Happy Saturday! Today is Day 5 of My 12 Days of Resolutions.
Oddly enough, this resolution fell on a Saturday. There's no better day of the week to do something fun than on a Saturday. Inspiring our soul is important. It's what keeps the creative juices flowing and allows us to perceive the world differently. Whether it's reading a book, walking in nature, bonding with your family or taking an art class, take a timeout from the "real" world and inspire your soul. Henry Matisse says, "Creativity takes courage." Have the courage to do something for you, whatever that may be.
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Oh social media and the mainstream media. Where do I even begin to broach that subject?
One positive aspect of social media is that it allows people to have a voice. And that is great! But the dark side of media is blackhole that sucks our minds into a pit of drama, which turns into an echo chamber. The scary part about this is what our society has become. We shun people with different opinions. We tell them they're wrong, stupid or don't fit into "our" world. We embrace people who share our likemind with open arms. It's another form of bullying and fulfillment for this need that "I'm right. I'm moral. I'm better." Not everyone will agree on every subject, and that is okay. I believe nature has the answers to everything. When you step outside of your home you'll notice thousands of different types of leaves, animals and species. Could you imagine choosing a new pet dog only from the golden retriever species? You get either goldie, goldie or goldie Life is more psychological than we understand. How I perceive the world is different than someone from Brazil. We should embrace the different thoughts and lenses that exist. There's never been one country, one religion, one political party or one historical narrative. Each and every culture in this world has it's own language, food, rituals, lifestyle and philosophy on life. Not only do we have national influences, but local influences. People in So-Cal are going to have a completely different menatlity than the people from Maine. The way people, eat, think and live isn't wrong, it's different. That is what makes the world go round, and also makes it a very complex place to live in. Today, I challenge myself and the world to read (or watch) something from a different point of view without judgement. We are all different in our very special own way and only hearing the same drum beat limits, not expands, our perspective in life.
Resolution Number One and Number Two are the base to uplifitng the spirit. Those resolutions transform our perspective and focuses on the good things in life.
Resolution number three focuses on mapping out your year. We tend to do this at work all the time. It's called a quarterly or annual goal. It's so easy to map out our work goals, but for many, it's difficult to make a plan to take of themself. Some people thrive on a rigid plan, others with no plan at all. I believe in "flexible plans." I think it's good to set goals, but it's also good to be flexible. For example, something unexpected may come up (good or bad) or your ideas may change in the next six months. But it's still a good idea to have a plan. What are somethings you'd like to accomplish? Or have always wanted to do? Why not try something new? One example that I will share is that I wanted to take a calligraphy class. I love writing and quotes. And after living in Germany, I found a deep appreciation for historic lettering. Last fall I searched for classes. I found a couple that fit my schedule, but the energy in the air was stressful. I needed art more than ever, but felt I couldn't focus on it or give my one-hundred percent. So the new year came and I thought about calligraphy classes. Should I do it as a birthday gift? Or should I save money and focus on writing? I took a walk on a 32-degree day in Queen Anne. On the corner of a street that I never go down was a posterboard, marked "free," with three books on them. One book was about the history of lettering and how the Romans got the alphabet. I got so excited over the topic because after discovering how the Romans changed the New Year to January (and named this month because of the two-faced God Janus). I will begin my calligraphy adventure January 16th. Pretty much, the writing was on the wall. A message, a sign, whatever you want to call it, some plans take longer to come to fruition. It's why I believe in being flexible, but never losing sight of what you want to do. If you need further motivation, read about Belshazzar's feast where we got the term, "the writing is on the wall." Now, the story signifies that danger is present when you "see the writing on the wall," but sometimes this helps us overcome challenges in our life to make room for the new. For example, if you eat high bouts of sugar and your doctor tells you that you are "pre-diabetic," the writing is on the wall that if you continue the same path you'll get Type 2 Diabetes. The message can't be any more clear. So dream big, think of what you want to accomplish and think of the mini-steps you need to accomplish your goal. You can't climb Mount Everest without climbing to the peak of various "mini-mountains." Goals are the same. Happy planning.
Resolution #1 revolved around Gratitude and what we are thankful for in life.
The next progression is to be thankful for the people who are in our lives. In most cases, there is at least one person who in our life who is that constant light. Whether it's a parent, spouse, friend, co-worker, boss or the bus driver; there's someone who's been there to uplift us, is supportive of our ventures, made our life easier or is there by your side no matter what. Why not show them how appreciative you are of their presence? Send a text. Handwrite a card. Write an email. Whatever it is, write a kind message of appreciation. Sometimes the people we depend upon the most are the ones who receive the least of our appreciation...(ahem...spouses...). It's not because we don't care about them, but they know that we care for them even when we don't mention it. Sometimes we just need to reiterate that through words, not with gifts. I will end with the popular quote, "Words are powerful. They have the ability to create a moment & the strength to destroy it." Who will you write today? Excited to hear about it and see you tomorrow for Resolution #3. Let's Connect!
Gratitude is the basic foundation for the appreciation of life. We all have problems, and this doesn't mean we should not demean them, but rather focus on the good things that we have in our life.
The western world has many problems. But it's also the most abundant and comfortable time in human existence (specifically America). We don't have to work in the field 10 hours per day to produce enough food for winter storage. When we are sick, we can go to a hospital for treatment. Unlike those who suffered from the plague and were left in the streets to die. And luckily, a destructive war is not happening on our land. The more we are thankful for what have (Maslow Hierarchy of Needs), the better we can appreciate the simple things in life. Mass consumerism, marketing and the strive to look and be the best at everything has caused confusion, dissatisfaction in life and low self-esteem. Gratitude lists detach us from external drives and internally fulfill us to make us whole and complete. So what three things are you thankful for in your life right now? Go ahead, write it down. During a low point in my life, I kept a gratitude journal, and you know what, my perspective about life changed because there was so much to be thankful for instead of chronic complaining over a horrible boss. Most of the times, there is always someone else in the world having a worse day than you.
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Change is inevitable even if you're not willing to grow. The biggest change humans experience (and naturally adopt) is through the birth of a child. One day your life is free from restraints, and the next day you can't keep your eyes off this child.
There are some changes in life that we naturally embrace. Most people avoid and resist personal change. There is nothing wrong with the comfort zone, but most change happens when we exit what we know and jump into something new. Change doesn't have to come from doing something extraordinary, but from something different. We can think differently. We can read something different. Or we can do something different. If you're looking for change, personal growth or self-improvement, join me January 10th for the 12 Days of Resolutions. Here I'll share some simple resolutions that can be completed in 5 minutes of less. The more things you do differently, the more you change and the more you grow. As always, inspired by the sun, Elizabeth Join Mind Body Soul Food Every Sunday for some inspiration -Sunspiration. Inspiration Every Sunday in 150 Words or Less. Get inspired everyday with our Instagram account, sunspiration_everyday with inspirational quotes, motivational messages & sweet nothings. Let's Connect! We all have goals, dreams and aspirations. Growing up, I used to make resolutions every year. And then somewhere in my twenties, I stopped. I thought resolutions were stupid and just another failed attempt to lose weight or try to fit in another pair of jeans. I realized that many common resolutions are attached to external praises and our outward appearance and acceptance to the world. But, this year, I am back to resolutions. What happened? And why did this shift? It's partly because I appreciate the historical roots of the Romans changing the new year to January since this month was named after Janus, a two-headed Roman God who looks forward and backward. This is important because our ancestors (I feel) were more spiritually aware and wise than we are today. Understanding the symbology behind January to me meant that the energy for a rebirth is powerful at this time. I used to "hate" January because it'd be cold, dark, snowy/wet and the Christmas lights and magic disappear into thin air. Wahh, wahhh, wahh, poor me and my S.A.D. life. But through an emotional shift, I overcame this "poor me" syndrome and embraced January. Why? Because we can't have it all. We must accept the light and the dark in every person, situation and season. Now, I believe resolutions can be powerful for those with pure intentions and deep roots to personal identity. Why not just try something new? Why not revive your spirit? We all make goals and plans at work, but we often leave the "take care of ourself" plan behind. A resoultion is merely mapping out something in our inner world that either needs fixed, changed or revived. It's not rocket science. And most resolutions fail because of shallow roots. As we go through life, we should progress ourselves (just like we do at work...ahem promotions and advancement...). The more we progress our spirit, the more we affect the world in a positive way. When I lived in a yoga ashram in Australia, I was re-introduced to the word, "sankalpa." Sankalpa is a notion formed in the heart and the mind. It's a solemn vow and a commitment to nourishing our highest self. A sankalpa can be: -a specific intention or goal that aligns heart-felt desires with daily actions. Or it can be: -a heart-felt desire that expresses who we are beyond our intellect. "I am whole." "I am at peace." I believe in myself" are examples of how we express ourselves from the heart but not necessarily the head. This New Year energy is the perfect time for sankalpa. 2017 is a number 1 year in numerology. There's no better way to put yourself and your goals first than this year! Beginning on January 10th, I will submit a blog post each day with a new resolution. Some resolutions are "food for thought," other resolutions are so simple you can do it at your desk in less than 3 minutes. The point is to get back into our spirit and re-root ourselves to the basics of human existence - thanks, appreciation, gratitude & acceptance. In the picture, you can see some of my resolutions or "goals" for this year. It's healthy to map out some goals in life, or something that you want to achieve on an annual (or quarterly/bi-annual) basis. And since I want to share my voice, this 12 Days of Resolutions is one for me to share it. See you on the 10th!
Pumpkin season is out. The New Year is in. But, this doesn’t mean we should stop eating pumpkin during the winter season.
Surprisingly, Seattle has been sunny and dry this New Year. The picture-perfect sunsets inspire this New Year energy. I’ve spent much time in nature the last few days. The most amazing aspect of living in a temperate climate is that nature blooms and blossoms year-round. The winter berries are fresh, and the leaves still foliate.
This particular bush caught my eye. The leaves transformed from a deep green to a dark purple. I can’t stress this enough, but nature is the purest artist on earth.
To contrast the deep hues, I wanted to create something to warm my soul. Spices are important to one’s health and whenever I think of spices, I think of my time in India. The air smelled like curry and the spices from the bins at the market dusted the ground as it blew with the wind.
No matter what direction the wind blows, I will always prioritize my health. Our health is everything and the New Year is the time when we “stress” upon doing something for our health. So, why not cook for good health and hearth?
Winter is the hearty season and during these cooler months, our bodies crave heavier and denser food. Nourishment is important, especially after the sugar-crazed holidays. I decided to add kale to this recipe in celebration of the harvest of "grunkohl" in Northern Germany. During my time in Hannover, I had the opportunity to partake in a Grunkohlfahrt or green cabbage tour, which is a northern German tradition.
I myself am back on track this January. Part broke, part sugared-out, I’m ready to take charge of the crockpot this New Year to concoct budget-friendly and simple plant-based recipes for every person (and pocketbook) to enjoy!
Are you searching for something to resolute? Join me next Monday for the 12 Days of Resolutions.
Slow Cooker Vegan Pumpkin Kale Red Lentil Curry
Cook Time: 2-4 hours Serves: 3-4 Ingredients: ¾ cup red lentils 2 cups water + 1 bouillon cube (or vegetable broth) 2 cans chickpeas, drained and washed 2 cups (1 can) of fresh or canned pumpkin puree 2 cups kale, washed and chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced ¾ cup onion, chopped 1 ¾ tsp curry powder ½ tsp cumin 1.5 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper pinch of paprika ¼ cup cilantro Optional: ¼ cup (or more) coconut milk** Directions: Place all ingredients -except the cilantro and coconut milk - into the crock pot and stir until combined. Set the crockpot on the four-hour setting. Since the bouillon cube takes a while to “melt,” stir the mixture within the first 30 minutes. Everything should be cooked between 2-4 hours. I turned my crockpot off at the 2 hour mark. From here, stir in the cilantro and if you want a creamier texture, add the coconut milk. Eat as is or serve over rice. **Notes: I suggest adding the coconut milk at ¼ cup at a time. I found the curry tasted excellent without the coconut milk, but the milk adds a different flavor. It taste best after 24 hours.
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Happy New Year Friends! The New Year is here and it's the time of year when we feel inspired by this fresh start. I recently wrote about resolutions that blossom your inner world to make you a better person, instead of focusing on changing just because it's the new year. The cool thing about New Years is that its the time to rewrite our life. This doesn't mean that tough times will vanish into thin air. But yet, the more arrows and bullets we take, the stronger our soul becomes. Everyday is a new chapter in a book. Every sunrise is another chance to write our daily poem that expresses our journey in life. Even if your day is cloudy, write a good one, because you never know when you'll see the last sunset in life. As always, inspired by the sun, Elizabeth Join Mind Body Soul Food Every Sunday for some inspiration -Sunspiration. Inspiration Every Sunday in 150 Words or Less. Get inspired everyday with our Instagram account, sunspiration_everyday with inspirational quotes, motivational messages & sweet nothings. |
AuthorElizabeth Rae Kovar M.A. is Author of her memoir, Finding Om and is a Fitness Trainer, Yogi, Reiki Master, Presenter and Lover of Life. To view her portfolio please visit www.elizabethkovar.com Categories
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