Feel the Difference: How I Started Natural Living (Part 1)

How it Started

Hey there, I hope life’s treating you well.

A few people have asked me to talk more about my herbal and natural living journey, and honestly… this whole thing started kind of by accident.

Back in 2021, I got really sick. Like really sick. The kind where you don’t even want to eat, and my daughter was basically forcing me to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches just so I had something in my stomach.

After that, I remember thinking: “Yeah… I never want my family feeling like this again if I can help it.”

And that’s what accidentally launched me into the natural-living rabbit hole… which apparently has no exit 😅.

At first, I was just curious. Then suddenly I was watching herbal videos at midnight, reading about elderberry syrup, and wondering if I should become the kind of person who grows herbs in mason jars on the windowsill.

Spoiler alert: I absolutely became that person.

Now before we go any further — I’m not a doctor, and I’m definitely not telling anyone to throw modern medicine out the window. This is just me sharing what I’ve personally tried, learned, and what seemed to help my family along the way.

The First Thing That Caught My Attention

One of the first things I kept hearing about was elderberry.

At the time, it seemed like every natural-living person online was talking about it during cold and flu season, so naturally I got curious.

Around that same time, there was a fall festival near where I live with a bunch of little vendors, homemade products, food trucks, and all the cozy fall stuff that somehow convinces you to spend money you weren’t planning on spending.

As I walked around, I spotted a stand selling homemade elderberry syrup and herbal tinctures.

And listen… I stood there debating forever before buying it 😅.

Part of me was thinking: “Is this actually going to help… or did I just buy expensive berry juice?”

But my kids were constantly bringing home every school germ imaginable, so I figured it was worth trying.

And honestly? I noticed a difference.

No, my kids didn’t suddenly become invincible little immune-system superheroes. But it felt like we weren’t getting hit quite as hard or as often, and for me, that was enough to keep learning.

That’s when I realized natural living wasn’t really about being perfect.

It was more about paying attention to what makes your body feel better.

Then Came Honey

Now let’s talk about honey for a second because this became another staple in our house.

And no… not in the “Pinterest homestead influencer” kind of way 😅
I just genuinely started liking small, simple swaps where I could.

I started putting honey in my tea instead of regular sugar, especially whenever my throat felt irritated or I had a cough.

Okay okay… My husband usually makes the tea and puts the honey in it for me every morning 😂.

But still. It became part of my routine.
One thing I’ve learned through this whole journey is that natural living doesn’t have to mean becoming extreme or acting like herbs magically fix everything.

For me, it’s mostly been about slowing down, learning more about what I put into my body, and trying small things that may support my health in a gentler way.

And honestly? I’m still learning as I go.

What I Learned Pretty Quickly

The second you start researching herbs, you realize there are approximately 7 million of them and every person online swears their favorite herb changed their life.

Suddenly I was hearing words like: Ashwagandha. Rhodiola. Mullein. Magnesium spray. Tinctures.

At one point I probably sounded like a slightly chaotic woodland witch explaining plants to my husband in the kitchen 😅.

But I also started noticing something:
A lot of these natural habits made me feel more connected to my health instead of just ignoring symptoms and hoping for the best.

Even simple things like drinking more tea, sleeping better, or paying attention to ingredients started making a difference for me personally.

Wrapping Things Up

This was honestly just the beginning of the rabbit hole for me.

Because once I started learning about elderberry and honey, I somehow ended up researching magnesium sprays, herbal teas, tinctures, adaptogens, and enough natural remedies to accidentally start a tiny apothecary.

And trust me… Part 2 gets even more chaotic 😅

Until next time, have a blessed day 🤍