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Nanner
Spring - when our external clocks are moved forward; when nature begins anew; and when we clear the clutter from our lives physically and emotionally.
No need to keep sweeping the emotion clutter under the rug. Take that rug laden with emotional clutter and give it a good shake outdoors! Shake out the hurts, the hate and any negative thought. Your thoughts take your emotions for a walk down a path. You will find yourself packing down the dirt and trampling some of the underbrush every time you hike that path. As you continue using this same path you begin to feel emotions - sad, depressed, overwhelmed or disappointed.
The good news is we all have the ability to chose a new and different path. When you have a thought about a circumstance in your life, make a conscious effort to stop going down the negative path and get your emotions on a new positive path. You do not have to believe everything that you think. If a thought about a circumstance is not serving you then just let that thought go by shifting it to a positive thought.
Now that your thoughts are on a more positive path, it's time to clear out the physical clutter. All physical clutter accumulates based on what we think or feel. There are many psychological reasons why we keep things, but you have to get rid of things you no longer want to make room for the things you do want.
The more you release things that you no longer use and no longer bring pleasure, you will have more energy and prosperity. Start with the most cluttered area that is overwhelming and clear clutter in small bursts of 15 - 30 minutes daily. Make this a daily habit so that you're clearing space to manifest more energy and prosperity. By donating items you no longer use/need you are giving them new life and purpose and meeting the needs of another person.
Spring your life forward by starting anew this Spring season!
As the song goes -
"O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, How lovely are thy branches!"
Christmas 2020 will have a different meaning and depth than years past for many of us. Not being able to celebrate with our dear family and friends will take on a different meaning during the pandemic and social distancing environment we are currently experiencing. The holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day has traditionally been a time to celebrate with those we hold near and dear and reflect upon the past year.
Many of us will find ourselves celebrating within our own homes and not gathered together with others. We will need to go deep into our souls to reflect upon the great memories of past holiday celebrations. Some of us will have to literally force ourselves to get out the decorations, trim the tree, hang the lights, bake the traditional cookies/breads, sing carols, mail the cards, shop on line, take selfies and setup the Zoom room.
After we complete our holiday preparations, let's take some time to prepare our hearts for celebrating the birth of our Lord. Thank God for the lives of those no longer traveling this journey with us. Their beauty and love still surround us in the traditions we continue. Thank God for His merciful blessings - the painted sunrise/sunset. Thank God for the gift of hope - trust/desire for our future . Thank God for His infinite grace - unmerited favor. Thank God for eternal life through the birth of His Son - Jesus Christ!
As the song continues -
"Let us all remember in our gift giving and merriment
With our family and friends and loved ones
The real and true meaning of Christmas
The birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!"
Our country is experiencing a new wave of COVID-19 cases, perhaps due to more mobility by school attendance, eating out with family/friends, attending public events and cooler temperatures.
While we are all getting weary and restless with the confinement, it is important to stay the course and not be an ostrich. Our ancestors endured many hardships that most of us cannot even fathom-try watching “Hell On Wheels” on Netflix and you will get a glimpse of life on the prairie.
Let’s all stay the course and commit to taking care of one another by, helping one another to keep hopeful during these trying times. Call, text or email family, friends and neighbors - tell them you are thinking of them, miss them and do they need anything. Make an effort to helping others stay mentally healthy and you will be healthier too.
Press onward by remembering these healthy steps:
1. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap for 20 seconds
2. Wear a face mask when in public
3. Stay home if you aren’t feeling well
4. Eat lots of fruit high in vitamin C-oranges, grapefruit, sweet red bell pepper, strawberries, kiwi and kale.
5. Eat foods high in beta-carotene- carrots, spinach or sweet potatoes.
6. Eat foods rich in vitamin E - nuts, seeds and avocados.
7. Eat foods high in vitamin D - tuna, egg yolks, milk and yogurt.
8. Drink lots of Green Tea that is full of antioxidants
.9. Exercise-walking and yoga help your immune system.
10. Meditate - focus on all the blessings in your life.
Each season bestows upon us a different aspect of nature. The fall season this year has shown us that each leaf is a colorful flower. Our nation has been under turmoil politically, physically and emotionally. And now nature has burst into flaming colors breathing richness into our depleted souls.
As we begin the road and navigate through November, try to take a few minutes everyday to reflect upon the blessings of the day. Then when we arrive at Thanksgiving Day our cups will be full and overflowing.🙏
Individually and collectively as a nation, we will continue to navigate uncharted waters, but our faith in God and one another will be our moral compass. We will reach the shoreline if we continue to stay on the ship together and not panic and jump into the lifeboat alone.
As you prepare your heart and hearth for November, below is a great harvest breakfast:
I recently started using Hello Fresh meal subscription service. Living in unsettling times during a pandemic, it is great to have a week’s worth of meals delivered to your doorstep! All the ingredients you need to prepare a meal are included in the meal kits, and you get to choose your meals and when you want them delivered.
It has also been a great way to hone my culinary skills or learn new ones. Since I am single and my only child lives out of state, I tend to cook occasionally for family or friends.
Preparing these meal kits I quickly learned some of my tools were either outdated or non-existent. So I went shopping on Amazon and purchased OXO Assorted Peelers. They are awesome tools with an easy grip and sharp Japanese blades! I had so much fun learning new skills of vegetable preparation.
The meal kits also include fresh herbs-thyme, rosemary, cilantro, etc. I found it a little time consuming to remove the herb from the stem. I was used to purchasing them in a jar! Amazon to the rescue again with an OXO Good Grips Herb and Kale Stripping Comb. It is an amazing tool!! Made quick work of removing the herb from the stem.
It’s been a fun experience to receive the meal kits to stimulate my taste buds, enhance my culinary skills, learn new recipes and eat healthier. It helped to take the guess work out of ‘what’s for dinner’.
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