much important information, links are provided to take readers to related information…and one gets as endlessly lost as with the clickbait-type articles.

Such titles are, in my opinion, often flags for click-bait. These non-substantive articles lure readers into what may turn into hours of pursuing one topic after another, endlessly lured on—until the phone rings or one glances at the clock, only to rue the time now lost.

4.      To include reasoning requires length, yet readers haven’t time (or inclination) for length.
This is my ever-circular conundrum: the desire to be concise without forfeiting substance. In the early 21st Century society appears driven by a 140-character mentality. We want knowledge quickly. Yet, we also want knowledge upon which we can rely. To know which sources to trust requires the background knowledge of what drives each source. That background knowledge is more than a 140-character storehouse of information.

5.      Reasoning requires research. 

Research, done as I wish to have it done, requires an investment of time, energy, thought, and finances. If I’m to present an authoritative opinion on any topic, I need to have a. found the information, b. taken thorough notes, including resource citations, c. purchased the ingredients for each recipe—which includes trying similar ingredients from multiple sources and trying each of these, d. followed recipes, made the products and tried them, e. again, making copious notes, f. identified or developed my favored recipe(s)—noting specifics of brands/types of ingredients used, and g. reached a point from which I felt comfortable writing authoritatively on the topic.

6.      Case-in-point: my friend’s question. She asked about my source for Essential Oils. I shared the name of the company. She asked for contact information and I went in search of that referral link I have…somewhere, that would garner her a discount on her first purchase and award me a credit for future use. In the process…

In the process of searching (Yes, it would help to have a better filing system; note to self duly created.), In the process of searching I stumbled across a blog that included all that I would wish to include. The author has done the research, tested her recipes on family (to whom she gives credit), and thoughtful, thorough posts about the topic. Thank you, thank you Ms. Rebecca of the blog A Beautiful Ruckus <dot> com!

Her 2014 post comparing Essential Oils offered by five different companies, found here, is excellent! Well written and thoughtfully presented, it includes not only information I had already found but also so much more. It reminded me of why I have been slow to write and why, if friends are going to continue to ask me for resources, I need to educate myself—sooner rather than later.

The best result of that experience was being able to give my friend good information. Secondly, it goaded me into writing this…and thinking about all those projects I have been meaning to do but which I’ve allowed myself to postpone. Finally, it gave me the push I needed to follow through with just one of those threads I’ve been meaning to chase. (Stay tuned for adventures in home crafted shampooing!)

I firmly believe that the Lord placed us on this earth with the tools necessary to survive and thrive. Having been raised in the “living better through chemistry” years, though, I’ve bought into much misinformation (some deliberate), along with many others. Raised by an organic gardener as well as a scientist, with an emphasis on social justice and less on church sermons than church community, this inquiring mind has come to trust more deeply in Him than ever before, and to appreciate the diversity of resources with which He provided all living creatures. 

Blessings,
Cynthia
29 November 2016

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