I arise this day
with love in my heart,
through the warmth of the sun,
the radiance of the moon,
freedom of the wind,
joy of rushing water,
splendor of fire,
stability of earth,
serenity of stars, and
the wisdom of silence.

I embrace this day
through the grace of the goddess to guide me
and the promise of love to inspire me.
(-Margie Lapanja-The Goddess’ Guide to Love)

“Mummy, why haven’t you been writing in your blog?” asked my beloved little girl yesterday. “Well…” I tried to explain. “Sometimes adults go through times when they’re trying to figure stuff out. Right now I feel like I’m in a period of trying to adjust, and I don’t feel like I really have any advice for anyone.”

She thought about that for a bit. Then she said “But Mummy, you don’t have to have all the answers to help people feel better.” So with that sage advice from a little girl, I’m sharing some gratitude with you today, dear readers…

Currently I’m educating myself about eating and living the macrobiotic way. It seems like quite a huge lifestyle change, at least, it would be for this family. Ironically, while I’m reading about eliminating meat, sugar and dairy from my diet, we threw a barbecue consisting of well, pretty much everything on the ‘avoid’ list…

Fortunately, it’s the season when so many amazing fruits and veggies are everywhere, so I was also able to fill the table with fresh salads, (including this tomato & mozza) which sort of ‘redeemed’ all the animal protein, I thought…

Here’s a fabulous salad idea that I got from the ladies at Mr. Starlily’s work, who are always feeding him. Using organic pre-prepared mixed baby greens made it extra quick and easy. You can also add seeds and nuts. Of course, the ingredients are interchangeable and up to you, but this is how I made it.

fresh greens (the more different kinds and colors, the better, including baby spinach, of course)
chopped tomatoes
chopped mushrooms
shredded or chopped carrots
chopped celery
handfuls of berries (I used blueberries and raspberries)
mandarin orange segments
prawns

Mix everything together, throwing the fruit and prawns in right before serving. Actually, I served the prawns on the side, since certain picky eaters were in attendance. Serve with your favorite Asian toasted sesame dressing.

It’s been a while since I posted so I thought I should write a quick note. It’s been an amazing year, and I’ve learned so much! I feel great! It is nice to get into a routine, and start new habits that stick.

It’s easy to do when life is comfortably rolling along the way that you’ve become accustomed to. The challenge I’ve found, is what happens at the bump in the road: when you’re dealing with a lengthy illness in the family, a new job, the end of a school term, a sudden and unexpected move, or all of the above (check).

So it is that I find myself surrounded by boxes piled to the ceiling in preparation for our move in three days. Even packing has been challenging, between field trips and classes with the children, and everything else that has been going on. I thought that I’ve been handling everything very peacefully, until I had a fainting episode this past weekend. I guess my body was feeling the stress despite my emotional calmness.

It is a real blessing to have a strong body in times of stress. Am I keeping up with all my healthy habits? Honestly, I have skipped some days, knowing that it is temporary, and I will get back to it. After all, I am working on my strength lifting boxes around…

Yesterday, I found myself doing my yoga routine without the DVD. I was surprised that I could remember the routine, for the most part, and it was a new and pleasant experience to do it in silence, at my own pace, without the voices of the instructors in the background.

So I apologize for the shortage of posts while I am getting our active lives moved and organized again. I’ll be back (says she dramatically)…

It’s time for week 9 of the Simple Steps program. Each week the program introduces 4 new habits, one each for nutrition, fitness, home and self. The trick is that they accumulate, so obviously, you have to keep doing the ones from the previous weeks. This week’s habits are:

1. Find creative ways to use herbs and spices.

• Spices and herbs are a healthy alternative to salt.
• Eating hot and spicy foods can sometimes rev up a slow metabolism.
• Spices add flavour without adding calories.
• Many herbs and spices have health benefits. A USDA study indicated that one tablespoon of oregano delivers the same antioxidant dose as a medium sized apple. Garlic protects your heart and reduces blood pressure.
• Herbs can be used in aromatherapy.
• You can grow your own herbs outside, in a window box, or even in small planters in your kitchen.

2. Add new physical activities each week.

Cross training adds variety and helps us fight boredom. It can help us work out more muscle groups, balance us and develops our entire body. Make it a family event and try something new with the children; a game of soccer, jump rope, roller blading, surfing, tennis, skiing, kayaking, hiking. Or try a new class, something that you’ve always been curious about.

3. Do one repair or improvement project every week.

This doesn’t mean that you have to be a home improvement expert. Just fix the little things before they become overwhelming; replace a light bulb, fix a leak, sew a loose button, or tighten a doorknob.

4. Rediscover your passions.

Our passions define and nourish us. They help us have a more enjoyable life, and often a healthier life. They motivate us, bring us joy, stimulate our minds and help keep us young. If you’ve forgotten some of your passions, make a list of your favorite things! Take a class that will enable you to enjoy a new passion.

It’s time for week 8 of the Simple Steps program. Each week the program introduces 4 new habits, one each for nutrition, fitness, home and self. The trick is that they accumulate, so obviously, you have to keep doing the ones from the previous weeks. This week’s habits are:

1. No night eating

If you are trying to lose weight, stop eating as early in the evening as possible. A lot of night time snacking is mindless, in front of the TV, and unnecessary. Eliminating night snacking gives our digestive systems a rest. In our home we have changed our dinner to earlier this year, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how much more I can get done in the evening, simply by planning an earlier and lighter dinner. Try not to eat at least 2 hours before going to bed.

2. Add strength training exercises to your fitness routine each week.

Strength training has many benefits. It can help fight osteoporosis. It can increase the quality of our sleep. It makes our bodies stronger and more toned, improves balance, posture and alignment, and muscle burns more calories than fat. Since I don’t have time to make it to a gym, I’ve been working out at home with hand weights for many years. I use Joyce Vedral’s 12 minute daily program. It alternates the parts of your body you are training, so that each day you are working on different muscle groups, and you get a day or two rest until you work that muscle group again.

3. Make your bed every day.

Starting each day with a nicely made bed really does make a difference. Making our bed encourages us to buy nice linens, and to keep our bedroom organized and tidy. A crisp and tidy bed creates a peaceful place to sleep and can improve sleep. Every one to three months, flip the mattress and vacuum it. Make sure your mattress and pillows provide the support that you need for your head, neck and back. If you haven’t incorporated this step into your day yet, my advice to start would be simply, when you get up in the morning, as soon as you stand up, turn around and make the bed.

4. Get at least one-half hour more sleep every night.

This one will be challenging for me. I enjoy the house when it is quiet and use late nights to catch up on my reading. I know that sleep is important, and there are many reasons to make it a priority. Here are some tips for getting a better night’s sleep.

It’s time for week 7 of the Simple Steps program. Each week the program introduces 4 new habits, one each for nutrition, fitness, home and self. The trick is that they accumulate, so obviously, you have to keep doing the ones from the previous weeks. This week’s habits are:

1. Eat less by slowing down and savoring every bite.

• Eating small bites and chewing thoroughly helps the digestive process.
• Eat mindfully. When you are satisfied, stop eating.
• Making meal time a family occasion encourages communication. Having a conversation at the dinner table makes the experience pleasurable, not rushed.

2. Greet every day with a morning stretch.

• Stretching increases mobility and flexibility.
• Morning stretching gets the blood pumping and helps us wake up.
• Since I practice yoga daily first thing in the morning, which also incorporates breathing, I am counting my yoga practice as my morning stretch.

3. Organize your photographs.

• Organized photos are like artwork that gives us joy.
• Organized photos keep us connected to our loved ones.
• Start by collecting all loose photos into one area or large box.
• Sort starting from the most recent, and going back. Having labeled photo boxes is a good idea. Then you can divide each box into seasons or occasions.
• Only keep the photos worth keeping. Once you’re organized, immediately sort and put away each new batch of photos you bring home.

4. Keep a daily gratitude journal.

• Writing in a gratitude journal gives us a happy, grateful spirit. A grateful spirit brightens our mood, boosts our energy and infuses our daily living with a sense of joyful abundance.
• Training ourselves to think positively is one of the best ways to improve our emotional health.
• Find a journal that you love, or use your personal planner, blackberry or computer.
• Each day write 3 things you are grateful for. Be creative and try not to write the same thing every day. Besides the obvious big gifts, look for the smaller, subtle gifts. After a few weeks, increase your daily entries to 5.
• Express gratitude to people in your life throughout the day; a stranger for holding the door, a child’s teacher, a co-worker.
• Share verbal gratitude entries with your children before bed.
• Doing volunteer work can help us find things to be grateful for.