mar's Desk

A Healthy Recipe for a Balanced Life

2/24/2016

To Get You Started...

Well, I readily admit that cooking is not my forte but enjoying a delicious meal certainly is! I have learned from and watched some of the best cooks around, two of whom being my husband and my Mother-in-Law.

Despite two very different styles of cooking, similarities were most evident:

Meals are never boring... (awesome spice cabinets; experimenting with ethnic foods)
Don't be afraid to try something new. There are always recipes you can follow. When you really develop confidence, you get into the "little bit of this/ little bit of that phase" of cooking, like they did/ do.
Even awesome cooks made awful mistakes... (shhh, throw it away... when cooled)-- this is why they invented take-out!
Meals need to be balanced... (always a vegetable, always a little something sweet)
If someone takes the time to cook for you, take the time to enjoy it...
Even a simple meal is special with nice conversation, cloth napkins, fresh flowers from the garden or candles-- no TV or other interruptions/ our pets are fed before us as well.
ALWAYS thank the cook... (this may be in the form of a kiss but always involves clean-up... what's fair is fair!)

Both my husband and his mother truly love(d) the art of cooking. To watch someone derive happiness from such an act of creativity is inspirational.

I really believe we can derive the same sense of wonder and joy out of everyday life. We all know some people in our lives who just seem to always radiate an inner happiness and serenity. They do not have to be necessarily "gorgeous on the outside" but the inner beauty seeps through into a presence that can light up the darkest of moments ~~ often with a simple smile. This person can be young, old or somewhere in the middle... this person could be YOU...!

It is difficult to know why or how these inspirational people can keep the positive attitude ongoing through the most difficult adversities of life. I have subtly asked this very question in my community client assessments with the homeless, as I found this group to be most inspiring. By great majority, those I spoke to found their past trauma had given them an increased faith and the strong determination to keep going.

So, if I substituted life for meal and cook for our loved ones, I am thinking that these seven steps, sounds like a never-fail recipe for a balanced life..

"If it's sanity you're after, there's no recipe like laughter."
Henry Rutherford Elliot

When the Pot is Boiling Over

Miss Sammie and I

So, there is no doubt indeed that the kitchen we call life can be a mighty stressful place to be at times. It's hard enough to think about getting through the day~~ let alone setting the table with cloth napkins and fresh flowers, are you kidding me?

And, if I could see the amount of work you had piled up at work~~ Or hear the boss that was screaming down your throat about a project that was late by a day~~ And, then your kid who forgot to let you know about the 24 cupcakes needed by "tomorrow" - and I completely forgot _______ (well you fill it in/ it is different for all of us and I suspect it happens to the best of us...!)

The cold reality is, however, that all of the stress (along with all of the joy, beauty and happiness in our world)... can be over in a flash~~ whether an accident, an illness, or a trauma that totally took you off guard... life is that fragile. In no way does this reality mean to dampen anyone's zest for living; in fact, it is a strong reminder not to overly dwell on the inevitably negative factors that temporarily invade our day. Selecting the cupcake situation in the above paragraph as a stressor~~ a possible solution would be to escort my young lad to the store after dinner so he could select his cupcakes, along with a reminder about the importance of reminding Mommy the weekend before for planning purposes.

Keeping communication open and non-defensive at work is key. Your boss has spouted off about a deadline (you realize it is so very stressful for him)~~ he is apologizing and bringing in donuts the next day, thanking everyone for a job well done. Leaders like this are respected and a pleasure to work for~~ even better, if you enjoy the type of work you are doing. Sadly, there are abusive situations where one needs to evaluate if it is the healthiest work setting ~~ while balancing home factors as well. This is so much better when one has a loving and nurturing home environment to come home to.

In closing, I wanted to round out my recipe for a balanced life by adding a little "Food for Thought" by my dear Mother... she left this for me in one of my journals...

"My Dear One~~ I wish for you the best of health always, happiness in whatever life brings you and true peace of mind. Whenever possible, always put away your cares and worries before you retire for the night. Leave your mind free preparing for its necessary sleep and rest. A new day will arrive with dawn. With much love, Mom (July, 2000)"

Speaking of Mom, I know she would have loved this 'new' song by a gal who is 83 years old and going strong...

Loretta Lynn: "Who's Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone?"