Gratitude-A Fresh Cut Christmas Tree

Shortly after Thanksgiving I found myself interested in getting a real Christmas tree. Throughout my childhood we often cut down our own tree or purchased a real one from one of those lots in front of the grocery store.

As I got older, I began working for a seasonal retailer and that started my relationship with artificial trees and decorations. My collection was grand with colored lights and funky ornaments. It was known by those close to me that a visit in February would give the surprise of a still standing,  still decorated Christmas tree.

Now that I have a family I long to revive the traditions of my childhood. A short consultation with my significant other revealed his willingness to carry on these family traditions, which are close to his own. We discussed my concerns with tree lots; including flame retardants, spray on color, and artificial pine scent.  He seemed so pleased and eager to embark on this journey I began to have doubts.

“Can I have that in writing?” I asked. “I bet you won’t be saying this in ten years,” I argued.

Oh my goodness! What was I doing? Purposely sabotaging a very willing partner in my newly rekindled family traditions. Immediately I stopped talking, and apologized. I apologized for taking his kind nature and skewing it into an argument. I apologized for not instantly becoming excited at the thought of fresh cut trees for each Christmas season. Finally,  I said, “I’m sorry,” for not being grateful that I have a partner willing to embark on an unknown journey, just to make me smile.

What did we experience on this first journey you ask?

*My car got stuck in the mud trying to park in the parking lot.

*My car got stuck leaving the parking lot and had to be pulled with our truck.

*We found the best 4ft tree!

*My little one helped cut the tree down.

*We played in the snow while we searched.

*My little one was cranky any time she wasn’t playing  in the snow.

*It snowed the whole day!

*I partook of warm spiced wine.

*We received free hot Cocoa and an apple doughnut.

*And finally,  we put up and decorated our tree that evening.

Nourishment in the Light of Connection

How do stories connect and nourish us?

Even the loneliest of people need human connection.  Hermit, vagabond, introvert; although most won’t admit it, they crave a special relationship and a deep connection with another person as much as the rest of us.

We all like to share our stories which bring us together in many ways.  Parents of school children come together and share stories of the little ones.  Adult siblings share conversations of current events and their joyous new families.  Coworkers commiserate of the trials and tribulations of the job.  As much as most of us want to connect with one another and share our stories, we need it.  It is a basic human need like food or water, and as we know, these are basic sources of nourishment.

While sitting at the dinner table with my family we are not only nourished by our food, but also by our conversation.  As we discuss our day, good and bad, share our stories, we are connected with each other and our relationships are strengthened.  We are nourishing a healthy relationship, a positive outlook, and our soul.

In times of trial and trauma our stories can be all that keep us from coming unglued.  With the passing of a family member our sorrow is shared through stories of the one that passed.  Stories of their life, what they accomplished, how they touched our lives, all of this helps to heal us and nourish our soul that is so filled with sadness.  I have not witnessed many people who refuse to speak of a family member who has died.  They might say they don’t want to talk, and the next moment they are rambling on, sharing stories from childhood to adulthood.

Sometimes the trauma is ours.  Although we may want to hide and avoid the obvious situation, at times we just want to tell our story and have someone listen.  In Rachel Naomi Remen’s book Kitchen Table Wisdom (2006), she shares stories of those who have gone through devastating experiences only looking for an ear to listen.  In our worst moments it can be an extremely healing and nourishing time just to know someone is listening without judgement.  An article in Psychology Today explains that giving ourselves to the lamentation and sharing it with those around us can be more beneficial that bottling, hiding, or ignoring the pain we may be feeling (Culliford, 2016).

I have a myriad of memories from times when my parents would dismiss what I was saying and it felt horrible, when other times they would listen intently and it felt rejuvenating.  I often find myself ensuring I am giving my full attention to my daughter so she knows I care.  It is necessary that she feels comfortable and open to share all of her life’s stories without fear of another person’s opinions.  These acts of non-judgement and compassion, rather than pity, are a foundation of nourishment for a family.  Something that may be missing from many people’s lives.

As humans we have an innate need for companionship, love, and nurturing.  Just as necessary as food and water, connections with other humans nourish our mind, body, and soul.  If kept in silence either by choice or force we are torn down, malnourished.  Our stories maintain the connections we so desperately seek and keep us in good health.

References

Culliford, L. (2016).  Lamentation Can Be a Good Thing.  Psychology Today.com.  Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/spiritual-wisdom-secular-times/201609/lamentation-can-be-good-thing.

Remen, R.N. (2006).  Kitchen Table Wisdom, Stories That Heal.  New York, NY: Penguin Group.

My Relationship With Food

Up to this point in my life I have never had a bad relationship with food, just a rocky one. I’ve always had a sweet tooth, rarely ate fast food, but always thought about food.  I became very passionate about food and nutrition in my teens, almost to the point of obsession.

My family knew how I felt and would generally keep conversations about food to a minimum.  Being so passionate caused some discussions to get heated. For quite some time many people I knew or encountered assumed me to be a vegetarian,  thinking if I was a healthy eater it automatically made me one.

Eventually my quest for nutrition knowledge led me to enroll in an undergraduate nutrition program.  Armed with a thirst for nutrition knowledge that was credible, the only choice that seemed sensible was school.  Finally, I was going to learn all about food and how fantastic and wonderful it is for us.  Unfortunately, much of my tenure was spent more confused and even more at war with food.

Why wasn’t I learning about everything food did for us?  Why was I only skimming the surface of what each vitamin and mineral was doing inside the body?  Why didn’t anyone care about what they were eating until they were sick or in dis-ease?

Do not be confused, I received a great education.  The direction I was pointed in however, was not the direction in which I wanted to go.  Food sustains us, it is our medicine, and our connection with others.  We need to purchase, prepare, and enjoy our food.  We also need to be in control of what we are eating and when.  Not the kind of control that one has in a disordered state, the kind that’s there without having to think about it.

Basically, I didn’t want to be a Registered Dietician (RD) because the only outlet seemed to be hospitals with the sick and dying, or following a diet plan that didn’t emphasize enough the significance of vegetables and whole foods.  Not all RDs are created equal.  Along my road and through school I have met many a RD with vastly different views that what mainstream information was telling us.  Even those following the mainstream are not bad; they are very good at what they do.  However, that’s not what I want to do.

The answer lies in discovering a new relationship with food and looking at it from a different perspective.  In just the first few days of my masters program I am opening up my eyes to see what I’ve been waiting to find for years.  Already my viewpoint has shifted and I’m feeling motivated and in awe of the simplicity with which we can view food, nourishment, and eating.  Many of my original beliefs about the food we are putting into our bodies every day has not changed.  The inspiration comes from knowing now that I am able to impact our food system in a different way, and move others in the direction of good health and wellness with a simple meal.

I am an army of one carrying an arsenal of plenty.

 

www.awayoflifewellness.com

 

 

Gratitude-A Hot Shower

Previously, I mentioned having a little notebook I keep in my purse to write down little bits of gratitude I might find myself thinking or feeling throughout the day.  Sharing some of these was going to be a random yet somewhat regular occurrence.

I have never lived in complete poverty, or known what it’s like to live without things I see as commonplace.  Things such as electricity, running water, and the availability of food.  They are so commonplace that I don’t really think about them until they are not there, even for an instant.  The lights flicker during a storm, the water is shut off for an hour to perform maintenance.  However, I do appreciate a hot shower in the morning.  There are people in this world that never take a shower, only baths, and sometimes that is only after they have carried the water in themselves.  I find it strange that knowing all of this, I still wish the shower wasn’t so hot while the weather is 90F outside.  I think tomorrow is going to be the most enjoyable shower I have ever taken, even if it’s a hot one.

Comfort and reverence are found in the emotions gratitude shares with me.

Forty Days and Forty Nights

Despite the title, I’m not talking about massive rain or a flood…well maybe.  After a consultation with a trusted colleague I decided to do a parasite cleanse.  There may be a flood, but I’ve never cleansed before so I’m in for a treat.  The proper way to do a parasite cleanse is a forty day process.

First, ten days of the parasite cleanse as usual.  Then, ten more days of horsetail to help kill the eggs.  After this twenty day process I repeat it.  The goal is to rid myself of the parasites, however I should also gain a feeling of better health.  Compared to how I’ve been feeling over the past year I would guess it’s going to be better.

Both during and after the cleanse I will need to work on repairing my gastrointestinal tract.  Probiotics are going to be my best friend during this time.  In addition, I will be consuming various fermented foods to help with friendly bacteria and energy.

Not only am I embarking on a path I have yet to travel, but I will also be starting a 90 day eating and exercise plan.  This too is going to make me feel better.  I would like to clarify that I am not starting a diet, I am starting an eating plan.  I am changing my lifestyle especially in the way that I eat.  Everyone knows that most of the food we consume in the U.S. is garbage.  It’s highly processed and loaded with sugar, bad fats, sodium, and too many simple carbohydrates.  I will be eating real food, prepared mostly by me (with the help of my little one), and I’ll be eating more often.

On that note, I must go now to start chopping and planning some meals for the next few days.  Happy Thursday!

 

Springtime, how does that make you feel?

What is it about spring that makes people feel great?  Is it just the warm weather and the ability to open the windows without freezing?  Doesn’t anyone love winter, I do.  I love playing in the snow with my little one.  I love making all different kinds of soup.  I love baking when it warms the house instead of creating a sweltering inferno.  And who doesn’t love the winter holidays.

But what about…gardening, birds chirping, running, bicycling, swimming, hiking,  farmers markets, open car windows, sunshine, outdoor exercising, green tree leaves, flowers, growing food, bonfires, grilling, patio sitting, warm breezes, baseball, soccer, camping, forest preserves, local parks, amusement parks, carnivals, kite flying, playing frisbee, dog walking, cat on an open window sill, fresh salads, fresh fruits, blueberry picking, peach picking, iced tea, lemonade, root beer floats, long walks at dusk, watching the sun rise, looking at the stars, full moons, backyard BBQs, vacations, weekends away, water parks, community pools, beaches, sun tanning, under umbrella sitting, sunscreen, playing with the neighborhood kids, drinking with the neighbors, bees, mosquitoes, squirrels & rabbits, cherry blossoms, lilac bushes, tulips & daffodils, barking dogs, hooting owls, local honey, homemade wine, sweating beer bottles, beach balls, pool toys, water rafts, planting seeds, growing peppers, harvesting tomatoes, thunderstorms, summer rain, cloud shapes, open garage, outdoor crafting, garden stones, gnomes, butterflies, lightening bugs, ants outside, picnics, lunch at the park, nature walks, mowing the lawn, watering the garden, cooing doves, bird feeders, old bread, trail mix, juicy oranges, tasty berries, water bottles, juice boxes, no school, more daylight, what could be better!

A Christmas Bounty to Make Me Healthy

Having received a bounty of wonderful Christmas presents this year I am pushed all that much closer to a healthy lifestyle.  I’m already a firm believer that my boyfriend is the greatest person ever, only second to my little one.  After this particular Christmas, however, I don’t know if anyone will be able to come as close.  Did I receive diamonds and pearls?  Perhaps rubies and emeralds?  Or maybe something as simple and silver and gold?  The answer is “no”.

In order to prepare meals in a quick and easy way it helps to have something to cut, dice, and smash foods appropriately.  I am now the proud owner of a food processor which does all of those things I listed.  A small food chopper was one of my previous gadgets that was beneficial, but rarely used due to the small amount produced for the large cleanup required.  Although, that may have been in part to the fact that I did not have a working dishwasher!

Dreams of homemade protein and snack bars, easy to prepare desserts, and chopped foods for fresh vegetable dinners have filled my head for a long time.  Now that particular dream has come true.  This gift leads to the need for something else that can benefit both my health goals, as well as his goals.  I will admit he has not often directly spoken of such goals, but having to tighten his belt (literally) he is open to my crazy antics and unique eating style.

Unable to provide a big surprise on Christmas morning due to a lack of knowledge and compassion on the part of a salesperson, I was still quite excited while picking up my other very large gift.  It was a gift for the whole family, but let’s face it, I’m the only one who is excited to receive a 5 cu. ft. chest freezer for the garage.

How does this lead me on the path to health you ask?  Well, I can make large batches of soups and stews (healthier and less sodium than store bought) and freeze them in small portions for daily use.  Not only that, but I can purchase larger amounts of frozen vegetables at lower prices and I have a place to store them.

Not exactly a vegetarian, I eat much less meat that previous years and I make somewhat better choices with the meat that I do consume.  The freezer adds the ability to purchase the more expensive meat when it is on sale by providing much more storage space than the small example of a freezer residing above our equally small refrigerator.  But I’ll leave meat preferences explanation for another post, soon.

By no means do these two gifts negate or downplay any of the other wonderful gifts I have received from my other family and friends.  These two just provide me with extra tools and motivation on my healthy lifestyle journey.  Wellness is a way of life, not just a fad.

 

A New Journey

About to embark on a new journey I am both excited and a little bit scared.  The idea that I might actually have the ability to work for myself doing something I enjoy is exhilarating.  In order to avoid jinxing myself I will hold back from any details for awhile.

I’ll admit that I am taking an 18 week class and about to order a textbook.  Just when I thought I might be done with school, however I have always enjoyed learning, even in a school setting.  So in a short three weeks my journey will begin.

Wow, what happened?

It’s like old times letting my blog go this long without a single post.  In my defense I was moving, had to get my daughter set up for school (for the first time), oh and I was working 6/7 days a week.  Although it felt more like 8, just like the song.  Did I mention the car troubles?  So I have a good reason for being scarce.

Well I can’t believe the summer is almost over, and I’m not even a student returning to school.  Despite the rain we had some fun.  There is still time to use the sprinkler I bought and we might have a patio as the summer is coming to a close.  It is quite enjoyable to listen to the birds in the fall, they like birdseed just the same in cooler weather.

I’m back on track now and the ideas are flowing.

Stuffed Animal Revolution!

I don’t have to take a poll to know that most households have way too many stuffed animals.  I propose a stuffed animal revolution!  Fight back against the inundation of fluff, fur, buttons, and eyeballs.  Fight back against the loss of floor space or entire rooms.

We will no longer give in to claw machines and whining kids asking for just one more.  We will no longer give in to distant family members sending our children home with stuffed friends larger than them.  It’s time to stand up and say “NO”.  We need to give these useless toys to children in need, children whose parents can’t afford to buy them or waste money on claw machines.

What if your child doesn’t handle that very well?  Then I recommend taking their stuffed animals out of the toy box late at night when the child is asleep.  In this secretive manner only the less well known stuffed friends can be taken.  Give your child the chance to do something nice and donate one of their stuffed animals knowingly.

If all else fails, have a house fire, just kidding!