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After the Rain
Were there a way to capture the splendor of the forest after the rain…
An unexpected summer storm–cooling down the sizzle of August, dousing the dusty walking paths of my daily excursions, and bringing all of my senses alive–
Dressed in long leggings and a jacket (in August!), I ventured out with my sweetie and my sweet dog to savor the post-storm beauty on a walk through the woods. Immediately I was intoxicated by the smells! I am almost at a loss for words to describe the richness of the varied aromas permeating the cool, fresh air. Mountain misery, wet and sticky, released a pungent sage brush-like flavor; damp Madrone leaves, knocked to the ground by the wind, now gifted me with deliciousness; wet earth smelling so rich and fertile…
And the visuals, oh my, so dazzling. Water droplets clinging to Cedar boughs and catching the sunshine to create prisms of color; dull, brown bark of the Evergreens now vibrant as sepia, burnt sienna, and caramel; pristine white clouds, full and fluffy, against the deep blue summer sky; and the moss, the iridescent greens of which exist only in nature–so luscious and inviting, that I felt compelled to reach out to feel the texture, which was as soft and wet and yummy as it looked.
Speaking of touch, the tactile stimulation was spectacular. Fresh, clean air, cool to my skin, ruffling my hair with the gentle breeze; soft earth underfoot; my hand cupped warmly in my sweetheart’s hand; feeling love and sharing in this miracle of nature.
The sounds were just as delightful–birds singing from their hearts, seeming to celebrate the storm’s end; water droplets falling to the ground; tree limbs swaying in the breeze; dogs barking from afar; and Grace’s charging feet chasing her ball…
I felt as refreshed by our walk than did the forest seem–after the rain. Home again, heart filled with gratitude and a quiet joy for the simple beauty of life.
Posted in Balance, Mindfulness, Move | 
Tags: gratitude, Mindfulness, Move, nature, walk | 
No Comments »Hydrate for the Wo/Man on the Go
Fun visual to remind you to stay well hydrated, especially when flying!
Sharing the Joy of Eating to Your Heart’s Content
“My husband, Gary, and I made your heart healthy dinner tonight to rave reviews from our kids — ages 9 and 13. Well not really rave, but they ate it! The quinoa was fabulous, the roasted vegetables were very tasty and the salad with the ginger dressing was spectacular! The peach cobbler topped it off — coconut oil and all. Thank you very much. I appreciate the recipes and your website.” –SBG, Grass Valley, CA. 
I love that this young mom was able to come away with real food ideas to nurture her health and that of her family, and at the same time, to derive pleasure from the prep time with her husband. A collaborative effort between HeartMatters and In the Kitchen, the recent Eat to Your Heart’s Content cooking class was a colossal success–we’ll be repeating the class seasonally, with the focus being easy, delicious, fun, and nutritious meals and snack ideas. Yum!
Posted in Eat, Endorsements | Tags: cooking class, Eat, endorsements, heart-healthy, In the Kitchen | No Comments »Sit and Strengthen for Man on the Go
Posted in Balance, Man on the Go, Move, Video | Tags: Balance, Man on the Go, Move, Sit and Strengthen, Video | No Comments »JOY is all around us
Joy.
It’s there — all around us, ours to savor, ours to appreciate, ours to create…
Creating joy begins when you give yourself permission to slow down, just for a moment, so that you can observe the happenings of your own world. The small things. The occurrences or thoughts that might otherwise go unnoticed, if you hadn’t given yourself the moment to pay attention.
Even in our busy lives we have time to to invite mindfulness as the filter through which we view our day. Popping to the grocery store in the midst of several other chores, take notice of the smile on the face of a child who is helping his mom load the cart, or the elderly couple holding hands as they stroll the isles; when you walk into an office building, admire the flowers blooming brightly in the planter boxes; on the way back to your car, notice the sound of the birds singing from the trees; watch a sunrise or sunset, marveling at nature; walk alongside a stream; share a smooch with your sweetie…all of these everyday small details will bring you to joy.
The more you invite joy, the more familiar this healthful emotion becomes to you. Your cup will be half-full. Your world will shine brightly. Your tensions will melt away. You will feel lighter, more patient, and more energetic. From a purely physical perspective, the inflammation that occurs in response to the hurry-up stress hormones will diminish; blood vessel soften, leading to lowered blood pressure; blood glucose levels become more balanced; and brain chemistry becomes less chaotic — all of this, just from giving yourself permission to slow down to experience joy.
What is bringing you to joy today?
It’s Coming Together…
I was pleasantly intrigued to receive an email from the manager of a restaurant, at which I eat fairly often and enjoy very much, to review the menu with him and the chef, to support their intention of serving healthful, delicious meals that cater to a variety of food preferences. This was on my mind as I tuned in to NPR this morning and caught a wonderful story about Meatless Monday. Check out that link! On my mind too, was the recent headline that 1 MILLION pounds of beef has been recalled for E. Coli contamination.
It’s no surprise that factory raised beef had to be recalled–again–or that millions of Americans are understanding the benefits of Meatless Monday from an environmental and health perspective, or that restaurants across the country are enhancing their entrees with fresh veggies, either grilled or quick sauteed, and groovy grain side dishes. A heightened awareness is burgeoning all around us. It’s coming together…
How is real food showing up in your life?
