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

                                                                                    

How rested are you?

How rested are you? Now that's a question to ponder. I just got back a week ago from our annual family vacation which left me quite frankly wanting for more. First of all I absolutely love the beach and really 6 days out of the year is not enough of the beach not to mention a vacation. You wait all year for the vacation....you spend days packing then you get there after either hours in the car or at the airport.....it takes a few days to unwind then it's time to pack it up get yourself home and unpack it all over again.....Something is wrong with this picture. Then what if something really does go wrong while you're on vacation? Last year my longed for and deeply awaited beach vacation found me sitting in a beach chair the whole time as I injured a muscle behind my knee the first day and was unable to walk. I sure got a deep rest that week after I got over the initial trauma. But what a way to get a rest!

So what's the solution I ask myself while I wrestle these feelings of unfulfilled needs. How do I fill these needs.....obviously I'll try to arrange for a longer vacation next year and would honestly like to do as the Europeans do and take off a whole month.....that would be great ideal to work towards but I must come up with a plan in the interim. I must make some basic lifestyle changes to incorporate rest, relaxation and downtime on a regular basis be it daily, weekly, monthly as well as yearly especially so as not to be so desperate when vacation time rolls around.

I am reading a wonderful book called Sabbath: Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest by Wayne Muller. We've had this book for quite sometime now and it's interesting how I was talking to a dear friend of mine who said she wanted to give me a copy of a book that was really inspiring her........I immediately got it from my shelf and started reading it. The timing couldn't have been more perfect to help me feel better....It was just what I needed to get some relief from these feelings..... I highly recommend this book to everyone. This book is very user friendly with short and to the point chapters with beautiful poems and prayers and exercises for re-establishing Sabbath into one's life. The author talks about how we violate our mind, body and spirit by overthinking, overworking and overdoing. He explains how we are making war on our selves as we are doing more than is truly possible. He goes on to say that the majority of our society thinks of vacation, rest and leisure time as a luxury and that much of sickness is borne out of perpetual busyness. The question to ask is- Am I getting the rest that I need? Is it my pattern to wait until I'm so desperate, so out of shape, so overweight, so sick that I'm stopped in my tracks by an injury or a chronic disease? It might seem counter intuitive to a weight loss program to emphasize rest and sleep as an important therapeutic tool but the time honored standard to remember is- "all things in balance." If we're not getting the rest we need we may then reach for the wrong activities, food choices, alcohol, sugar, etc. One doesn't really need research though there is plenty of it, to back up these statements. One simply needs common sense and the ability to tune into the natural world. Day gives in to night, spring turns into summer and so on. There is a time to work and a time to rest. But.....one must stop and listen- stop and observe and then as the familiar phrase states, "take time to smell the roses."

It might not be so easy to slow down or we may also unconsciously avoid it even though there is much to be gleaned from rest and stillness and quiet. Sometimes the non-doing can be uncomfortable.... we may feel worthless, invaluable or lonely. We might even feel useless doing nothing....but it might just give us a chance for some deeper insights to come when we're quiet. We have to be empty to allow for the filling up once again. The wind might be speaking to us....the ocean....the mountains.....the crickets....the birds.....our children.....our spouses.....our hearts. Our divine guidance might be trying to contact us but if the line is busy we're likely to miss the call....How sad is that?

I look forward to taking some time in the days and weeks ahead to consider ways that I can get more rest and create more Sabbath moments for myself and my family. I'm also thinking of planning more openings in my schedule for being restful with friends and taking such opportunities as nice walks or having board game nights regularly with friends. Sometimes when I go to the lake I'll see a large group of people who have overtaken one of the shelters and have come prepared to spend the day doing nothing but playing cards, sharing food, playing volleyball and swimming.....now that's also very restful and vacation-like without going so far away. This is lacking in my life and I'd like to do something to change that. Other ways to get more rest is just to examine the rhythm of your life....Do you have certain days for shopping, laundry, cleaning, and meal planning? Having rhythm is a natural way to get more rest in as you're not always flying by the seat of your pants, which ends up creating stress and more busyness. For instance, if you take the time to plan menus you can consolidate shopping time and have more time after work for putting your feet up, being quiet or going for a meditative walk instead of having to stop at the store again. One easy way to create a Sabbath moment is to light a candle at suppertime, say a grace and then mealtime can be transformed into a restful, nurturing event. These are just a few ideas surrounding the topic of rest.....I would love to hear ways that you have discovered that work for you to get more rest and Sabbath moments in your life. Please feel free to post your ideas in my comment box to share.


Since my daughter Gabrielle has moved back home to do her student teaching I'm getting a little bit of a rest from cooking as she really loves to cook. The other day she made Chicken Kabobs that were so delicious I wanted to share the recipe with you. For vegetarians please feel free to use extra firm tofu or tempeh instead of the chicken.

Chicken Kabobs

Marinade:

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 tsp. finely chopped fresh parsley

1/4 tsp.dried oregano or 1 tsp fresh

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken, cut into bite sized pieces

Skewers:

1/2 red onion , cut in chunks

1/2 large red or green pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces

button mushrooms

1/2 medium eggplant, cut in 1 inch cubes

large cherry tomatoes

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

Prepare marinade by placing all marinade ingredients in a large ziploc bag and refrigerate for at least an hour. Prepare grill or broiler. Remove chicken from bag, discard marinade. Thread veggies and chicken on skewers. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place kabobs on grill rack that has been brushed with olive oil. Grill for 12 minutes or until chicken is done, turning once. Serve over rice and with a salad.

Click here for the printable version of this recipe!

So while you're sitting at your dinner meal of lovely kabobs and you've lit your candle and said your grace and are enjoying your special Sabbath moment.....remember (to quote the card on my desk by Sharon Valleau)....... Answers whisper in the silence of our hearts.

Restfully yours,

Lisa

In what direction are you heading?

In what direction are you heading?   This is a question that keeps popping up for me and has been on the forefront of my mind for quite some time now.  When I ask myself this question it forces me to consider the steps I'm taking on a daily basis to reach my goals.   First of all....I need clarity on that....what are my goals....... why are they important and am I turned in the direction of them.  When I reach for something I want whatever it is.... it is always oriented towards my  quest for feeling good.   When asked we can all come up with goals that we are all striving to achieve.  Some examples of  goals would  be needing to lose 2o lbs., managing ones' anger, lowering cholesterol, running a marathon, incorporating more relaxation into one's day, learning to knit and so on.   So at any given time you can stop and ask yourself.....in which direction am I heading?

Human nature is a funny thing especially  when things are going well and we're feeling tuned in, tapped in and turned on....we just revel in the good feeling of it all...but when things aren't going well, if we're sick, unhappy, disappointed, overwhelmed and all those harder feelings is what often brings us to our knees and forces us to pause and take time to reflect.   Thank goodness for the contrast because it literally propels us to change if and only if  we do the work. What is the work?

If you are like me I want this to be as easy as possible.....and I think in the long run it really is once we come to one simple realization and that is that there really is no easy way out and no quick pill to swallow, it does indeed take effort but half the battle is just accepting the work as opposed to being in  resistance mode.    The work is different for everyone.    So let's paint a scenario here.....you've decided that you haven't been getting enough rest lately..... you've come to that conclusion because you're feeling low energy, irritable, resentful of the family, the house needs cleaning,  you haven't had time to go grocery  shopping etc. etc.   You know you need rest and yet you just keep pushing and now you  have to rest because now you're really sick with a bad cough so all you can do is go to bed.  As an adult you know intellectually all the right things you should do to stay healthy and on top of your game but somewhere in there things broke down and you were led off course.....and that's when we're forced to look at the direction we're headed.

The bad news suddenly becomes  good news because now you have time to think and make adjustments to point you back in the right direction. Change is in the air once again and that's also good news.    A good exercise that I'm regularly trying to employ  is envisioning the end result of my goal.  For instance if I'm sick  obviously I'd like to be well so instead of wasting time worrying about the outcome .....I start seeing myself as a very healthy woman ....I'm visualizing myself strong and vibrant filled with energy for the things I want to accomplish.   During a  recent time of exhaustion and depression I remember  seeing every single meal I've yet to pay for, prepare and  clean up after and with that feeling came total despair and I was stopped in my tracks.   Today while contemplating this post I had a rather happy thought about the same subject but in it I visualized all the new ways I've yet to discover to pay for, prepare and clean up after meals.  This simple change of thought pattern created a very different feeling in my spirit.   Once I changed my thought process the task became easier.

The work is really about  being present, focused and consciously aware.  This exercise is simply asking yourself the question quite often.....am I heading in the right direction?   When you are in your car you are rarely just going out for a joy ride......driving around aimlessly......you usually have a destination and you are always oriented towards that and when you are going the wrong way you can usually tell pretty soon and then you simply steer the car back in the right direction.   Hopefully the intention of one's life should be like that .....always striving to go in the right direction....at least that's the idea.  As you're driving your car there are roadsigns and if we don't heed the signs we can pretty much count on getting in an accident or getting a speeding ticket, hopefully just a minor wake up call.  Does this sound familiar?   Sometimes we don't listen to the signs along the way and we crash.  This really is quite a good metaphor for life.

So you can use your inner compass and ask yourself at any moment......... is this thought I'm thinking, is this action, is this job, is this food choice bringing me in the direction of my goals? And then you make the adjustment necessary to get back on track.....whether it be.....meal planning, going for a walk, moving away from the computer, doing something fun or spending time with your loved ones for example.  Whatever it may be only you will know where and what is needed to get you there and if you don't know then consult a trusted friend, expert, or me and most assuredly you will turn in the direction of your dreams.

For a long time now I've been wanting to share this recipe with you.  I got this recipe from a book my daughter Gabrielle checked out of the library, Your Organic Kitchen by Jesse Ziff Cool. It was such a great book I ended up purchasing it used from Amazon. The recipe has become a standard and it's so easy I don't even follow the recipe anymore and they always turn out delicious.   They can be served as you would serve a typical burger or just with a melange of veggies which is how I eat them.  They are great leftover for lunch the next day and can even be made up ahead of time and frozen for later use.

Ingredients for Turkey Burgers:

1# ground turkey breast

1 small red onion, finely minced

2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper

In a large bowl, combine all 5 ingredients.  Shape into 4 burgers.

Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Ingredients for Melange: 

1 red onion, sliced in strips

1 # mushrooms, sliced

2 tsp. olive oil

sea salt and pepper, to taste

Heat the oil in a heavy skillet.  Saute onions and mushrooms until 

caramelized, sprinkling with salt and pepper.   Remove from pan

and place in bowl.   Cook the burgers in the same skillet for 10 minutes,

turning once, or until no longer pink.   Serve with the veggies.

Enjoy the burger recipe and as the great poet Thoreau has said, " Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!"

                                                Lisa

Summer Fun

Ah, the long  days of summer have arrived and with them the mode of  "fun in the sun", vacation time, time off, family reunions and the list goes on. Summer at the least conjures up fun and carefree memories of summers past,  mostly childhood  memories of happy summer days with no school, nonstop playing and absolute fun.

How many recent memories can you recall when you felt totally happy with no inhibitions whatsoever, thoroughly and hopelessly enjoying yourself with no thought of the past or future, and completely lost to the joy of the moment?  Recently (almost 2 months ago) I went out to dinner with 3 girlfriends.  I was feeling down during that time yet being in the company of these women friends changed my mood completely.  We laughed so hard that night that I literally felt as if I had come back to life.   When I got home I noticed my heart was beating with more vigor and it was as if all the cells in my body were vibrating from all the fun. It truly felt like my metabolism had sped up and that a distinct change had occured within me.  It is interesting to note that the word metabolism comes from the Greek and means "to change."

I talk alot about metabolism in my work promoting therapeutic lifestyle changes, especially in relationship to body composition and weight reduction and how increasing the metabolism helps burn fat.  It is fact that since muscle is the most metabolically active tissue in the body that increasing muscle mass is important in speeding the metabolism and  that a movement program is imperative to do just that.   But I had  this major  'aha' moment after my girlfriend evening when I felt the physical change in my metabolism simply by having fun!  This also made me think about kids and how their whole life revolves around having fun and most healthy kids have very active metabolisms.  Thus, having fun is absolutely essential to maintaining a healthy and lively metabolism.

I suggest that in the next few days that you take some time to become aware of the people, places, events and activities that quicken your metabolism.  Have you ever noticed feelings of anticipation when driving to a friend's house that you almost can't wait to get there? or how you can't wait to sit down and read the next delicious chapter in your book? or what about looking forward to......(fill in the blank)?   What things excite you and bring you feelings of joy and pleasant anticipation?

The other day my son and I had the loveliest summer afternoon visiting friends, offroading in my Kia, swimming in their pond, picking peaches, then driving home along the beautiful rolling countryside.  I came home that day so enlivened and with a brightly humming metabolism......and in my inbox there was a link to a recipe idea for baked peaches from my Italian cooking teacher.......how cool is that?

Lisa's Baked Peaches ( my version of hers)

medium firm ripe peaches, cut in half, pit removed

almonds, chopped fine

flaxmeal

vanilla or almond extract, dash

apple juice concentrate, to moisten

cinnamon

Mix the last five ingredients together.  Stuff and mound on peach halves.

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until done.

Serve and enjoy!

Peach Salsa

2 ripe medium peaches, peeled

1 T olive oil

1 T fresh lime juice

1/4  finely chopped red onion

1/2  diced red or green pepper

1 T fresh cilantro

1 t finely minced jalapeno pepper (opt.)

1 t seasalt

fresh ground black pepper

Mix all ingredients and let marinate a few hours before serving. Serve over grilled fish, chicken,

lamb or enjoy with  black beans and other mexican recipes.

Will you take the challenge?

I  invite you to go a little deeper with the thrust of this post and I challenge you to use this metabolism quickening exercise as a way to sharpen your focus and clarify your goals....seeing them so crystal clear and making them so extremely desirable that you absolutely can not fail to achieve them.  Let me know what comes of this....... and I ask you also to consult the child within while taking this challenge....always and forever asking how can I have more fun?

The Hallmark card appropriately and fittingly  reads:
"How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?"                                       Satchel Paige

                       Having fun in the sun,

                       Lisa

Away from Home and Out at Sea

           The Hallmark quote card on my desk this week reads.....

"One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time."    Andre Gide

I've been wanting to write for awhile now but just couldn't seem to put pen to paper. I suppose you can say that I feel as if I've left the comfort of my home as I continue to journey into the unchartered waters of myself and that I've had some difficulty translating my new thoughts, experiences and ideas. As I surface here I'm writing quickly to document some of what I've
come to learn.


Making lifestyle changes is a real commitment. Some changes are easier than others and require a small shift in thinking while other changes take larger amounts of effort and can be quite challenging. The style of life that we choose for ourselves should ultimately bring well being on all levels...a sense of being in your "power"...living up to your true potential-feeling healthy, vibrant and strong in body, mind and spirit. These feelings of well being often don't just happen...especially when life with its inherent difficulties and problems pull at us in all directions and stress threatens to swallow us whole and sometimes it actually does. Our resolve is challenged, we give in, it's too hard. We crumble, we succumb, then we rest, we wait, we regroup....we gather our energy once again. What does it take to get back up again? It is of course an individual journey. For me it's a constant dance of learning the balance between giving to myself and giving to others which ends up touching all aspects of my lifestyle. For instance, if I'm sad or stressed or feeling resentful, I may start making poor choices, eating too much or too little and  it can really throw me out of whack. But then  I  realize I need to take the time to check in with myself and see what it is I truly need.

Doing things the way I've always done them is sort of like living on autopilot or in the default mode. This does feel safe but I know I must go outside my comfort zone to really change and it takes courage to find new ways to live, to react, and to be. And in this process alot of feelings come up.....Can I really change? What if I fail? What if I never get there?.... there being where I want to go, who and how I want to be? How long will this take? Can I be patient and trust? Can I get through the ups and downs along the way? Who can I ask for help that I may need along the way? Do I have a good map to navigate the unfamiliar waters....do I have an anchor? Do I have faith?

Making dietary changes can bring up alot of issues as we often eat to comfort ourselves, to relieve stress and dispel negative emotions. We all have alot of "comfort foods". Of course some comfort foods are perfectly fine....such as soup on a cold wintry day for example. Some comfort food recipes can be adapted to healthier versions and of course new comfort foods can be substituted...and other things can be used to comfort and soothe such as a hot bath, soothing music, a favorite comedy show, meditation or prayer. Comforting activities center us and bring us home to ourselves and provide the anchor when we find ourselves lost at sea.

Just recently I made what I call Lisa's Comfort salad...it's a salad I make when I really want something extra special....some comfort food...I used to put all of this on a french baguette back in the old days when I used to eat alot more bread and to be honest I don't even miss the bread anymore.

Lisa's Comfort Salad
serves 1

1-2 handfuls of mixed baby greens and spinach
1/2 can of tuna
1/4 avocado, diced
1/4 cup cooked chickpeas
3-4 calamata olives
4-5 strips of roasted red pepper
slice of crispy red onion
1-2 tsp olive oil
2-3 tsp balsamic vinegar
seasalt

Arrange the greens on a plate. Sprinkle tuna and the rest of the veggies on top.  To make crispy onion heat up a small frying pan, drizzle a tad of olive oil and place the red onion slices in and turn the heat up high and cook quickly stirring till crisp. Garnish the salad with the onion, drizzle olive oil and vinegar and sprinkle salt over everything.   Feel free to add any other veggies you may have on hand like steamed green beans, chunks of cooked potatoes and even hard boiled eggs would taste great as well.  Serve and enjoy!

Let it Be

Lovely day .....the gentle breezes are blowing... the peonies are in bloom and there is a feeling inside of me that all is well with my world.  That is progress for me considering that just a few days ago I was so down that that didn't feel like a viable choice but today it does.  This journey through my dismal parts has been an important process of learning as it allows me to see how much I want to feel good in body mind and spirit.....and in my striving I'm given the opportunity to  examine the stories I tell myself daily....I find myself living in a box of who I think I am based on my past....and there are stories that I keep telling that simply aren't serving me.   So....I'm trying to look at this and tell myself new stories.

  

I've been extra tired lately.....I tell myself something is wrong that I'm so tired....I'm eating well, 

I'm exercising....I'm sleeping well....so why am I so tired?  Could it be my hormones yes for sure but not this tired..... so I fight with myself a little until I realize that I just need to rest....forget all the things I still haven't done and go rest.  This is important....just to give into the way I feel and go rest.   It's so easy to push past being tired until I'm an emotional basket case and unable to function at all.  The biggest lesson for me here is to just stop resisting not feeling well, resisting the sad parts, the scary parts, and use them as a springboard for growth.  Be sad, embrace it then move on after I've processed it.  The next part I struggle with is having patience to wait it out...and trust in the fact that the tide always turns...the more I fight this ultimately the longer it takes.

I think my inner ponderings speak to anyone who has set a goal and that goal may be taking more time to achieve than planned on....Why all the obstacles and twists and turns?  There is much to be learned along the way while changing habits......some of these negative habits we've been living with for many years...we've trained ourselves to think a certain way and act a certain way and more often than not things take time.  If you are truly committed to making change happen then rest assured that you're halfway there... become aware of why this change is important....what you'll gain from this change and then become aware of messages along the way that seem to trip you up or carry you forward....try something new....change things up....just don't give up....sometimes things just feel stagnant....and we lose patience...and give in but time is doing wonderful things all that we want is on its way to us...sometimes we just need to let go and not try so hard....awareness is a key to success.  Being aware of an old habit, a trigger, a conditioned response is necessary to make change.  For example, you may always turn to sweets and food when you're tired or upset....so becoming aware of this response may help you replace that habit with another healthier response.  It's not easy....it takes practice but any habit can be changed.

In summing all of this up....the three things I've been trying to remember when I hit a wall in my process of change are awareness, acceptance and patience.  This is age old wisdom that has been said many times before but somehow I seem to forget this and need to be reminded often.

The garden has been a great source of relaxation for me....The other day while weeding I came across my overgrown garlic chive bed....well there are just too many of these plants so I started to cut some back and since I had an overabundance I decided to use them up and made myself a chive omelette.  It came out so incredibly good I thought I'd share the recipe as well as some tips and facts about chives.

Chives are: 

• Low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, and Sodium
• High in Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, C, K, B6, Riboflavin, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium,Copper, Manganese, Thiamine, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Phosphorus, and Zinc
  

The  nutritional value and health benefits of chives makes them ideal for

• Maintaining optimum health
• Weight loss

Chive Omelette   (serves 1)

2 eggs, whisked

salt & pepper

olive oil

1 small bunch chives, I used garlic chives, but any chives will do

Whisk the eggs, salt and pepper in a bowl.   Chop chives.  Prepare seasoned pan by turning on to medium low heat.  Drizzle olive oil in bottom of pan to coat.  Add chives to the pan and give a quick stir. Pour the egg mixture in pan count to ten then swirl pan around and push back the edges of cooked egg in typical omelette making fashion.   When egg has set, fold over, remove to plate and serve warm!

So from the cards on my desk and  in the words of Paul McCartney.............Let it Be!

All my best,

Lisa

 

Feeling sad and uninspired......Help!

May 6, 2009

It's May at last!  The seasonal warmth and rains are upon us and life is good. The statement,"Go Green" is really what's happening all around us with the leaves newly on the trees and green shoots bubbling up all around us....it does lift one's spirit as we drink in the new green...to work in the garden once more...planting flowers, herbs, and veggies...and trips to the farmers market...the popping flavors of fresh local produce...these experiences ought to help bring new inspiration to the palate and to the psyche....so why am I feeling so  sad and uninspired ?

Personally what trips me up is when I'm feeling this way....I almost hate to admit it....even though the newness of Spring abounds outside..... inside I feel like it's still winter and my bud is resistent to opening up...I guess I must be in a rut because everything feels like the same old same old...the same old breakfast...the same old snack...the same old exercise...the same old music...the same old me...my mind starts to wander to the same old negative thought patterns and  into deeper darker places and then I feel depressed...I revert to old habits and give into old cravings...I rebel inside and worry and doubt start to take root and I feel totally out of sync with my dreams and visions...then after feeling sorry for myself for awhile ...I wake up and realize what happened and I allow the good to flow back in  then my mood changes once again...I make plans to pamper myself.....get some new music.....a new book to read....get on the phone and make plans with girlfriends....I try to get in touch with ways that I can feed my soul and follow my bliss...when I attend to myself this way it doesn't matter if the sun is shining outside because it's sunny inside and that's what makes my vision clear again.

Does any of this sound familiar?  Sometimes when you are in a clear and focused mood take a moment to write down some of the things that nourish you.  Make a list of hobbies, favorite songs, poetry, activities that you love. Then make a list of girlfriends.  Make a list of favorite meals and foods.  When you are in a funk you may be in so deep that you can't even remember the things that feed your soul.

Last week I made myself a cup of tea in my treasured teacup from my grandmother's set and that tea never tasted so good! Make sure also that you take time for beauty  so even if all around you is a mess you have at least one place of beauty.  How about keeping flowers on the kitchen table and a pretty candle so every time you eat it becomes a really special affair? 

If I'm feeling bored with food that means it's time to change things up...eating hummus alot? How about trying a new recipe? or adding some new ingredients to your usual recipe like tons of parsley or some roasted red pepper? My favorite way to eat it is to drizzle it with olive oil and sprinkle it with paprika. Below is our standard hummus recipe that we've been making for years, it comes out of Nikki & David Goldbeck's American Wholefoods Cuisine.

                                                                     

Hummus

2 cups cooked chickpeas

1/4 cup bean liquid

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 cloves chopped garlic

1 tsp seasalt

3 T tahini

2 T parsley

2 T olive oil

1 tsp paprika

Puree everything in a food processor or blender. Place in a shallow bowl, drizzle olive oil and sprinkle paprika over the top.   Enjoy!

Another really quickie recipe and a very easy way to cook potatoes....first of all I know I usually say to eat yukon golds but the tiny baby new potatoes were hard to resist so I washed them, dried them, then put them in a baking pan, drizzled olive oil and sprinkled coarse sea salt and fresh rosemary and baked them at 375 for 40 minutes.....yuuuummmmm!!!!!

 

So in thumbing through the cards on my desk this one seemed to say it all about my 

troubled and depressed state of mind and already  I am starting to feel better.......

I take it 

one day at a time,

but sometimes 

several of them 

attack me at once.

    Until my next post,     

I wish you my best,

Lisa