Synchronicity

Are you in sync? It's interesting,  you know when you're in sync and you definitely know when you're not.....I was thinking of my ipod and wishing how easy it would be to be a ipod just download what we need, plug our self in and bada bing we're in sync....how easy that would be....if we were deficient in a certain nutrient and we add it,  plug in and deficient no more.  In some ways it can be that easy. Once I realize it's up to me I can get back in sync fairly easily.....The questions that come up almost without thinking are....  Do I fit in? Do I belong here? Is this a good fit for me?  It can be any number of things such as my job, my home, my diet, my exercise program?  If my situation feels fine then no problem but when I feel out of sorts, minor or major adjustments can be made to feel more in sync.   I realize it's my job to create the changes needed....I can't expect other people to change for me or know what I need... So much depends on me and my attitude.

Have you ever dreaded going to a party where you didn't know anyone and just knew you'd feel left out but instead you came away feeling like you made some new friends and had a wonderful time?  I've always been sort of shy and I usually cringe at upcoming events such as the before mentioned party but this happened to me recently and my husband actually ended up having  a hard time seperating me from my new friends and our very lively conversation.... I went to that party reluctantly except I made a decision  before hand to put my best foot forward and what a pleasant  and rewarding surprise I encountered.  I'm proud of myself for changing my attitude because it made all the difference.  We can choose the way we feel, the way we think and the way we act....it's an on/off switch.....When it comes to health and  making dietary changes to support health goals it's really as easy as visualizing a switch and keeping it turned to the on position.  The on switch supports new healthier choices as well as  giving up the sugar, the white flour products, the junk food, the eating late at night whatever it is.....plug into synchronicity and you'll see positive results, it's inevitable and it gets easier.  

What about cooking?   Are you cooking your own food?  The simple act of cooking your own food puts you more in sync with the energy of the food and is more potent nutritionally.   I cook everyday and have been cooking now for about 35 years and as much as I sometimes complain about all the fuss and bother I think it truly centers me and ultimately grounds the family.  I love experimenting with new food combinations and I feel comforted by old favorites like roasted lemon chicken, baked tofu or minestrone soup to name a few.  To make meal planning easier take some time to list at least 7 family favorites and put the list in clear view so whenever you're stuck for what to make you'll have that list accesible as new favorites come along they get added and your list grows and grows.  Cooking  a few things  on the weekends can really help a busy week go smoother especially if you're trying to fit some exercise in there too.

What about shopping for food?  Obviously when you want to eat well you've got to have all the good food on hand...so shopping is important.  If you really want to feel in sync with your food try going to the local farmer's market.  It doesn't get any better than that unless you grow it yourself.   The farmer's market is a great experience, first of all being outdoors is a more natural setting, next, all the smiling faces of the vendors who are very in sync with their product and their enthusiasm overflows into the food and  the goods they are selling.  Then the most important reason you're going there.....is the food itself....it is of outstanding quality; it is fresh, seasonal and locally grown..... alot of it being raised without chemicals and the prices are generally lower than the grocery store. Check it out sometime, most towns nationwide are promoting this type of market especially in these greener times.  To find a farmer's market near you check out the following link:  http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/ 

Last week I bought some okra which my family loves.   Okra seems to get a bum rap as many people think the only way it is cooked is deep fried or in such a way where it might get a bit gooey.  There are many ways to cook okra that can easily offset the gooey-ness. Interestingly enough the gooey nature of okra  is one of it's health promoting qualities as the mucilage as well as it's dietary fiber, Vitamins A,  B6, thiamine,  C, calcium and zinc make this vegetable highly beneficial for regulating the blood sugar, maintaining a healthy  gastrointestinal tract, normalizing cholesterol levels and facilitating joint mobility.  This podlike vegetable comes to us from West Africa, Egypt and  Ethiopia. It was said that some of Cleopatra's beauty can be attributed to her consumption of okra, this reason alone makes me want to eat alot of it.   I recently made a delicious okra recipe that I got from my Mom's Food Network magazine .....it looked so vibrant and colorful and it tasted delicious and I bought all the produce at our local farmer's market.

OKRA WITH TOMATOES:   Saute 4 smashed garlic cloves in 3 Tbs. olive oil over medium heat until golden.  Add 4 cups okra (halved lengthwise) and 1 small onion (cut into wedges); season with salt and pepper and cook until the okra is tender and bright, 10-12 minutes.  Add 1 pint cherry tomatoes; cook until just bursting, 3 minutes.  Finish with a splash of cider vinegar. 

Getting back to the topic of synchronicity, I have a personal story to share. A few weeks back I took a trip to NJ for a family wedding and it just so happened to be my birthday as well. I flew there alone which was very restful, the time with my family was very nourishing and the wedding was great. At the end of the reception one of my cousins caught wind that it was my birthday and then a deeply moving thing happened.....my whole extended family sang "Happy Birthday" to me right then and there. How exhilirating! To top that off, after my lovely sister and Mom dropped me off at Newark airport the next day....I stopped at the security checkpoint and the man who checked my ID said,  "HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Did you enjoy  your day?" I was so surprised and to me that was such a gift from a complete stranger. I was on cloud nine and felt a genuine feeling of synchronicity....I was in the right place at the right time and I received positive affirmation for all of it. Those little moments are rare but when they happen it goes along way towards knowing that (quoting the cards on my desk)......The whole world is conspiring in your favor.

                                                                     Lisa