Wednesday, December 31, 2008

My 2008 & 2009 Lists

So in this eleventh hour, as we near the very end of this calendar year, I feel moved to put down in writing some ideas and intentions I've had floating around in my head for several days.Before I move on entirely to 2009, I want to be gracious and give a little props to 2008, it's been an extremely challenging year for me and many others whom I love but wanted to try to find some goodness in it...so here is what I am grateful for from 2008:
  • For the chance to be there for my dad and Sarah during a very hard time when Laura was nearing the end of her life and tensions were high and a peacemaker was needed.
  • For the gift of forgiveness, both to give it and receive it.
  • For the loving support of friends and family through all that came up to greet me along the path this past year, and how I chose to greet IT!
  • For second chances  to make different, better (?) choices.
  • For Obama winning the presidency and igniting a patriot fire within me and many others I know.
  • For Facebook, it's just so darned friendly and makes the journey just a bit more fun and connected.
  • For my husband's patience and kindness and love.
  • For my son's amazing spirit and sweetness and general quirkiness.
  • For wonderful dietary options that exist in this time in this wonderfully weird town.
  • Thankful for all the people (celebrities, non-celebrities) who work hard to make this world a better place for everyone.
And now (drum roll please....) 

My statements of intention for 2009
  1. To continue to pay better attention to my body and treat it like the blessed gift that it is (talk about 2nd chances, & 3rd, & 4th....)
  2. To spend more time doing things that aren't screen related (i.e. spend no more than 2 hours per day on computer/TV/Movie viewing) and read more (not just as I am falling asleep in bed).
  3. Work on art projects weekly just for the fun of it.
  4. Breathe through my nose more.
  5. Keep purging until I feel like everything has it's place and purpose in this household and can maintain it all better.
  6. Spend more time outside with my family, doing something active and enriching.
  7. Rediscover the art of letter writing and partake in it weekly.
  8. Do things greener in my household and in choices I make out in the world as well.
  9. Blog  and/or journal more often.
  10. Give to the world on a local and global level whenever I truly can afford to do so, be it in time,effort or finances.
  11. Create and grow a new life during this year.
  12. Spend more time walking and less time driving.
 So, there it is...I am putting it out there for you and the universe to see and for me to continue to keep within my sight. I plan on making myself a visual guide as well, a collage vision board tomorrow as a way to be creative and enjoy the images I come up with to focus my sights on for this next year. May this be a wonderful year for all of us and may it be filled with change, movement and fulfilment and lots & lots of moments of incredible joy.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Some visuals to go with last post





Some of my favorites are:


Nourishment on the whole & for the soul

When I began this blog, it wasn't my intention to only write about food (it still isn't) but I will say that blogging the other day about my cravings sure helped. In fact, the issue was practically lifted as soon as I posted. And I appreciated the support and comments that were left by some of you, thank you.  Please consider the comments area a safe place to air your own inner struggles as we are all in this together in one way or another. I have found that when I discuss my new lifestyle changes with others, it only reinforces the positive ways in which it is blessing my world. When I tell them the list of things I am not eating anymore: dairy, wheat, soy, corn, sugar, potato, pork, tomato, peanuts, caffeine, alcohol, & processed or fried foods, inevitably the first question out of their mouths is "What do you eat then?" and then "I could never do that!" So I thought I would give a little idea of what I do put in my body and also perhaps give a little inspiration to those of you with an inkling to eliminate or at least cut down on a thing or two in your own world. So here is a partial list of things that I eat regularly (I think you will find that there are a lot of choices here): 
  • A lot of Nuts and Nut Butters (except of course, peanut)
  • Alternative milks (Hemp and Hazelnut being my faves)
  • Chicken, Turkey, & Fish (organic &/or wild whenever possible)
  • Beef (Grass-fed WHENEVER possible)
  • Organic eggs
  • Fruits and Veggies (again, try for organic mostly)
  • Hummus (The Mediterranean one from TJ's is the best!)
  • Pasta (made from rice- Tinkayada Pasta Joy is the only one worth it-& it rocks!)
  • Vegan Pesto (New seasons makes 3 yummy varieties: Arugula walnut, basil, & walnut/cilantro)
  • Alternative grains (rice, quinoa, ammaranth, millet)
  • Bread, crackers, & cereal made from grains listed above
  • Herbal and decaf teas (being careful to watch for soy, often listed simply as "natural flavors".
  • Coconut Bliss
  • many great recipes from several allergy free cookbooks
So there you have it...it's very do-able...sometimes the balance in foods may be off, but there is always room for adjustments. Lastly, I have been going through a lot of old photos and memory boxes lately (must be the fact that we've been snowed in!) and came across something I had written for a writing class many years ago. It stemmed from an assignment in which the words "washed up" were given to explore and work into some sort of written piece. It's not a perfect poem but I still resonate with it's theme and felt I could share it here. 
It is 6 p.m. and I've just finished washing up for dinner. This will be a special night, for all around me at the table will be my loved ones, my family. Some from my family of origin, some my chosen family but in all, those I hold dearest in my heart & with whom I feel the most comfortable being "me". The circle around the table has no room for gossip or judgements, no place set for ill will & negative reinforcements. Only large helpings of love,respect,compassion, & kindness. Plenty of understanding & awareness with an abundance of goodwill & joy at each place. I feel warm & enveloped in this banquet, this feast of familial bonds. Finally, my hunger is gone, my needs are filled, my plate is full & I crave nothing more. I am nourished and never need to deprive or binge again. It is ALL there in perfect proportions.

Amen.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

gone today, here tomorrow???

Ok so it's been a while since my last blog...it's not so much that I didn't have anything to say, just that I have had so many things going through my head that I kept circling the launch pad, never touching down to write about one thing. oh well, i am here now anyway. I just had to blog tonight...I am really BUMMED! I have been gliding through the holidays with no real stress about the typical holiday binge , you know, avoiding the food tables and sweets at parties, not filling all the Christmas decor dishes with candy as before and basically, doing a damn fine job of keeping things clean in my world of eating. But the last few days, I have been yearning to bake. Maybe it's the "snow" that has kept us indoors, and feeling homey. Maybe it's this time of year. It makes me feel good and thus far,  I have been fine with giving the treats away once made...However, I decided that I wanted to try to make a batch of cookies from the current recipe book I am able to enjoy- allergen free and so on...and made these delicious no-bake cookies. But the problem is...I can't stay away from them now!!! So, it seems my friend the cookie monster, lady binger, or what-have-you, was only on vacation and has now returned to the building and seems to be getting comfortable again- ugh!! I was in denial all these past 8.5 weeks I guess, or maybe it's that old self-sabotaging meanie inside that decided that "hey, she's feeling pretty confident now, has lost 16 lbs.,and doesn't crave sugar anymore. I think I will f*$k with her and see if I can break her again. I mean, I've always been able to before, why not this time as well?" And I realize that I am my own worst critic and yes,, I have been making amazing strides. Yet somehow, I will not think about the seriously healthy(and delicious) soup I made for dinner and just concentrate on the delicious treats in the fridge calling my name, again and again...This too shall pass. I know this & will make every stride to move beyond the little voices that want me to fail but sometimes I just wish I could feel normal in relation to food. I actually was feeling normal until today...well, I will just sleep on it and see what comes forth tomorrow. Do you have any little food "devils" that threaten to push you to the edge of healthy balanced eating?