Fruitful Life

 Good Morning! I've been on the no-C.R.A.P. regime for over a week and the most prominent discovery has been my addiction to caffeine. When the food-for-perkiness is removed, I'm left with having to deal with the rolling terrain of caffeine ups and downs.  I've decided to get out of the caffeine cart. So far side effects include eyes that are squinty and watery. Kombucha, as you know, is made with tea leaves and sugar fermented with a symbiotic community of bacteria and yeast. I've enjoyed this tart and tangy drink on and off for years. Caffeinated, mildly alcoholic, and tangy with a tiny bit of sweet, booch provides a nice soothing distraction from my day. Well, I've been convicted of using it as a distraction from my day's troubles, tasks and toils. Instead of seeking God, I sought the booch and was rewarded with nice flavor and some "chill."  Unfortunately or fortunately, I have unpleasant side effects from enjoying the tasty beverage. A mild "...

 It has been a somewhat difficult few weeks. Having said good by to my kombucha and SCOBY, I had felt sad and free. The discomfort I was feeling began to recede immediately, but not as quickly as I would have liked. My mornings are not as "brisk" without that kick of caffeine! Adding yoga in the mornings on occasion has helped get my blood pumping, enjoying devotional time on my back porch with the breeze and natural light is marvelous! When I feel myself lagging, I have a tiny hit of caffeine -- say, 1/4 cup of caffeinated tea or two or three sips of coffee. It is just enough to clear the brain fog but not enough to energize me artificially. My brain may have been permanently changed by my life long habit of tea drinking.  The best part of being caffeine-freeish is sleep. My nights now end about the same time, 10:30 or so, and I sleep all night long with no one or two hour wakeful periods that used to plague me. I wake up at 5:30 or 6 ready to start my day. Sleep is wonderfu...