Life in Focus: A Lesson from Two Photographs

 June 2, 2025

A few days ago while I was getting in my steps by walking around the neighborhood I snapped a photo of some wild yellow flowers blooming among the leaves and tangled grasses on the side of the road.  The image was natural and real, but I felt like the beauty of the flowers was not being fully seen.

So I enhanced the photo.

I did not add anything artificial to the photograph.  I only removed the distractions, brought in more clarity and emphasized what mattered most.

Here is the original image:

Here is the enhanced image:

In the edited photo, the yellow flowers are still in the same place. The leaves and grasses still frame the scene.. But now, your eyes go straight to the beauty. The light is more generous. The clutter is less visible. What’s important comes forw
And isn’t that exactly what we try to do in our own lives?

We don’t need to change the whole picture.
We just need to see it differently.

We can:
- Let go of what pulls us away from our center
- Focus on the parts that bring us joy
- Sharpen the image of what really matters

These two images are a reminder that clarity doesn't come from doing more—it comes from clearing space.

Sometimes, beauty needs a little room to breathe.

Still Curious. Still Growing, Still Grateful.

by Janis @ Simple Raw and Natural

Growing Roots, Growing Wings

 May 21, 2025

Here I am in front of the Sydney Harbor Bridge
Sept 11, 2011

Our raw foods group didn’t begin as a social gathering.

It began as a search for healing.

In 2009, after becoming seriously ill, I began looking for answers beyond what conventional medicine was offering me. That search led me to Dr. John Fielder in Australia, a natural hygienist and teacher with a strict but deeply rooted philosophy of healing through food, rest, sun, and natural living.

I met up with him in Houston in 2010 and began to study closely with him. His visits, the lectures I organized, and the community that began to form around those ideas eventually gave birth to our Raw Foods Group in 2011.

For years, it felt like we had discovered something powerful—a way of connecting with food, and each other, that felt nourishing on every level.

But over time, my path shifted. In 2020, I made the personal decision to take medication for my health. That decision ended my working relationship with Dr. Fielder, whose belief system allowed no room for compromise.

That moment was painful—but it was also clarifying.

I had grown. I had learned to embrace nuance, science, and flexibility. I still believe in the power of plants. I still love preparing beautiful food and sharing it with others. But I also believe that we deserve the full toolbox—nature and medicine, experience and evidence.

And now I find myself in a tender place. I still host the group that formed from those early days. I love the joy people find in it. I respect the traditions they hold. But I also hear the same talking points I once repeated, and I know in my bones that my truth has moved.

Silence is not the same as agreement. And evolution is not betrayal.

So I keep showing up—offering what I can, holding space for what was, and gently planting seeds for what might be.

Maybe that’s the most nourishing thing of all.

Still Curious. Still Growing, Still Grateful.

by Janis @ Simple Raw and Natural

Even When It Rings True: A Lesson in Discernment from a Meme

 May 20, 2005

There is a quote going around that I have seen several times.  

“You cannot follow both Christ and the cruelty of kings. A leader who mocks the weak, exalts himself, and preys on the innocent is not sent by God. He is sent to test you. And many are failing.”— Pope Leo XIV

It was bold. Convicting. And honestly—it spoke to everything I believe about compassion, justice, and moral courage. I almost shared it immediately.

But something made me pause.

Just about everyone knows who Pope Leo XIV is by now. He was chosen to be Pope in May 2025. He is the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, a man known for his heart for the poor and his commitment to pastoral care. But here’s the thing: this quote doesn’t appear in any official statement, homily, or address he has given.

It seems the quote has been circulating for some time, likely before his election, and was attributed to “Pope Leo XIV” as a way to give the message weight. This attribution causes confusion.

And that got me thinking. How easy it is to be manipulated not just by lies we disagree with—but by messages we want to be true. When a statement flatters our worldview, reflects our values, or gives us a sense of moral clarity, we’re far more likely to accept it without question. But that’s where discernment becomes essential.

Real discernment isn’t just about spotting what’s false. It’s about learning to pause even when something rings true—to ask, Is this real? Is it grounded? Is it wise to pass along?

We live in a world flooded with information—some of it true, some of it clever, some of it emotionally charged and carefully engineered to push us into outrage, righteousness, or division. If we want to live with integrity, we have to learn how to listen to our conscience and double-check our facts.

Even when we agree with the message. Especially then.

So I didn’t share the meme. But I am sharing this story. Because I think we’re all navigating a strange new world where truth, fiction, faith, and persuasion swirl together faster than we can process. And we’re all learning as we go.

Here’s what I’m learning:

- That discernment is a habit worth building.
- That emotional truth and factual truth are not always the same.
- And that pausing is a sacred act.

A Final Thought

The quote may not be from Pope Leo XIV. But it still spoke to something inside me—and maybe inside you too. That part is still worth paying attention to. And maybe that’s where discernment begins: not in rejecting every word, but in learning how to listen deeply and still ask questions.

Still Curious. Still Growing, Still Grateful.

by Janis @ Simple Raw and Natural

The Ox in the Ditch (and the Turtle in the Road)

 May 19, 2025

Yesterday on the way to our little country church, Travis and I saw a box turtle lying upside down in the road. We passed it by at first—just one more bump in the journey. But I could tell by the way he tightened his grip on the wheel that it had gotten to him.

“Are you going to turn around and help that turtle?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said, eyes scanning for a place to turn around. “As soon as I can find a spot.”

So we turned around. And sure enough, the poor thing had been hit. Its shell was cracked. Another car was coming, so in a hurry, Travis picked it up and tossed it over the fence into the pasture.

“Why did you throw it?” I asked, wincing.

“I was trying to get it out of the tall grass,” he replied. “So it wouldn’t get stuck.”

We drove on, but I could feel the weight of that turtle still sitting with him. After a moment he said, “I’m going back.”

And back we went—again. He spotted the turtle, now on its back again, in the pasture. Determined to help, he decided to climb through the barbed-wire fence. Mind you, Travis is almost 80 years old.

I held the wires apart while he tried to squeeze through, but he lost his footing and down he went—right into the ditch. And because I was holding the fence, I fell with him.

I bounced up fairly easily. He did not.

There we were: two old folks in the ditch on a Sunday morning, rescuing a busted-up turtle. Grass-stained and breathless, we stood there trying to decide what to do next when a man from our church slowed his car to check on us.

“We’re fine!” we waved. “Just rescuing a turtle!”

He nodded and drove on, no doubt wondering what in the world we were doing.

“I’m going in there and getting that turtle,” Travis said again.

“You can’t go through that fence,” I told him.

“Yes, I can,” he insisted.

But just then, the turtle flipped itself over.

We looked at each other. And laughed. And headed to church—him with grass stains on his new shirt and pants, both of us a little bruised but smiling.

As we sat down in the pew, he leaned over and whispered, “Isn’t there something in the Bible about an ox in the ditch?”

I nodded. “Yes—if your ox falls in the ditch on the Sabbath, you get him out.”

He grinned. “Well, we did. Even if it was a turtle.”

Still Curious, Still Growing. Still Grateful.

Janis - Simple Raw and Natural

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

 May 13, 2005

The Elegance of the Hedgehog Book Review

by Janis at Simple Raw and Natural

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, translated from the French by Alison Anderson

This book caught me off guard in a good way.  Muriel Barbery, the author, is a French author and a former professor of philosophy.  She has lived in both France and Japan, and her love for both cultures adds subtle richness to the book.

It starts off quietly - philosophical, full of big ideas and small, hidden lives within a Parisian apartment building. But by the end, it reaches something much deeper.  Without giving anything away, I'll just say that the final chapters stayed with me long after I finished the book.

Barbery is gifted in her ability to weave together ideas about beauty, purpose, class and meaning - but what really struck me was this idea she hints at - the "aristocracy of the heart".  Not people who are born into status and wealth, but people who choose to live with integrity, who see the world with tenderness and curiosity, who make space for beauty even when it isn't practical.

One of the things I appreciated most was the influence of Japanese culture on the story - particularly the way both Renee, the concierge, and Paloma, the young girl from an aristocratic family, are drawn to simplicity, stillness, and beauty.  Their connection with Kakuro Ozu, a refined and kindhearted Japanese tenant, brings a shift in their inner lives and underscores the novel's central theme:  that the most profound beauty is often hidden behind quiet doors.

"I have finally concluded, maybe that's what life is about: there's a lot of despair, but also the odd moment of beauty, where time is no longer the same." - from The Elegance of the Hedgehog

The ending reminded me that some of the most important things in life are quiet, easily missed, and deeply human.  It left me with a mixture of hope and sorrow - and a call to be more open and to keep looking for moments of connection and wonder, even....especially in the ordinary.

This isn't a book for rushing through.  It's one to sit with.

Still curious. Still growing. Still grateful.

.Janis

The Mediterranean Diet Still Considered Gold Standard

 May 8, 2025

The Mediterranean Diet Is Still The Gold Standard.  Here’s Why!

by Janis at Simple Raw and Natural

The Mediterranean diet is still considered the gold standard by most of the medical and scientific community for maintaining health and helping prevent (and sometimes reverse early) diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and even cognitive decline.

It holds that status based on the large, long-term, peer -reviewed studies like the Predimed trial in Spain where major cardiovascular events were reduced by 30% on the Mediterranean diet, the Lyon Heart Study which after a heart attack, Mediterranean diet cut recurrence risk by 72%, as well as numerous combined smaller studies of pooled data  of thousands of people.

Other diets, such as low-fat vegan diets, whole food plant-based diets, Dr. Brooke Goldner's hyper-nourishment protocol and raw food diet have also shown excellent result - sometimes even reversing disease - but the case studies have been smaller and more targeted.  They show promise, though, especially for autoimmune diseases, severe heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.

Nevertheless, these diets have not been tested in the same massive, decades-long randomized trials that the Mediterranean diet has been through.  Therefore, the Mediterranean Diet has the best overall evidence across many diseases, is very sustainable and socially acceptable.  The Low-Fat Vegan/Whole Food Plant-Based diet is excellent for heart disease, diabetes, and weight loss, but has less long-term trial data although the smaller studies have been strong.  Dr. Goldner's Hyper-Nourishment Protocol was specialized for autoimmune reversal and has amazing case reports in small studies.  Raw Food Diets can be extremely healing short-term but they are harder to sustain long-term and they have not been broadly tested in large trials.

Summary:

If someone is facing serious disease and needs reversal, a low-fat plant-based diet can sometimes do even better than the Mediterranean diet, especially for heart disease and autoimmune issues.

If someone is trying to prevent disease and live long-term with flexibility and enjoyment, the Mediterranean diet still has the most solid evidence.

Still curious. Still growing. Still grateful.

.Janis

The Man Who Saved the World (And the Night I Remember Too Well)

 May 7, 2025

The Man Who Saved the World (And the Night I Remember Too Well)

by Janis at Simple Raw and Natural

In October 1962, I was 14 years old, living in Châteauroux, France, on a U.S. Air Force base with my family. It was the height of the Cold War, but until then, it had mostly been a distant backdrop to our lives—talk of “the Russians” sometimes floated in and out of conversation.

But that week? That week was different.

The Cuban Missile Crisis had reached a boiling point. The Soviets had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the coast of Florida, and President Kennedy had drawn a clear red line. The U.S. Navy formed a blockade around Cuba. Soviet ships were approaching. And nobody knew what would happen next.

I remember the night the base went on high alert. My dad was suddenly called in. I don’t remember if he even said goodbye as he walked out the door, but I do remember the look on his face—tight, serious, worried. My mother lay on the living room floor listening to the radio, crying and praying. That image is still etched into my mind: a woman with so much faith and no control over what was unfolding.

We knew something terrible might happen. We just didn’t know how close we truly were to the edge.

It wasn’t until decades later that I learned just how close.

Far below the surface of the ocean that night, on October 27, 1962, a Soviet submarine named B-59 was being hunted by the U.S. Navy. The Americans didn’t know the sub was carrying a nuclear torpedo. They were dropping depth charges—warning shots meant to signal the sub to surface. But to the Soviet crew, cut off from communication with Moscow, it felt like an attack. They believed nuclear war might have already begun.

The captain of the sub was ready to strike back. He wanted to launch the nuclear torpedo.

Under Soviet protocol, the launch required the agreement of three men: the captain, the political officer, and the second-in-command.

Two said yes.

The third—Vasily Alexandrovich Arkhipov—said no.

His “no” wasn’t shouted or dramatic. It was resolute. He calmly insisted they surface, wait for orders, and avoid escalation. He convinced the others to stand down.

In doing so, Vasily Arkhipov likely saved hundreds of millions of lives, including mine.

Historians now believe that had the submarine launched its torpedo, the U.S. would have responded with nuclear force—not just against the sub, but against Soviet installations and cities. The Soviets would have retaliated in turn. We would not be sitting here talking about it.

But for many years, Arkhipov’s heroism was hidden from the world. His actions were classified. He was just one name among many in Cold War files.

It wasn’t until the late 1990s and early 2000s that the full story emerged, thanks to declassified documents and the testimony of fellow officers. Arkhipov, who had already survived another terrifying nuclear incident aboard the Soviet submarine K-19, was a quiet man. He didn’t seek praise. But those who know the story now call him “the man who saved the world.”

As a teenager on a U.S. base in France, I had no idea who Arkhipov was. I only knew the world felt like it might end.

Now, as an adult, I find myself remembering that night more often—especially in times when the world feels shaky again. It reminds me that history can hinge on a single person’s clarity. That calm can triumph over chaos. That sometimes, the greatest acts of courage are the ones no one sees.

So today, I say thank you, Vasily Arkhipov. And I remember my mother’s prayers. Maybe they were answered in the most unexpected way—by a man in a submarine, who refused to push a button.

Here is a photo of my mother that day. The radio she listened to is behind her. The same radio that carried news of a world on the brink. She didn’t know Arkhipov’s name. None of us did. But her prayers were heard in ways she never imagined.

Still curious. Still growing. Still grateful.

Janis