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If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. |
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| This winter has been a whirlwind of crisis management. We've had blizzards, no heat, leaks in three different rooms, ice dams that needed to be chipped away at with a hammer and screwdriver, a roof that needed to be shoveled and regular snow storms that dropped another foot or two of fresh powder every Monday for the past two months.
As I write this, my backyard has at least four feet of packed snow waiting for the Spring melt. Which will bring with it a whole new set of problems. Once the ground becomes fully saturated, water will start seeping into the basement. Hence, the title of this newsletter ... "March comes in like a lion and out like a lake."
Winter can be a stressful time under normal circumstances. It tends to be a more isolated time of year, it's cold which causes everything (including us) to contract, and the lack of natural light can bring on sadness or even depression.
I noticed myself falling in old habits while all this winter-not-so-wonderland was going on around me. Because I was tending to outdoor activities like shoveling and chipping away at ice dams, there was less time to do work and take care of my day to day responsibilities. So I worked longer and later to catch up. I started to feel tired, cranky, and craved caffeine and sugary foods that would keep the whole thing up and running. I'm sure this sounds familiar to a lot of you.
And then on February 18, Lent started. I'm a practicing Catholic and observe the Lenten tradition, so I decided to give up dark chocolate and caffeine (my go-to treats when I need a burst of energy). That's when I hit my mid-winter rock bottom. Not only was I physically exhausted, I was emotionally drained as well. I didn't have the energy to do much of anything.
So I reached into my bag of self-care tricks and pulled a few out. This was my plan for getting back on track: - SLEEP - I started going to bed early and getting the rest I needed. So simple, yet incredibly effective.
- YOGA - I got back on the mat. Yoga is not only a physical workout, it's a mental one. It pushes you outside your comfort zone while at the same time clearing your mind of all the mental busywork that's constantly churning.
- GREENS - I added more greens into my diet with salads and smoothies. Spinach, broccoli, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, chard, bok choy, and beet greens are all energy boosters that contain chlorophyll, magnesium and B vitamins.
- PLAY - We invited our grandchildren for a sleep over for some "living in the moment" time. Adding more playtime into our lives not only revitalizes us, it stimulates creativity in other areas.
These simple things have given me so much more energy in just a few short weeks. And with the temperatures rising and longer days, Spring is going to feel that much sweeter once we put this Winter behind us.
Be well,
Kat
If you have time, read on for my upcoming events, tasty recipe and St. Patrick's Day fun facts! |
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| Wherever you live in the world, it's always a good idea to hit the reset button every once in a while. Below is a list of some of my upcoming programs to help you get started. For details, visit the Events page on my website.
March 26 - Free Workshop, Mood Management with Essential Oils, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM April 2 - Free Teleclass, The #1 Hormonal Imbalance, 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
April 6 - Free 15 Day Clean Eating Program |
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Food Focus: Chocolate-Orange Maple Snaps
Makes 40 cookies
Source: Vegetarian Times
30 minutes or fewer
These snaps are great on their own, or as wafers for sandwich cookies. Maple syrup lends flavor and moisture, which lets you cut down on oil in the dough.
Ingredients
¾ cup maple syrup
¼ cup canola oil
1 Tbs. cornstarch dissolved in
1 Tbs. water
½ tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbs. grated orange zest
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup whole-wheat pastry flour
3 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat three baking sheets with cooking spray.
2. Whisk together maple syrup, oil, cornstarch mixture, vanilla, and orange zest in large bowl.
3. Sift together flours, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk dry ingredients into wet ingredients until smooth.
4. Measure out cookie dough in 1-tsp. scoops, and arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until cookies are firm on top and edges have darkened. |
| | | St. Patrick's Day Fun Facts
¤Although he made his mark by introducing Christianity to Ireland in the year 432, Patrick wasn't Irish. He was born to Roman parents in Scotland or Wales in the late fourth century.
¤For most of the 20th century, Saint Patrick’s Day was considered a strictly religious holiday in Ireland, which meant that the nation’s pubs were closed for business on March 17. Say what?
¤In Irish lore, Saint Patrick gets credit for driving all the snakes out of Ireland. Modern scientists suggest that the job might not have been too hard – according to the fossil record, Ireland has never been home to any snakes.
¤Corned beef and cabbage, a traditional Saint Patrick’s Day staple, doesn’t have anything to do with the grain corn. Instead, it’s a nod to the large grains of salt that were historically used to cure meats, which were also known as “corns.”
¤Don’t be fooled by any holiday decorations showing lady leprechauns. In traditional Irish folk tales, there are no female leprechauns, only nattily attired little guys.
¤You can’t attend a Saint Patrick’s Day event without hearing a cry of “Erin go Bragh.” What’s the phrase mean? It’s a corruption of the Irish Éirinn go Brách, which means roughly “Ireland Forever.”
Happy St. Paddy's Day!
source: mentalfloss.com |
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| | www.YourInfiniteWellness.com ~ 617.678.4088 |
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