#20 My Food Legalism & Buying a Mattress
Life is hard, food doesn't have to be [vol1, 8.4]
“Your great learning is driving you mad.” This is what the Roman ruler, Festus, said to Paul during his defense of the gospel in Acts 26:24.
Oh how I identify.
Over my 15+ year food journey I’ve found myself in various stages of legalism. Whether it’s food, beauty products, clothes, you name it, I’m running the purchase through a grid.
Is this nourishing? Toxic? Exploiting child labor laws? Destroying the earth? Harming my gut? Am I staying within budget? Can I make this from scratch? Gaaahhhh! Sometimes these decisions are paralyzing.
When in a crazy-maker-legalism-loop I remind myself what Jesus said, “Life is more than food.” Luke 12:22.
So when I sat down to research buying a mattress, I decided to give myself an hour then I had to make a decision.
Why is research important when buying a mattress?
We spend up to ⅓ of the day with our bodies in contact with and faces very close to a mattress. Most are covered with a toxic flame retardant - unless you pay the big bucks for a natural mattress.
In life there are always risks and trade offs.
I would rather have a non-toxic mattress than a flame retardant one. We have smoke alarms in our house. I’m relying on the batteries to work and for that annoying noise to wake me. This is the risk I take.
When it comes time to buy a mattress, please do your own research. You will make the decision important to your constraints.
I wanted a mattress that wasn’t toxic and didn’t break the bank.
Two articles helpful in the decision making: Hippies Guide to Buying a Mattress and Natural Mattresses We Use for Passive Toxin Reduction.
I landed on Tuft and Needle. It was non-toxic (enough) and price was right. Actually if I’m completely honest, what won me over was the video of how the company started.
I love they call out the silly mark up of mattresses and poke fun at mattress store experiences. It didn’t hurt there’s currently a 10% off Labor Day sale.
The company is more eco-friendly than some (certainly not the best). Tuft and Needle carries Oeko-Tex and Certi-PUR certifications. The exterior cover is Oeko-Tex certified, while is not one of the certifications to be impressed by, it's better than nothing. Certi-PUR certification is the bare minimum, Tuft and Needle goes a step further at a slightly lower price point than most “natural” mattresses.
The twin mattress should arrive today. We bought for our 10 year old daughter and she has 100 days to decide if she likes it. Or we can take advantage of the free return policy. Eventually everyone in the house needs a new mattress. We’re taking it one bed at a time.
I feel good about the purchase. It’s not the best and definitely not the worst. I’ll keep you posted if we return it or buy more.
When stuck in a legalism loop, I remind myself of Jesus in John 6:63, “…the Spirit gives life, the flesh is no help at all.”
There is no perfect on this side of heaven. Do what you can with what you have.
I’m cheering you on!
Julie