a few recipes for the cleanse

I promised you a few ideas for enjoyable eating options while on the 21 day cleanse.  Eh voila!  Tomorrow I will share a recipe for the most amazing soup I have ever tasted.  Both my DH and I were ooohing and aaaahing as we consumed it.  It is a perfect, quick and easy soup to rely on throughout the 3 weeks.  But, for now, let's start with breakfasts! 

Bananaberry Breakfast Smoothie

3/4 cup frozen mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries)
1/2 frozen banana
1/3 cup vanilla soy yogurt
1/2 cup unsweetened soy milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
1 teaspoon flaxseed oil (optional, but good for you!)
dash of nutmeg (also optional)
Directions:
Put all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  Serves 1

Doesn't this look like a delicious way to start the day?  These pictures are not of the recipe above, but I imagine a Bananaberry smoothie would look something like this.  The wonderful thing with a smoothie is that once you grasp the concept you can play around and substitute any ingredients you want ... well for our purposes on the cleanse it would have to be dairy free. 

Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients:

5 frozen strawberries

1 cup soy yogurt (your favorite flavor)

1 banana

Directions:
Microwave the frozen strawberries for about 15 seconds so blender doesn't have to work so hard. Add peeled banana, yogurt, and strawberries.
Serves: 1
Preparation time: 3 minutes


My mother used to have a different way to eat oats.  She would boil water (I would guess 3 cups) and let it cool.  She would put it in a glass container and add the uncooked oats (about 1 cup).  She also would throw in a handful of raisins.  It would soak for a few hours, or over night and then she would serve it in a bowl including a bit of the water which had turned cloudy and almost looked like skim milk.  I'm not sure if it is an aquired taste, but I loved eating oats this way.  The raisins give you a little hit of sweetness.  I have not done so for a long time and intend to have a glass container of the oats soaked in water available for breakfasts and snacking.

In the meantime I have heard Dr. Oz say that he loves to eat walnuts that have been soaked in water.  So I thought I would add some roughly chopped walnuts to the water, oats and raisins.  I remember that my mother would drink any of the soaking water that did not get consumed with the oats and raisins.  If you try this simple oat recipe, let me know what you think.

I came across the recipe below while checking out a vegan website.  I cannot recommend it and am only posting it because it sounds interesting and I will be giving it a try. It must be something like an oat polenta. I love oats so it is hard to imagine I will not like it.  Not sure about my husband though!  Oat steaks!

Oat Steaks

Ingredients:
1 Cup Rolled Oats (Organic if possible)
1 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Soy Milk
1/2 Cup chopped herbs (parsley, sage, thyme etc)
Stock powder (the one you like, to taste)


Directions:


Put oats, water and soy milk in a pan and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5mins. Add herbs and stock powder, stirring every now and then to prevent sticking.


Grease a loaf pan with olive oil. When the oats are soft and creamy pour into the loaf tin. Allow the oats to cool and set (this can be done the day before and stored in the fridge.


Remove the oatcake from the loaf tin and slice into steaks. Heat a little olive oil in a heavy skillet and fry the oat steaks on both sides till golden brown.


This is high fiber, high energy winter comfort food that is perfect with a rich tomato sauce and grilled mushrooms. In summer you can BBQ it and serve with salad and a smoky corn and chili salsa (for summer change the herbs to coriander and basil adding them just before you pour the oats into the loaf tin)


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 mins.


Of course, if you want your oatmeal to be as close as possible to the way you normally eat it (when not on the cleanse) it will look like the image below.  Cooked in water (not milk) and not served with any dairy.  My daughter says she adds almond milk (which has its own sweetness) and lots of chopped fruit for sweetness (no sugar!).  A little cinammon would be a delicious addition.  I suppose you could add a drop of agave syrup if you need more sweetness - but be judicious as it is extremely sweet and you need much less than you would sugar or maple syrup.

In order to get enough proteins and minerals when having a simple salad, you can throw in additions such as chick peas and seeds (such as the pumpkin seeds pictured below).

Since my husband and I enjoy a glass of wine together before supper - when our schedules allow - I am going to pamper myself with sparkling water and fruit 'cocktails' such as the one you see below.  Use your fine stemware for your non-alcoholic beverages and you will feel less deprived.

So there are a few little ideas for your dining pleasure while on the cleanse.  Concentrate on the options open to you and not on what you are giving up.  It also helps to remember that any sacrifices you find challenging are in service of creating optimum health and wellness - not an insignificant tradeoff.

Kathryn Magendie asked in my last post's comments what you do after the cleanse.  I thought many of you might be asking the same question.  Of course, it will be up to each person whether they resume all of their old eating habits, or not.  I will add fish, a morning cup of coffee and a little wine back into my diet.  I will try to keep sugar, wheat and dairy to a minimum as on the cleanse - certainly not eating them willy nilly as I used to do.  That's my plan for after the 3 week cleanse.  I will let you know how successful I am.

shopping list for the cleanse

As mentionned in my last post, I am starting Kathy Freston's 'Quantum Wellness' 21 day cleanse on Monday, February 1st.  In the comments to that post, a few brave souls have said they will join me.  Some of you do not have 'The Quantum Wellness Cleanse' book yet, so I want to post a few things from her book that will help you get started.


There are 5 food categories that are eliminated from your diet for the 3 week cleanse:  animal products (including dairy), sugar, gluten/wheat, caffeine, and alcohol.


You will eat:  grains, beans (legumes), nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables.

Freston says, "I want to prepare you for the physiological downside that SOME people experience for a few days.  Many people experience no physical problems or actual signs of withdrawal, but some do:  If you are in the latter category, please remind yourself that this (headaches, anxiety) is a signal of addiction ...these bad physical feelings pass within a few days...


"Giving up gluten will not cause a physical sense of withdrawal, because you are likely to experience an almost instant relief from digestive problems (if you have them).  The difficulty you may have, though, is in finding things that don't contain gluten.  Breads and other products made with rice, corn, quinoa, potatoes, oats and buckwheat are good bets....just getting out of the bread habit alone will have you feeling leaner and cleaner in no time."  It is  often the breads we eat that tend to cause weight gain and fatigue.


"Despite what you may have heard, abstention from animal products will not deprive your body of any essential nutrients, and you won't feel tired or weak.  There are plenty of proteins and amino acids in plant-based food, without all the unhealthy fat and additives.  However, if meat was the mainstay of your diet before, you might feel a little lost and left out.  This is good.  It shakes things up!"


"While I want to warn you that you may have cravings, I also want to stress that there are many, many people who don't have a hard time at all, and also stress that almost everyone feels lighter and more energetic within a day or two - I hear from people constantly who say they didn't even realize that they could feel so good.  Their lethargic way of being had become their constant; with the cleanse, they realized that they could have more energy, need less sleep, and feel lighter and clearer, just by breaking their reliance on foods that are not right for the human body.....you will find your own natural balance.  You are giving your body both a good detox and a chance to release itself from the vicious cycle of addictive eating or drinking.....


"Why twenty-one days?  Because that's about how long it takes for your tastes and cravings to begin responding to healthier and simpler foods.  So what you are left with after completion is a whole new and healthier routine, balanced blood sugar and freedom from old addictions......This cleanse has no strange concoctions to drink, no pills to purchase and it is medically unassailable.  Nevertheless, do consult with your doctor before beginning, especially if you have existing conditions."


Reasons to do this cleanse:
* as a detox
* to lose a few pounds
* as an opportunity to reboot to a healthier, more simple eating plan
* to re-discover that you are more powerful than the food
* to nourish your body in a more humane way
* to have more energy
* to align your eating with values of kindness and integrity
* to discover emotional material you may be covering over with food
* to give your body a break from its heavy workload
* to begin to think more deeply about where your food comes from and its journey to your plate


Some of the positive changes you can expect:
* more energy
* clearer skin and eyes
* weight loss
* cessation of certain aches, pains, and digestive ailments
* release from addictive habits
* a profound awareness of your personal power and the effect you have in the world.


Some suggestions to make this more than a just a food experience:
* listen to your inner voice, your fears, etc.as you do this cleanse.  What are you learning about yourself?
* pay attention, eat mindfully
* keep a journal about the feelings that arise - if you choose
* be compassionate with yourself and if you slip up, just move back onto the plan
* increase your blood flow and natural endorphins by taking a brisk walk every day
* remind yourself withdrawal symptoms are just proof how addicted your body is to a powerful substance
* drink lots of water and herbal teas to help your body flush away the toxins it will be releasing
* take 15 minutes to meditate or sit quietly enjoying nature
* each night plan what you will be eating tomorrow

Some suggestions for your grocery list for the cleanse:
* Irish steel-cut oats (oats do contain some gluten, but most people can tolerate the minimal amount)
* mixed-grain hot cereals
* rice cakes
* rice crackers
* flax crackers
* gluten-free bread
* sweet potatoes, yams
* grains: brown or wild rice, quinoa, corn, millet, etc.
* nuts
*seeds: sunflower, pumpkin, sesame
*nut or seed butters
*non-dairy protein powder (soy, pea, hemp or rice-based)
* beans and legumes
* tofu
* tempeh
* "faux" meats
* artichoke, rice, or quinoa past
* pasta sauce
* vegetables:  kale, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, eggplant, collard greens, squash, tomatoes, etc.
* mushrooms of all kinds
* salad leaves of all kinds
* fruits
* frozen fruits for smoothies
* lemons and limes for sparkling-water cocktails
* herbal teas
* non-dairy milk such as rice, almond or soy
* sweeteners: agave nectar, stevia - use sparingly
* extra virgin olive oil
* seasonings: garlic, ginger, tamari
* flours to cook or bake with:  bean, pea, soy, potato, buckwheat, arrowroot, rice
* popcorn
* corn chips (no wheat flour)
* guacamole
* hummus
* soy cheese (rennet-free)
* vegetarian stock for cooking and soups


"When I'm on the cleanse I no longer think about the foods I CAN'T eat.  Instead I look forward to my favorite snacks.  I get excited thinking about the big salad I will make for lunch.  I'll throw everything under the sun in there and then top it with some crumbled veggie burger patties.  If I'm hungry between meals, I eat some mixed nuts, tamari almonds, a nutrition bar, or a piece of fruit.  I can't wait for dinner, when I get to dig into a luscious fajita with black beans and guacamole with salsa.  Or maybe a hearty lentil soup with some flax crackers on the side.  And I make sure to have a variety of vegetables or salad a few times a day."




There is so much more to share from the Kathy Freston book, but that is enough for one posting.  If you need ideas for how to prepare and cook the ingredients on Freston's list, check out http://www.vegweb.com/ for good recipes.


I am certainly not an expert in how to do this, but since I have initiated a 3 week joint experience, have read the book, have talked to people who have done the cleanse, I will be happy to answer questions you may have by looking up the answers in Freston's book.  Ask your question in the comments and I will do my best to provide an answer in the comment section for you.  In the meantime, get to the bookstore and purchase her little book - it will be your support during the next 3 weeks!  Good luck.  Tomorrow I will post a few good and simple recipes you can use on the cleanse.  If you have any to share please, please do so!!

21 day cleanse

Kathy Freston is the author of Quantum Wellness and the above book The Quantum Wellness Cleanse.  The cleanse is for 21 days and is not a fast.  The cleanse does require abstaining for 3 weeks from meat, caffeine, sugar, alcohol, dairy and wheat/gluten.  I can hear you screaming, 'But what's left if you exclude all those things from your diet?'   Well, quite a lot it seems. 

To avoid gluten you stop eating anything made with wheat flour, however you can buy or make breads from many other grains (oats, corn, kamut etc.). You can use agave syrup in place of sugar.  Almond or rice milk make nice replacements for cow's milk.  Huge health benefits apparently come from eliminating dairy, sugar and wheat.  On the cleanse you will eat mainly vegetables, fruits and legumes. 

For example, I plan to have the same breakfast every morning:  steel-cut oats, with added fruit (bananas, strawberries, blueberries) and walnuts - maybe a little agave syrup if needed.  Lunch will be salads that include either legumes (chick peas, lentils, etc.) with nuts, seeds or sprouts.  Suppers can be quinoa with roasted vegetables, meat-free minestrone soup, etc. etc.  If you are interested you need to read her book because there are lots of great suggestions about satisfying meal plans and snacks. 

My daughter and her partner are just completing their second time on Freston's 21 day cleanse in one year.  Both have lost a bit of weight although that was not the goal because neither was overweight to begin with.  However, they are both are astounded by the increase in their level of energy once eliminating the foods that are so taxing on the digestive tract.  Their skin glows, their eyes are bright and white, and they claim it is much easier than one would imagine.  Neither of them normally eat meat or dairy, so it was a matter of eliminating sugar, alcohol, caffeine and gluten.  I have the advantage of already eating no meat, but do eat some dairy (rarely), wheat, caffeine, some sugar and alcohol (wine).  So I will have to abstain from them for the 3 weeks.

I am planning to give the 21 day cleanse a try starting Monday, February 1st.  Anyone interested in joining me in this 'adventure'?  You would have to read her book and  immediately stock up on the things you CAN eat, have a concrete plan as to what you will eat every day - and try to keep it simple.  Freston includes many recipes by Tal Ronnen the 'Conscious Cooking' chef and author.   Another book that will be helpful on this cleanse is "Clean Food".

It will be a big challenge, but I'm gearing up for it now and will stock my cupboards with all the acceptable foods this weekend.  I'll let you know how it goes, and do let me know if you would like to do it along with me.  February 1st is this coming Monday!  C-Day.  (C for Cleanse!)

P.S.  (Added 3 hours after initial posting.)  Some of you have indicated in your comments that you might be interested in doing this with me.  Here is a little article off of E-How by Stuart Copeland about the 21 Day Cleanse - what it is like - what you need to consider before trying it:

"Cleanse

The 21 Day Cleanse focuses on healthy, wholesome foods and eliminates five staple foods from the diet. For three weeks, you are to give up alcohol, sugar, gluten, caffeine and animal products. Freston emphasizes conscious eating, being completely aware of what goes into our bodies, where it comes from and why we are consuming it. In an article in The Huffington Post, Freston says, "Sitting down to eat is an elemental part of every day and what we choose to put on our plate has repercussions not only for our physical well-being but also for our spiritual well-being."

Benefits

The inherent and obvious benefits of the cleanse are to rid the body of toxins that build up due to bad habits, bad eating and pollutants in the environment. As these toxins build up, the energy required to naturally expel them takes it toll on the body, whereas a detoxification program eases the expelling process. Freston explains the benefits: "The cleanse delivers a fresh start. It's like a vacation, a reprieve from our old and tired ways...an opportunity to kick start a momentum of consciousness and healing."

Foods

Doctor Benjamin Kim of DrBenKim.com lists some of the best natural food for the cleansing process. These foods include: lettuce, avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, carrots, onions, corn, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, pears, apples, bananas, mangoes, red beets, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, asparagus, papaya, peaches, plums, nectarines, grapes, coconut, oranges, grapefruit, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.

Example Meal Plan

Oprah.com lists a typical daily meal plan for the cleanse:

Breakfast

Gluten-free toast with natural peanut butter or almond butter and tea

Lunch

Quinoa with tofu and vegetable stir-fry

Salad with fresh vegetables

Snack

Soy yogurt with blueberries and almonds

Dinner

Soy burger

Salad with avocado

Lentil soup

Warnings

It is best to slowly ease your way into the cleanse. The week prior to starting the cleanse, slowly ween yourself of caffeine, sugar and alcohol. An abrupt change in diet can cause extreme irritability, vomiting and fatigue. Consult your doctor before starting the cleansing program to ensure it is safe for your particular needs and lifestyle."

I personally will not be eating so many soy products on my cleanse.  But that is up to each person.  I don't particularly enjoy the flavour or texture of soy and know that one can get enough protein by combining legumes, seeds, nuts and whole grains.  I might make a concession and purchase some soy-based protein powder with which to make smoothies for breakfast or snacks.  You really need to check this out for yourself to see if such a 21 day program is right for you.

"...the earth is what I speak to..."

The earth is all that lasts.

The earth is what I speak to when

I do not understand my life

Nor why I am not heard.

The earth answers me with the same song

That it sang for my fathers when

Their tears covered up the sun

The earth sings a song of gladness.

The earth sings a song of praise

The earth rises up and laughs at me

Each time that I forget

How spring begins with winter

And death begins with birth.

~Nancy Wood

How do you feel about loners?

Do you consider yourself somewhat of a loner?  And how do you feel about finding yourself in that category?  I have noticed that people who are loners, or who feel like they are more introvert than extrovert often feel ashamed to admit it....as if there is something 'wrong' with enjoying solitude.  North American culture seems to be dominated by extroverts, and introverts often find themselves being goaded into 'loosening up', 'hanging out', 'getting with it' and even being viewed as strange.  As I searched the web for an image to illustrate this post, I discovered that loners are described as 'twisted' and 'geeks'.  Yes, people with mental illness are often loners.  However, many very normal, well-adjusted people have an innate preference for alone time.  I'd like to look briefly at what is right, okay and advantageous about being an introverted type or loner.

In my professional work I have observed that introverts are often more reflective and more prepared for the difficult work of looking within.  Introverts are often more observant and more likely to have actively confronted the existential challenges of life.  Introverts and extroverts who are in relationships often have difficulty coping with the other's behaviours.

None of us are wholly introvert or wholly extrovert.  Many extroverts know how to balance their enjoyment of reaching outward and find ways to build quiet, reflective time into their outwardly-focused lives.  Many introverts have observed how to 'play the game', fit in and have developed a 'pseudo-extroversion' that they can enjoy in social situations.

If you observe carefully, you can spot an introvert/pseudo-extrovert at a social gathering.  They enjoy all the exchanges, laughter, commiseration with everyone else ... but now and then they will take a little break and go stand alone on the balcony, go to the bathroom, wander over and gaze at the art on the wall.  The make-up of their nervous system needs to take a little break from all the incoming stimulation.  After a little break, they will rejoin the gathering and participate and enjoy like everyone else.

I was pleased to discover the following article which illustrates that introverts have nothing to be ashamed of in their particular way of relating to the world around them.  In fact, there are many advantages to being introverted, just as there are to being extroverted.  Even if you are not an introvert, you may have a partner, a child or friends who are - and this article may help you better understand them. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.  Where do you think you fall on the introvert/extrovert continuum?  I am a definite introvert, with well-developed pseudo-extrovert skills.  Many friends find it difficult to compute when I say I am an introvert.  I do enjoy conversation, learning, laughter,  exchange, emotional intimacy....but I must carve out my alone time - 'must' being the key word.

So here is the little article - let me know what you think! 

"Field Guide to the Loner: The Real Insiders Loners are pitied in our up-with-people culture. But the introvert reaps secret joy from the solitary life.
By Elizabeth Svoboda, published on March 01, 2007.


Miina Matsuoka lives by herself in New York City. She owns two cats and routinely screens her calls. But before you jump to conclusions, note that she is comfortable hobnobbing in any of five languages for her job as business manager at an international lighting-design firm. She just strongly prefers not to socialize, opting instead for long baths, DVDs, and immersion in her art projects. She does have good, close friends, and goes dancing about once a month, but afterward feels a strong need to "hide and recoup." In our society, where extroverts make up three-quarters of the population, loners (except Henry David Thoreau) are pegged as creepy or pathetic. But soloists like Matsuoka can function just fine in the world—they simply prefer traveling through their own interior universe.


Loners often hear from well-meaning peers that they need to be more social, but the implication that they're merely black-and-white opposites of their bubbly peers misses the point. Introverts aren't just less sociable than extroverts; they also engage with the world in fundamentally different ways. While outgoing people savor the nuances of social interaction, loners tend to focus more on their own ideas—and on stimuli that don't register in the minds of others. Social engagement drains them, while quiet time gives them an energy boost.


Contrary to popular belief, not all loners have a pathological fear of social contact. "Some people simply have a low need for affiliation," says Jonathan Cheek, a psychologist at Wellesley College. "There's a big subdivision between the loner-by-preference and the enforced loner." Those who choose the living room over the ballroom may have inherited their temperament, Cheek says. Or a penchant for solitude could reflect a mix of innate tendencies and experiences such as not having many friends as a child or growing up in a family that values privacy.


James McGinty, for one, is a caseworker who opted out of a career as a lawyer because he didn't feel socially on-the-ball enough for the job's daily demands. He has a small circle of friends, but prefers to dine solo. "I had a bad cold over the Thanksgiving holiday, but that spared me from having to go to my brother-in-law's," he says. "I'm not a scrooge; it's the gatherings I dread." Matsuoka feels his pain: "I can't do large crowds with a lot of noise," she says. "It's stressful to maintain positive interactions and introduce yourself 20 times. I really have to turn on my motor to do that."


Matsuoka, who is divorced, is open to romantic relationships, but "whomever I'm with must know that at least one day a week I need to lock myself in my room and stick feathers on a sculpture," she warns. Artwork is a form of meditation for her. "I get completely sucked in. It clears my mind until nothing disturbs me." While a few studies have shown a correlation between creativity, originality, and introversion, perhaps more striking is the greater enjoyment introverts seem to reap from creative endeavors.


Amanda Guyer, a psychologist at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, has found that socially withdrawn people have increased sensitivity to all kinds of emotional interactions and sensory cues, which may mean that they find pleasure where others do not. Guyer separated child subjects into "outgoing" and "reserved" groups and then had them play a game in which they had to press a button in order to win money. The reserved subjects showed two to three times more activity in the striatum region of the brain, which is associated with reward, than did the more outgoing ones.


Previous MRI studies have shown that during social situations, specific areas in the brains of loners experience especially lively blood flow, indicating a sort of over-stimulation, which explains why they find parties so wearying. But Guyer's results suggest that introverts may be more attuned to all sorts of positive experiences as well. This added sensitivity, she speculates, could mean that people who are reserved have an ability to respond quickly to situations—such as coming to your aid in a moment of need—or show unusual empathy to a friend, due to their strong emotional antennae.

Research by psychotherapist Elaine Aron bears out Guyer's hunch, demonstrating that withdrawn people typically have very high sensory acuity. Because loners are good at noticing subtleties that other people miss, Aron says, they are well-suited for careers that require close observation, like writing and scientific research. It's no surprise that famous historical loners include Emily Dickinson, Stanley Kubrick, and Isaac Newton."

Of course, there are negative aspects, challenges that come with introversion but for today, for a change, I thought we could look at the positive side of being  a person who is more introverted than extroverted.

(P.S.  Don't forget to enter my giveaway!  Details are in my January 25th post.)

One World One Heart Giveaway Event

Lisa from A Whimsical Bohemian is the creator and host of an international giveaway event.  Bloggers from all over the world (including me - so read on to find out what you can 'win' here) will participate by announcing their giveaway today, January 25, 2010.  Lisa can better explain the origin and purpose of this One World One Heart Giveaway Event:

"WHAT IS ONE WORLD ONE HEART?



I (Lisa) created this event in 2007. The original idea behind this giveaway event was to bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily meet. It closes the gap of the blog community and enables us to interact, discover new and wonderful people, and in the process possibly win a prize or many prizes along the way. 2007 had roughly 85-90 participants and many connections were made because of it......friendships that are still going strong.


We had a strong showing the first year for sure, and then in 2008 we had just about tripled that number. In 2009 there were 911 participants, to say I was amazed is an understatement. 28 countries were represented in the 2009 event as well.


This is more than wanting to win something.......that is only the means.......in the end it's about finding kindred spirits. Someone who may be fairly new to blogging, not sure how to navigate, find others and have others find them....Some are long time bloggers and in some cases well known in the blogging community. Whatever the case it brings all of them together. This is an INTERNATIONAL event that has and had participants from the US, Canada, France, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Malaysia, Brazil, The Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Ireland, England,Wales, Slovenia and more. It transcends geographical location, socio economics, political affiliation, religious beliefs......it's a coming together like the giant community we are on this planet. If only it took a simple giveaway to create PEACE everywhere, in the mean time here we give from our hearts. We are not solving the worlds problems nor are we curing anything nor are we changing the world. We are merely generating a closer community between humans through blogging. What more could I ask for, my little idea has surpassed my wildest dreams of what it could become."

I (Bonnie) have decided to throw my hat into the ring, or perhaps I should say on the 'magic carpet' by offering the print below as my giveaway.  It is an 8 x 10 inch print and you will receive it in a minimalist black frame, under glass.  You can display it immediately with this frame, or reframe it with mats if you choose.

To enter the giveaway you must leave a comment on this post and include your e-mail address so that I can contact you should you win.  That's all you have to do!  The winner will be selected randomly on February 15th and announced at 9:00 a.m. EST on that day.  If I do not hear back from you to confirm your acceptance and give me your address within 24 hours after sending you notification of your win, I will draw another name.  To be entered, your comment must be received by 8:00 a.m. EST on February 15th.

Good luck to all and thanks to Lisa for creating and hosting this event.  You can link to her site here and discover  the 500+ other bloggers who are hosting giveaways for this event.

Things I've Learned ~ by David

88 Important Truths I’ve Learned About Life

by David at Raptitude.com http://www.raptitude.com 
Posted July 2, 2009


I found this list by David from Raptitude.com (Getting Better At Being Human).  His site has some interesting articles that you might enjoy.  I liked this list because it is fun, simple, practical and I found most of his 'truths/laws' to have some merit. See what you think of his list:

"Everyone gets drilled with certain lessons in life. Sometimes it takes repeated demonstrations of a given law of life to really get it into your skull, and other times one powerful experience drives the point home once forever. Here are 88 things I’ve discovered about life, the world, and its inhabitants by this point in my short time on earth.


1. You can’t change other people, and it’s rude to try.


2. It is 100 times more difficult to burn calories than to refrain from consuming them in the first place.


3. If you’re talking to someone you don’t know well, you may be talking to someone who knows way more about whatever you’re talking about than you do.


4. The cheapest and most expensive models are usually both bad deals.


5. Everyone likes somebody who gets to the point quickly.


6. Bad moods will come and go your whole life, and trying to force them away makes them run deeper and last longer.


7. Children are remarkably honest creatures until we teach them not to be.


8. If everyone in the show you’re watching is good-looking, it’s not worth watching.


9. Yelling always makes things worse.


10. Whenever you’re worried about what others will think of you, you’re really just worried about what you’ll think of you.


11. Every problem you have is your responsibility, regardless of who caused it.


12. You never have to deal with more than one moment at a time.


13. If you never doubt your beliefs, then you’re wrong a lot.


14. Managing one’s wants is the most powerful skill a person can learn.


15. Nobody has it all figured out.


16. Cynicism is far too easy to be useful.


17. Every passing face on the street represents a story every bit as compelling and complicated as yours.


18. Whenever you hate something, it hates you back: people, situations and inanimate objects alike.


19. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s works alone can teach you everything you need to know about living with grace and happiness.


20. People embellish everything, as a rule.


21. Anger reveals weakness of character, violence even moreso.


22. Humans cannot destroy the planet, but we can destroy its capacity to keep us alive. And we are.


23. When people are uncomfortable with the present moment, they fidget with their hands or their minds. Watch and see.

24. Those who complain the most, accomplish the least.


25. Putting something off makes it instantly harder and scarier.


26. Credit card debt devours souls.


27. Nobody knows more than a minuscule fraction of what’s going on in the world. It’s just way too big for any one person to know it well.


28. Most of what we see is only what we think about what we see.


29. A person who is unafraid to present an unedited version of herself to the world is as rare as diamonds.


30. The most common addiction in the world is the draw of comfort. It wrecks dreams and breaks people.


31. If what you’re doing feels perfectly safe, there is probably a better course of action.


32. The greatest innovation in the history of humankind is language.


33. Blame is the favorite pastime of those who dislike responsibility.


34. Everyone you meet is better than you at something.


35. Proof is nothing but a collection of opinions that match one’s own.


36. Knowledge is belief, nothing more.


37. Indulging your desires is not self-love.


38. What makes human beings different from animals is that animals can be themselves with ease.


39. Self-examination is the only path out of misery.


40. Whoever you are, you will die. To know and understand that means you are alive.


41. Revenge is for the petty and irresponsible.


42. Getting truly organized can vastly improve anyone’s life.


43. Almost every cliché contains a truth so profound that people have been compelled to repeat it until it makes you roll your eyes. But the wisdom is still in there.


44. People cause suffering when they are suffering themselves. Alleviating their suffering will probably remove their inclination to create it for others.


45. High quality is worth any quantity, in possessions, friends and experiences.


46. The world would be a better place if everyone read National Geographic.


47. If you aren’t happy single, you won’t be happy in a relationship.


48. Even if it costs no money, nothing is free if it takes time.


49. Emotions exist to make us heavily biased towards or against something. This hinders as often as it helps.


50. Addiction is a much greater problem in society than it’s made out to be. It’s present in every person in various forms, but usually we call it something else.


51. “Gut feeling” is not just a euphemism. Tension in the abdomen speaks volumes about how you truly feel about something, beyond all arguments and rationales.


52. Posture and dress change profoundly how you feel about yourself and how others feel about you, like it or not.


53. Everyone thinks they’re an above average driver.


54. The urge to punish others has much more to do with venting frustration than correcting behavior.


55. By default, people think far too much.


56. If anything is worth splurging on, it’s a high-quality mattress. You’ll spend a third of your life using it.


57. There is nothing worse than having no friends.


58. To write a person off as worthless is an act of great violence.


59. Try as we might to be otherwise, we are all hypocrites.


60. Justice is a human invention which is in reality rarely achievable, but many will not hesitate to destroy lives demanding it.


61. Kids will usually understand exactly what you mean if you keep it to one or two short sentences.


62. Stuff that’s on sale usually has an annoying downside.


63. Casual swearing makes people sound dumb.


64. Words are immensely powerful. One cruel remark can wound someone for life.


65. It’s easy to make someone’s day just by being uncommonly pleasant to them.


66. Most of what children learn from their parents isn’t taught on purpose.


67. The secret ingredient is usually butter, in obscene amounts.


68. It is worth re-trying foods that you didn’t like at first.


69. Problems, when they arise, are rarely as painful as the act of fearing them.


70. Nothing — ever — happens exactly like you pictured it.


71. North Americans are generally terrible at accepting compliments and offers of help.


72. There are not enough women in positions of power. The world has suffered from this deficit for a long time.


73. When you break promises to yourself, you feel terrible. When you make a habit of it, you begin to hate yourself.


74. A good nine out of ten bad things I worry about never happen. A good nine out of ten bad things that did happen never occurred to me to worry about.


75. You can’t hide a bad mood from people who know you well, but you can always be polite.


76. Sometimes you have to remove certain people from your life, even if they’re family.


77. Anyone can be calmed in an instant by looking at the ocean or the stars.


78. There is no point finishing a book you aren’t enjoying. Life is too short for that. Swallow your pride and put it down for good, unfinished.


79. There is no correlation between the price of a brand of batteries and how long they last.


80. Breaking new ground only takes a tiny amount more effort than you’re used to giving.


81. Life is a solo trip, but you’ll have lots of visitors. Some of them are long-term, most aren’t.


82. One of the best things you can do for your kids is take them on road trips. I’m not a parent, but I was a kid once.


83. The fewer possessions you have, the more they do for you.


84. Einstein was wiser than he was intelligent, and he was a genius.


85. When you’re sick of your own life, that’s a good time to pick up a book.


86. Wishing things were different is a great way to torture yourself.


87. The ability to be happy is nothing other than the ability to come to terms with how things change.


88. Killing time is an atrocity. It’s priceless, and it never grows back."

...the best season...

Thank you everyone who commented on yesterday's post "The Autumn of Life".  The above words seem to summarize the thoughts you shared, and I am posting Wu-men today in acknowledgement and appreciation.  Wherever you are in the life cycle may you relish the season of your life and live it with presence and compassion - (that's what you told me!). 

The Autumn of Life

In my young days I never

Tasted sorrow.  I wanted

To become a famous poet.

I wanted to get ahead

So I pretended to be sad.

Now I am old and have known

The depths of every sorrow,

And I am content to loaf

And enjoy the clear Autumn.


~Hsin Ch'i Chi

~~~~~~~~~~~

I will nurse this autumn carefully,

treat its brittleness gently,

smooth its crumbling edges, its weeping afternoons.

I will rise early and go to it,

wrap it in a soft cloth

and watch its breathing.

I will nurture this autumn knowing

it is myself

in a pure and golden form,

and that childlike

soft words will be brought bubbling up

to be recorded in the patterns of leaves

and the low fog coming across the bay.

I will accept this death

and be content with its coming and watch

its coming

and speak of its coming in slow poems

until at last

there will be no more words,

you will hear only the sound of rain as you sleep.

~Wendy Smyer Yu

Yes it is winter in the northern hemisphere and summer in the southern ... but these two poems and accompanying photographs about autumn match my mood today and are, of course, a metaphor for where I am in this wonderful journey called life.  I hope you find something in them that speaks to you and your journey.  There is so much offered to us in every season.  Savour yours.

Do not miss Barry's post today!!

Dewitt Jones, Photojournalist

Hey Peeps - do yourself an immense favor and check out Barry's post today!  Barry's blog is An Explorer's View of the World.  You can see the inspiring video he posted today by clicking here.

The video is entitled "Celebrate What's Right With The World" by Dewitt Jones, Photojournalist.  Jones articulates so many things that may seem self-evident but in our busy lives we so easily forget.   I felt revitalized by every precious second of the video.  Dewitt Jones encourages us to approach every situation asking ourselves, "What can I celebrate here?".  That question can turn the seemingly harsh realities of life on their head.  He also says in the video, "Don't just try and be the best IN the world, be the best FOR the world".  The video is full of his breath-taking photography.

 Carve a few minutes out of your day and bless yourself with his message of optimism, possibility, potential and a simple yet powerful approach to celebrating your life, as it is.

Thank you Barry!!!  I will be showing this empowering video to all my friends and family and as you say I will watch it every time I need a reminder to celebrate what is right with the world and my world.  Click on Barry to go to his post.

Shaw's prescription for joy

I first encountered this quotation by George Bernard Shaw in Michael J. Fox's autobiography, 'Lucky Man'.  In it Fox says he wants to live his life, now encumbered with Parkinson's disease, without self-pity and without making the lives of those around him miserable with his grievances.  He uses what strength he has to raise awareness and money about and for Parkinson's disease and has succeeded admirably in those efforts.  I enjoyed his book and think he leads an exemplary life - and it seems, one filled with joy.

I love Shaw's turn of phrase about avoiding being a "feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances.......".  It often comes to mind when I am about to share a list of current complaints.......and I try to pull back the impulse - and when I succeed  feel much better for it!

Age and Ideas

I love this quote by Pearl S. Buck, but would substitute the word 'resistance' for her word 'pain'.  Personally I get very excited by new ideas, but that does not mean I will always accept them.  However, I will certainly consider them, while I know people for whom a new idea seems to be a total assault on their tightly-held world view.  We all have beloved beliefs that we resist reconsidering.  But isn't it a breath of fresh air to encounter a new way of looking at things?  Isn't that what each new generation is for?

...to have been of Earth...

One day while lingering in a dusty, clearance bookstore my hand was attracted to a little gem of a book entitled, "In Praise of Mortality, Selections from Rainer Maria Rilke's Duino Elegies and Sonnets to Orpheus", translated and edited by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy.  It contains the original German text and the English translation.  I wish I could read German, as I am captivated by the translation and can only imagine the beauty of the words as Rilke originally wrote them.  It cost under $5.00, but has become one of the most treasured books in my library.




I find the following sampling of words to be profoundly comforting.  Rilke's thoughts offer a meaningful way to contemplate our temporal existence.  Here are parts of "The Ninth Elegy" from the Duino Elegies.
   

The Ninth Elegy

Why, if it's possible to come into existence

as laurel, say, a little darker green

than other trees, with ripples edging each

leaf (life the smile of a breeze): why, then,

do we have to be human

and keep running from the fate

we long for?

Oh, not because of such a thing as happiness--

that fleeting gift before the loss begins.

Not from curiosity, or to exercise the heart....

But because simply to be here is so much

and because what is here seems to need us,

this vanishing world that concerns us strangely--

us, the most vanishing of all.  Once

for each, only once.  Once and no more.

And we too: just one.  Never again.  But

to have lived even this once,

to have been of Earth--

that cannot be taken from us.

. . . And the things, even as they pass,

understand that we praise them.

Transient, they are trusting us

to save them -- us, the most transient of all.

As if they wanted in our invisible hearts

to be transformed

into -- oh, endlessly -- into us.

Earth, isn't this what you want?

To arise in us, invisible?

Is it not your dream, to enter us so wholly

there's nothing left outside us to see?

What, if not transformation,

is your deepest purpose?  Earth, my love,

I want that too.  Believe me,

no more of your springtimes are needed

to win me over -- even one flower

is more than enough.  Before I was named

I belonged to you.  I seek no other law

but yours, and know I can trust

the death you will bring.

See, I live.  On what?

Childhood and future are equally present.

Sheer abundance of being

floods my heart.

~Rainer Maria Rilke~

(Photograph 2009 Bonnie MacEwan-Zieman)

...my Sunday candy companion...

I saw Bobby and his mother a few times a week at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses on Avenue Road.  His mother brought him there all the time, as did mine. 

 Children sat with their parents during the Bible sermons at the Kingdom Hall.  I was about nine years old, while Bobby was probably ten or eleven.  We were not really close friends, but during the intermission between 'sermons', he, I and a few other children our age would make our way across the street to a mom and pop corner store.  We would buy candies and share them with each other, while keeping an eye on the time so that we would not be late for the next round of 'kingdom messages' from the pulpit.  We talked and laughed but I recall few of the details of any of our conversations.  We often bought those pastel, powdery candies with words imprinted on them.  We would try to apply the words of the candy we were about to eat to ourselves, and giggle wildly in consequence. 

Bobby was fair-haired, pale and pudgy.  He did not have any brothers or sisters, nor a father.  He was being raised by his mother Bessy Penney who seemed considerably older than my mother.  He always had money in his pocket for candies, and he would share some with those who had no money that week.  

One day I learned the most horrifying thing - Bobby had died in the middle of the night.  He had an epileptic seizure and, we were told, died from 'swallowing his tongue'.  I did not know it was possible to swallow your tongue, but decided there and then I would keep my tongue to the front of my mouth and avoid such a fate.  I did wonder at the time if he might have been eating some of those imprinted candies, purchased the previous Sunday, when he had the seizure.  If so, what had the last candy's imprint said?

Because Jehovah's Witnesses teach that God is always about to intervene in human affairs, destroy the wicked and create a paradise earth on which his faithful followers would live forever - we all thought that we would survive the 'end of the world' and live eternally.  We assumed we would never die just like you assume that school starts each year in September.  But Bobby forgot to stay alive long enough to survive Armageddon.  I had believed what I had been told, and never entertained the idea that anyone I knew could or would die before the end of the wicked world would arrive.  I was not prepared for Bobby's or anyone else's death (well...except for the wicked who deserved to die, of course!).  How could someone I knew be well one day and dead the next?

I had never seen a dead body.  At the funeral home the casket was open and Bobby lay there peacefully, hands folded a top one another, eyes closed, with skin so pale.  I stared at him for a long time - hoping beyond hope that he would open his eyes, sit up, yell "Surprise!", and laugh uncontrollably about the great hoax he had pulled off.  He did not. 


His death created tangles in my little mind.  Every route my thoughts travelled was blocked by a comprehension knot.  I know my mother tried to explain, but my mind working hard, in its own way, to understand the meaning of it all wanted to be left alone to sort it all out.  If Bobby could die, then . . .???


I had never witnessed grief.  Bobby was Bessy Penney's only child.  She must have had him late in life.  I did not know that hearts could break and bodies contort with grief.  Seeing her being held up by friends made me go numb.  How could all this be happening?  Sometimes she would collapse in half and rock back and forth.  Other times she would throw her head back, cover her face with a handkerchief and try to muffle the strangest sounds.  The sounds and movements frightened me like the horror flicks at the cinema. 


I had no idea life could be so cruel and that people could mutate into something other than themselves because of the immensity of their pain.  Now, even more than not wanting to swallow my tongue - I never wanted to experience the nightmare of symptoms that I saw emerge in Bessy after Bobby's death.


Bobby's mother did not come to the meetings at the Kingdom Hall on Avenue Road for a while.  My mother told me it was hard for her to come to a place where she had always come with her only child, Bobby, by her side.  When she did return it was with an elderly, rather regal-looking beau by her side.  They were soon to be married, it was said.  Once married she was no longer to be called Bessy Penney.   They said she insisted on being called Elizabeth Martin. 


 I used to stare through the rows of other worshippers at this new incarnation of Bobby's mother - Elizabeth Martin.  Her new husband sat in Bobby's usual chair.  It was as if Bobby and Bessy had been erased.  Before Bobby died she was Bessy Penney.  After Bobby died she was Elizabeth Martin.  I wondered if this was a rule I had missed:  after a loved one dies and you complete your crying, you must change your name.


Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the faithful who die before Armageddon, will be miraculously resurrected here on Earth to live forever with those who have survived the destruction of this wicked system of things.  Thus, the good news was that Bobby would be back shortly as Armageddon and the resurrection were just around the corner, so to speak.  He would emerge from his coffin and grave.  His eyes would open.  He would step out into paradise and ask for his mother:  "Where is my mother?" They would reply, "Well who is your mother?"  "Bessey Penney", he would answer.  But there would be no Bessy Penney to be found.  Would he ever find Elizabeth Martin?  Would they be re-united?  Would Bobby love Elizabeth as much as he had loved Bessy?  Stay tuned.....all will be revealed in paradise - 'the new order' of things.


Thus was I introduced to death, grief, and morphing identities.  As questions about Bobby's future in paradise remained unanswered, more questions arose about life, death and religion in general.  I kept them to myself, however, preferring to work them out on my own than discuss them with the true believers at the Kingdom Hall on Avenue Road. 


I have no memories of going for candy, between sermons on Sundays, after Bobby my candy companion died.