The Secret Language of Your Home

Hello, hello storymaker.

Well over a decade, not to be dramatic, I suffered a near-death experience from chronic asthma and terrrible allergies. After years of allergy shots, inhalers, and every treatment doctors could think of, nothing was improving.

So my family did something radical: we overhauled our home. Little by little, out went the candles that gave me headaches, the cleaners that gave me a weird cough, the sprays that left me stuffy and snotty. Over time, we swapped most things in our home for non-toxic alternatives.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was better. Slowly, I healed, and even my severe allergies disappeared altogether. Today, I’m healthy and thriving, babyyy!! Wepa! (weh-pah, Spanish slang for “ooh yeah!” or “wooho!”).

And now that I’m a first-time homeowner, I’m still living la non-toxic vida. The BEST part is when people come over and notice all the little things 🥹. They feel the Turkish cotton towels, the moisturizing soap, they see the ceramic plates, and sense the smell of a non-overpowering natural scent (from flowers and essential oils). Man, it’s a vibe. Gives you all those cozy AF feels. Because, like it or not, all the things in your home build a story about who you are and the stories you share.

In a way, your at-home routines aren’t just habits; they’re your personal cultural cues. They tell people how you care for yourself, your family, and yes, the environment.

Just like Toy Story. The details in your home aren’t lifeless. They are alive, telling a story.

Oh, boy, I sure hope they tell a good one! 😉

I’m sure you’ve walked into a friend’s house, heck, even a hotel, and analyzed the kind of soap by the bathroom sink. The feel of those hand towels. The type of pictures adorning the walls, the cups they’re using to serve you a drink, and even the ingredients in the pasta sauce you share at dinner.

All of it adds up to an identity. To your guests, it says: this is who they are, this is what they care about.

For some of us, like me, those choices are intentional. Minimalist, mindful, non-toxic. For others, it’s about convenience—the story is different, but still valid.

Because we’re just doing our best with what we have available, within reasonable means, and even that effort (the attempt to choose better) shapes the culture around you.

Conscious at-home routines are storymakers. They reveal what matters most to you, and they spark curiosity in others who see how you live.

Non-toxic living used to be fringe, the kind of thing reserved for “crunchy” wellness blogs and DIY vinegar spray recipes. But in the last five years, it’s gone mainstream.

So what the heck changed? Well, two things: Lawsuits and curiosity. Consumers saw lawsuits about PFAS in water bottles and phthalates in shampoo, then thought, ooooh shhhh*tt, do I have that too?

The result is a new kind of culture-building. And just like that, the non-toxic living movement was born.

But you know, we hear we have plastic in our freaking brain and people are in shock for a bit, then go back to business as usual… People don’t change because of data. They change when they see how someone else is living.

That’s why your routines matter. Your diffuser, your soap, your trash bags, they’re not lifeless things. They’re cultural storymakers. And when others notice them, it sparks curiosity, sometimes even commitment.

I first connected with Abbie because of her empathetic voice in the non-toxic living space. After mold exposure made her more sensitive to environmental toxins, she didn’t just adjust her own lifestyle; she built a platform to help others do the same.

Her work at The Filtery is proof that everyday routines, from the laundry detergent you use to the candles on your nightstand, shape the stories we tell about who we are and what we value.

She researches, reviews, and simplifies the questions most of us don’t have time for:

Abbie’s story echoes my own: Sometimes it takes a health scare to pay attention. But when we do, the ripple effects reach far beyond our homes.

For me, this is the full circle. Non-toxic living began as a means of survival, a way to breathe without fear (literally). Now, it’s become my way of shaping culture, one routine at a time.

Because when someone walks into your home, they don’t just see furniture or soap. They see you. They see what you care about. And sometimes, that’s the spark that makes them care too.

🌀 Your voice matters. Your routines shape culture.

Till next time,

Camila from Conscious Voices

📣 Know someone building a conscious brand who needs this? Forward away.