Surrender

Posted on by stilllearning2b

It is natural to resist.

To struggle.

To put up a fight.

It is natural for us but that does not mean that it always helps us.

I receive a lesson in surrendering twice a day when it is animal feeding time. The cat, Maddy, comes first. She usually is loud and insistent as she tries to lead me to her food dish. She likes to wind in and out of my feet making the journey difficult especially if I have to come down the stairs. She then positions her body over the food dish, making it challenging to pour the kibble around her ready frame. At least once a week, she pushes up against my arm while I am pouring, thus spilling food across the floor. She gets fed, but we all end up frustrated in the process.

A full dish with no cat in sight. A VERY unusual situation! She probably knew I wanted a picture…

The dog, Tiger, is in total contrast to the feline. As soon as I make a move towards his dish, he slides into a prone position with his head down and averts his gaze as I mix his food. He stays in that position until the food is on the floor and he is told “okay.” By surrendering to the process, he (and the rest of the household!) is calm and peaceful while the food is served.

There are certainly times in life when it is appropriate to take up arms and be ready to fight for your rights or those of your loved ones. There are times when pushing through is the only way and surrendering will only leave you trampled in the dust.

But those times are much fewer and far between than we realize. Think of your own life. Do you ever fight for a meal that is coming anyway? Do you protest even when others are moving to your aide? Do you inadvertently trip those around you or block what you desire?

Tiger patiently waiting for his breakfast.

I know I do.

I have a tendency to see surrendering as a weakness, a sign of giving up and giving in. I fight, not against any real adversary, but for control. The desire for the illusion of control is what holds us back from acceptance. It is a fruitless fight, that battle for control. You may as well be in a brawl with a ghost, struggling to hold tight to an apparition. There is power in surrender. It shows that you are strong enough to let go of control and trust that you will remain standing nonetheless. There is peace in surrender as the pointless clash is let go. Learn when to trade in your sword for a white flag and yield to that which causes you struggle.

Luckily feeding time comes twice a day so that I can remember the value in surrendering. And the fact that cats are not very trainable.

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On the Menu: A Popeye-Endorsed Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake

Posted on by stilllearning2b

Yup, that’s right.  A vegan milkshake.  Well, actually, a vegan protein shake that just happens to taste like my favorite flavor of ice cream.  And, did I mention it contains spinach?  And that it comes in either a low-fat or low-carb version? Don’t be shy.  Pull out your blender and give one of the options below a whirl.  Just be aware that you may have to fight Popeye for the first taste.

Look at that lovely green color:)

Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake

Low Fat Version

3 ice cubes

small banana

1 scoop vegan vanilla protein powder (I use Vega) *

2-4 mint leaves or several drops peppermint extract

1 tbsp chia seeds

spinach to top of blender

unsweetened vegan milk of choice (I use vanilla almond) to blend*

Blend on high until leaves are pulverized.  Then add:

1 tbsp mini semi-sweet or dark vegan chocolate chips

and blend to mix.

 

* You can use whey protein and/or cow’s milk if you’re not vegan.

 

Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake

Low Fat Version

Replace the banana with 1/2 an avocado.

 

Banana version: approx. 420 calories, 42 g carbs, 34 g protein, 11 g fat

Avocado version: approx. 420 calories, 20 g carbs, 32 protein, 21 gfat

 

 

Balm Squad

Posted on by stilllearning2b

Česky: Solvina - čistící prostředek English: S...

There are times in our lives when even the biggest and strongest among us need to be soothed.  We crave the warm embrace and soft folds of our childhoods.  Since it is generally not socially acceptable to carry around a baby blanket after preschool, we need to find new ways to provide comfort after childhood.  We need to assemble out balm squad, an army of comfort that we can call upon when the world around us threatens to explode.

My own balm squad includes the following:

a mug of hot tea or coffee (or even just the smell of coffee)

the smell of patchouli (yup, my parents were kinda hippies)

Spanish guitar, Celtic music, or Metallica (little weird, I know)

a certain paisley throw I bought soon after the divorce for an imagined future living room

bare skin in the sun

a hot bath with smell-good stuff

cuddle time with the cat or dog

the rocking of a hammock, boat, or dock

 

What comprises your balm squad?

 

On the Menu: Big Salad, Big Sun, and Chuck Palahniuk

Posted on by stilllearning2b

It’s spring break!  No Tupperware for me today!  My initial (active) plans for today were scuttled by the protestations of my tummy, so I gave in to a day of reading and sunning on the deck.

Lunch today was a BIG salad. First, I prepped by baking some tofu.  I made this batch spicy, adding lots of crushed red pepper along with Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute and some smoked paprika.  I love to bake it until it is soft on the inside and firm on the exterior.

Asparagus was on sale at Kroger, so of course I stocked up.  These were not the usual slender tender stalks of spring, these were large and succulent.  These big boys hold up well to grilling, so that’s just what I did with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Then, it was time to put it all together.  I started with a base of mixed spring greens and added cucumbers, red onion, red pepper, baby bella mushrooms, tomatoes, avocado, asparagus, pumpkin seeds, and tofu for mine (the boyfriend prefers chicken).  This was all topped with my boyfriend’s favorite dressing: garlic, pomegranate seeds, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper all mixed in the blender.  We both love these big and satisfying salads.

I decided to search for new books by some of my favorite authors.  You can tell by my find (Damned, October 2011), that I don’t do this very often:)  Chuck and I are having a glorious day in the sun along with the dog.  The cat, as you can see, prefers the shade.

 

Chocolate and Willpower

Posted on by stilllearning2b

According to a new study, those who eat chocolate tend to have a lower BMI.  My guess is that it all comes down to willpower.  You see, we only have so much of it.  If you use it all in one area, it tends to be lacking in another.  For example, people that exercise the most also tend to drink more; their willpower was used up going to the gym and they have a more difficult time resisting that glass of wine.  So, it follows that those who give in to a bit of chocolate may have more willpower left over for other areas.

Apparently my willpower was spent at the gym, as I am writing this while enjoying some dark chocolate and a glass of red wine.

This image was selected as a picture of the we...
This image was selected as a picture of the week on the Czech Wikipedia for th week, 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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