"You've got a lot of choices. If getting out of bed in the morning is a chore and you're not smiling on a regular basis, try another choice." Steven D. Woodhull
Some of us live in the human tendency of getting so entrenched in our daily grind; the mechanism which we have placed our creative beings in, that we forget the meaning of the word "Live". One definition explains this all encompassing word as, "to show the characteristics of life." So now we must ask ourselves what are these characteristics? Some may argue that life is simply the mechanism of our functions, functioning per say. I would venture to say that would be simply "existing," living implies much more. One definition describes the act of living as "containing unspent energy or power." If it is unspent then it is come to reason that it is a personal choice and in this act of choosing, the deed of "living" is revealed. With this knowledge it is hard to comprehend why most of us live our lives as if we are only existing. Some of us abide in the fear that our choices are very limited if we believe in their existence at all.
Where did this disconnect come from? Maybe it is due to our inherent insecurities in the nature of our being. One might find this deficit comes from our inability to reckon with the word "failure." Living in the shadow of this word limits ourselves as human beings greatly. Most of us do not trust in our untapped abilities; we trust in the result of "success" or "failure." Doesn't it stand to reason that if we embrace failure as another form of growth, we have the possibility of experiencing the reward of accomplishment and joy unimagined? Somehow in this restrictive pattern we expect our souls to possess the capability to stretch out and flourish. This is a disillusionment and if we are to find our purpose we must rid ourselves of this careless ideology.
Have you given yourself the permission to create a life that makes you happy? Have you excepted a plan for your life that was not born in your heart? Our experience here is precious and fleeting. We owe it to the world and to ourselves to live out our lives with the most sincere efforts and intentions. We must make uncomfortable choices so that we can evolve, we cannot live our lives in excruciating comfort if we expect to experience fulfillment of the acutest kind. Rid yourself of the fear of "failure;" it doesn't exist. It is a word created when we have accepted defeat. All that exists for you is progress and wisdom, all that you have gone through, all you have learned has made you who you are. Do not be afraid to step out and create life within and around you. Realize and harness the potential of personal cultivation through the form of "failure" it is a matter of perspective. Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen and let us aid you on your path to personal progress. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to "fail" often and eat peacefully...
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
"I make the most of all that comes....."
"I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes."
Sara Teasdale
Have you ever sat at the metaphorical window of your life and all that is beautiful and living is taking place just inches away, with only a thin sheet of glass standing between you and an abundant and fruitful life? That glass representing whatever pain or unhealthy memory you may be holding onto. Have you ever wanted with every fiber of your being to let go of the hurt you hold onto? The disarray from the person or circumstance that you allowed to make you feel less than, but feel powerless to it? Does that anguish feel like an iron ceiling above your heart? There is freedom that you will find when you stand up within yourself and let go of the pain. There is joy through the clouds of your life, if you would only choose to see it.
We must accept that things will happen to us that we have little to no control over. There will be sadness and pain, but there will also be growth and healing if we allow it. "I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes." Simple words but how do we comprehend this truth, and how does one apply it? If we are to make the least of all that goes, we stand in the respect of our being that whatever left did not deserve us anymore, or quite possibly never did. That whatever found its way out of our lives was ultimately supposed to, whether that be a friendship, spouse or any other intimate relationship. We can choose to glance out that window and let go of what is keeping us locked up inside. We have the opportunity through the realization of our invaluable worth to the world, to be empowered by the lessons life has taught us. We have the choice to rise up opposed to shrinking under the pressure of our sorrows and challenges...
"Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it." -Author unknown. Most of us spend our lives trying to alter everyone around us, and we forget we are the only ones we can change. We also attempt to understand why people treated us poorly or what we "did wrong." Let us instead give our energy toward living in health and truth. Let us release the pain that was never ours in the first place, let us have the wisdom and foresight to look past the hurt and regain our worth again. This is the path to freedom, one that requires a daily discipline of the mind and a diligence of the spirit.
Here at The Wellness Kitchen we take steps toward wellness everyday, we start from where we are and we move towards freedom through the choices we make. Join us and find your strength on your path to wellness. As always this is Sarah encouraging you to let go often and eat peacefully....
Sara Teasdale
Have you ever sat at the metaphorical window of your life and all that is beautiful and living is taking place just inches away, with only a thin sheet of glass standing between you and an abundant and fruitful life? That glass representing whatever pain or unhealthy memory you may be holding onto. Have you ever wanted with every fiber of your being to let go of the hurt you hold onto? The disarray from the person or circumstance that you allowed to make you feel less than, but feel powerless to it? Does that anguish feel like an iron ceiling above your heart? There is freedom that you will find when you stand up within yourself and let go of the pain. There is joy through the clouds of your life, if you would only choose to see it.
We must accept that things will happen to us that we have little to no control over. There will be sadness and pain, but there will also be growth and healing if we allow it. "I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes." Simple words but how do we comprehend this truth, and how does one apply it? If we are to make the least of all that goes, we stand in the respect of our being that whatever left did not deserve us anymore, or quite possibly never did. That whatever found its way out of our lives was ultimately supposed to, whether that be a friendship, spouse or any other intimate relationship. We can choose to glance out that window and let go of what is keeping us locked up inside. We have the opportunity through the realization of our invaluable worth to the world, to be empowered by the lessons life has taught us. We have the choice to rise up opposed to shrinking under the pressure of our sorrows and challenges...
"Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it." -Author unknown. Most of us spend our lives trying to alter everyone around us, and we forget we are the only ones we can change. We also attempt to understand why people treated us poorly or what we "did wrong." Let us instead give our energy toward living in health and truth. Let us release the pain that was never ours in the first place, let us have the wisdom and foresight to look past the hurt and regain our worth again. This is the path to freedom, one that requires a daily discipline of the mind and a diligence of the spirit.
Here at The Wellness Kitchen we take steps toward wellness everyday, we start from where we are and we move towards freedom through the choices we make. Join us and find your strength on your path to wellness. As always this is Sarah encouraging you to let go often and eat peacefully....
Monday, August 1, 2011
"Anyone can carry his burdon, however hard, until nightfall......"
"Anyone can carry his burden, however hard, until nightfall. Anyone can do his (or her) work, however hard, for one day. Anyone can live sweetly, patiently, lovingly, purely, till the sun goes down. And this is all life really means." ---Robert Louis Stevenson
This bit of truth coming from a long suffering man such as Robert Louis Stevenson rings true. Most people's knowledge of Stevenson encapsulates a famous poet and author; little know that most of his childhood was spent in extensively poor health. At times he would spend weeks in bed, longing to play as the other children did outside his window. Here we have an inside look at where he gathered his strength from, we can see from this quote that his inner resolve came from a healthy mental outlook. This was his way of reckoning with his circumstance, what a fortuitous point of view to apply to oneself. If we were to awaken each morning with this thought resonating in our minds, our lives would prove to be much less overwhelming. This viewpoint if embraced can grant us the opportunity to see life for the daily gift it is.
We all have the provision and freedom to make daily choices, most of us take advantage of this and are lackadaisical with our mental liberation. It is important to note here that the choice I am referring to is our mental attitude, as there are many times we have little to no control over our circumstance. This all important decision we consciously or unconsciously make, will decide what kind of hour, day and ultimately the kind of life we will lead. The decision we have to make is found in the form of what perspective we are choosing to abide in each day. Is our viewpoint one of helplessness, hopelessness or negativity? Or is it one of empowerment, positive affirmations and hope? Our lives are simply a compilation of moments. When we undergo a specific struggle or simply daily challenges, we tend to glance too far into the future and inadvertently overwhelm ourselves. If we tackle each day as an opportunity for growth, we have much greater chances of having a healthy mind body and spirit.
"And this is all life really means." If we possess the wherewithal to embrace this statement, life becomes much easier to eminently enjoy. In all actuality none of us know the day or hour we will transcend, we are only in possession of the "now." When looking at what you must endure I would encourage you to embrace this ideal. Rather than overwhelming yourself with the grandness of your challenges, it would be more advantageous to think more in daily terms. Can you persevere today, can you find a reason to smile today, can you put all your passion into your life and the lives of others today? For right now is all we truly have. What a beautiful life it is and what opportunity we have with each morning to live it as such. The fact that we even woke up is a blessing to count...
Here at The Wellness Kitchen we understand the importance of the moments we have right in front of us. We are committed to doing our best to spread knowledge, health and wellness to all who find their ways through these doors. Remember to take each day as a new opportunity for the enjoyment of your life, and as always this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully....
This bit of truth coming from a long suffering man such as Robert Louis Stevenson rings true. Most people's knowledge of Stevenson encapsulates a famous poet and author; little know that most of his childhood was spent in extensively poor health. At times he would spend weeks in bed, longing to play as the other children did outside his window. Here we have an inside look at where he gathered his strength from, we can see from this quote that his inner resolve came from a healthy mental outlook. This was his way of reckoning with his circumstance, what a fortuitous point of view to apply to oneself. If we were to awaken each morning with this thought resonating in our minds, our lives would prove to be much less overwhelming. This viewpoint if embraced can grant us the opportunity to see life for the daily gift it is.
We all have the provision and freedom to make daily choices, most of us take advantage of this and are lackadaisical with our mental liberation. It is important to note here that the choice I am referring to is our mental attitude, as there are many times we have little to no control over our circumstance. This all important decision we consciously or unconsciously make, will decide what kind of hour, day and ultimately the kind of life we will lead. The decision we have to make is found in the form of what perspective we are choosing to abide in each day. Is our viewpoint one of helplessness, hopelessness or negativity? Or is it one of empowerment, positive affirmations and hope? Our lives are simply a compilation of moments. When we undergo a specific struggle or simply daily challenges, we tend to glance too far into the future and inadvertently overwhelm ourselves. If we tackle each day as an opportunity for growth, we have much greater chances of having a healthy mind body and spirit.
"And this is all life really means." If we possess the wherewithal to embrace this statement, life becomes much easier to eminently enjoy. In all actuality none of us know the day or hour we will transcend, we are only in possession of the "now." When looking at what you must endure I would encourage you to embrace this ideal. Rather than overwhelming yourself with the grandness of your challenges, it would be more advantageous to think more in daily terms. Can you persevere today, can you find a reason to smile today, can you put all your passion into your life and the lives of others today? For right now is all we truly have. What a beautiful life it is and what opportunity we have with each morning to live it as such. The fact that we even woke up is a blessing to count...
Here at The Wellness Kitchen we understand the importance of the moments we have right in front of us. We are committed to doing our best to spread knowledge, health and wellness to all who find their ways through these doors. Remember to take each day as a new opportunity for the enjoyment of your life, and as always this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully....
Monday, July 25, 2011
I stay my haste, I make delays, For what avails this eager pace?
"I stay my haste, I make delays,
For what evails this eager pace?
I stand amid the eternal ways,
And what is mine shall know my face."- John Burroughs
We are born into a mechanical world of man-made systems of both a physical and mental nature. And at countless junctures of our lives we feebly attempt to mold ourselves into these mechanisms. Some are favorable to our being; but most, I would venture to say, are of poor quality and have undesired effects on our lives. One of the most well known traps we fall into that leads to our degradation, is the concept of a face paced, high production, industrialized life. Everything must be accelerated, bigger, more efficient. This idea coupled with greed and a warped form of capitalism can lead to grossly deficient lives. This misconception finds its way into our food system, through the industrialization of our livestock and the debasement of our earth. This ideology finds its way into our living rooms through our televisions, through the distraction of our minds. The list is endless and I would encourage you to examine what is stealing your energy, your joy and rid yourself of it. Discard it as you would a rotting banana peel.
Have you ever wondered what your truly rushing for, where you are rushing too and what is the ramification of all this rushing? At some point it is of high importance for us to investigate our lives, every aspect of our existence and ask ourselves a question. Are we living life at the pace and with the passion and purpose that we were created to? Or have we bought into a way of living that leads to sickness? Through the depravity of our bodies and minds and the earth we live in, through a twisted conceptualization of production? What good is production if it produces dis' ease?
"I stay my haste, I make delays." Have you given yourself that freedom, have you given yourself the permission to make delays? "For what evails this eager pace?" What will we truly gain from all of this heedless rushing? Are we listening to our bodies, to our families, to our spirit? "I stand amid the eternal ways, And what is mine shall know my face." Are you holding onto to ancient truths, proven ways of living that create health and happiness? Are you giving your love and your energy to what is truly yours, and who honestly deserves it?
Take a moment....Take a deep cleansing breath. Esteem yourself and the importance of your life, give yourself the permission to live at a pace that suits your soul. In the act of ridding our lives of unnecessary things, we will find what is left is us. Our true self, our true being and our true purpose. If you are searching for this kind of life it will only avail itself through the habit of mental perseverance and spiritual diligence. It is a constant daily journey, yet the prize is happiness and fulfillment. There is no need to rush...We will all meet the end of our lives someday, the question is will we be able to look back over our experience here with harmony? With the gratification that we refused a society's idea of what our lives should be?
Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen. Make delays on our veranda with a cup of Healing Tea. Awaken your senses with the smell of sweet roses and the sound of water flowing in our gardens. Find your truth and hold onto it. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully...
For what evails this eager pace?
I stand amid the eternal ways,
And what is mine shall know my face."- John Burroughs
We are born into a mechanical world of man-made systems of both a physical and mental nature. And at countless junctures of our lives we feebly attempt to mold ourselves into these mechanisms. Some are favorable to our being; but most, I would venture to say, are of poor quality and have undesired effects on our lives. One of the most well known traps we fall into that leads to our degradation, is the concept of a face paced, high production, industrialized life. Everything must be accelerated, bigger, more efficient. This idea coupled with greed and a warped form of capitalism can lead to grossly deficient lives. This misconception finds its way into our food system, through the industrialization of our livestock and the debasement of our earth. This ideology finds its way into our living rooms through our televisions, through the distraction of our minds. The list is endless and I would encourage you to examine what is stealing your energy, your joy and rid yourself of it. Discard it as you would a rotting banana peel.
Have you ever wondered what your truly rushing for, where you are rushing too and what is the ramification of all this rushing? At some point it is of high importance for us to investigate our lives, every aspect of our existence and ask ourselves a question. Are we living life at the pace and with the passion and purpose that we were created to? Or have we bought into a way of living that leads to sickness? Through the depravity of our bodies and minds and the earth we live in, through a twisted conceptualization of production? What good is production if it produces dis' ease?
"I stay my haste, I make delays." Have you given yourself that freedom, have you given yourself the permission to make delays? "For what evails this eager pace?" What will we truly gain from all of this heedless rushing? Are we listening to our bodies, to our families, to our spirit? "I stand amid the eternal ways, And what is mine shall know my face." Are you holding onto to ancient truths, proven ways of living that create health and happiness? Are you giving your love and your energy to what is truly yours, and who honestly deserves it?
Take a moment....Take a deep cleansing breath. Esteem yourself and the importance of your life, give yourself the permission to live at a pace that suits your soul. In the act of ridding our lives of unnecessary things, we will find what is left is us. Our true self, our true being and our true purpose. If you are searching for this kind of life it will only avail itself through the habit of mental perseverance and spiritual diligence. It is a constant daily journey, yet the prize is happiness and fulfillment. There is no need to rush...We will all meet the end of our lives someday, the question is will we be able to look back over our experience here with harmony? With the gratification that we refused a society's idea of what our lives should be?
Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen. Make delays on our veranda with a cup of Healing Tea. Awaken your senses with the smell of sweet roses and the sound of water flowing in our gardens. Find your truth and hold onto it. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully...
Monday, July 4, 2011
"Enjoy what you can......."
"Enjoy what you can, and endure what you must." Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
I hold near to my heart the saying "Take the good, with the bad." If we are to lead lives worth living, this truism is a lesson we must learn while navigating our personal journey. This one gem will shade all the colors of our existence here. If we are able to live in this reality, our lives will grant us more opportunities for happiness than we could have previously envisioned. I've said it repetitively through my messages here for it is an unvarnished truth that I hold dear to my soul, life is a great deal about perspective. And perspective is completely in our care, it is something we have absolute and utter control over. Even though most of us do not realize the power it holds over our lives.
This quote at first glance I would venture to say is a common truth, something we ascertain simply by living. We are all acutely aware that life will present certain discomforts and struggles, perhaps daily. But have we stopped to ponder if these struggles are worth their weight in gold? "Endure what you must"...why must we endure? We endure because it is in our best interest. It is in the prospect and probability of the growth of our character that we endure. In retrospect I can say there are many things that have happened to me throughout my life, the meaning and purpose of which I cannot comprehend. But in truth in the absence of these struggles, would I be the person I am today? Would I be as grateful and careful about preserving my health if at one point I didn't possess it? Would I live in the reality of the gift of life if I hadn't almost lost it? Would I comprehend fully (as if anyone ever could) the gift of love if I hadn't been through trying relationships? I have resolved to be grateful for these experiences, because they have given me the opportunity to choose a healthy and advantageous outlook. Perspective when molded and crafted carefully by the resolve of our minds, can lead to an immensely fulfilling life.
Samuel Johnson stated, "What a strange narrowness of mind now is that, to think the things we have not known are better than the things we have known." Who's to say our beautiful struggle isn't within itself of great worth? Who's to say what we have been through hasn't made our lives far better than they would have been without these difficulties? This is the truth we must accept in our minds and in this accepting all things become more beautiful. Let us be grateful for what we have known, so that we can move towards what we will know with the sagaciousness to enjoy life in all its splendor.
Wherever you are today at this moment count your blessings, live in the gift of gratefulness. Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen, let us be a part of your journey a part of your personal path to wellness. On all our paths we must see the gifts that have been hidden in struggle and in joy. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully....
I hold near to my heart the saying "Take the good, with the bad." If we are to lead lives worth living, this truism is a lesson we must learn while navigating our personal journey. This one gem will shade all the colors of our existence here. If we are able to live in this reality, our lives will grant us more opportunities for happiness than we could have previously envisioned. I've said it repetitively through my messages here for it is an unvarnished truth that I hold dear to my soul, life is a great deal about perspective. And perspective is completely in our care, it is something we have absolute and utter control over. Even though most of us do not realize the power it holds over our lives.
This quote at first glance I would venture to say is a common truth, something we ascertain simply by living. We are all acutely aware that life will present certain discomforts and struggles, perhaps daily. But have we stopped to ponder if these struggles are worth their weight in gold? "Endure what you must"...why must we endure? We endure because it is in our best interest. It is in the prospect and probability of the growth of our character that we endure. In retrospect I can say there are many things that have happened to me throughout my life, the meaning and purpose of which I cannot comprehend. But in truth in the absence of these struggles, would I be the person I am today? Would I be as grateful and careful about preserving my health if at one point I didn't possess it? Would I live in the reality of the gift of life if I hadn't almost lost it? Would I comprehend fully (as if anyone ever could) the gift of love if I hadn't been through trying relationships? I have resolved to be grateful for these experiences, because they have given me the opportunity to choose a healthy and advantageous outlook. Perspective when molded and crafted carefully by the resolve of our minds, can lead to an immensely fulfilling life.
Samuel Johnson stated, "What a strange narrowness of mind now is that, to think the things we have not known are better than the things we have known." Who's to say our beautiful struggle isn't within itself of great worth? Who's to say what we have been through hasn't made our lives far better than they would have been without these difficulties? This is the truth we must accept in our minds and in this accepting all things become more beautiful. Let us be grateful for what we have known, so that we can move towards what we will know with the sagaciousness to enjoy life in all its splendor.
Wherever you are today at this moment count your blessings, live in the gift of gratefulness. Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen, let us be a part of your journey a part of your personal path to wellness. On all our paths we must see the gifts that have been hidden in struggle and in joy. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully....
Monday, June 27, 2011
"When you come to the end of your rope......
"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
What a lucid image. Haven't we all at one point or another felt this way? That we had nothing left, that our inner reserves had been completely depleted? That an ant could push us over. What a blessing it is that we are all in this together, that we share in the similar struggles and experiences, that none of us are truly alone. It is at these moments, these edifices of our lives that we have the opportunity to experience the greatest internal growth. If we choose to stand firm in the opportunity of these moments and the resource for growth they grant us, we may benefit greatly. By navigating these struggles properly we will gain a richness in character and spirit that lead to an abundant life.
Throughout my personal history it seems I have either grown better or grown bitter from each life experience. The remarkable truth about this is it is completely and utterly my choice! Why do we forget this, why do we live in confusion about this law? We unbeknownst make crucial life altering choices daily by the way we react to our circumstance. Either we shrink or grow under the weight that life has placed on our shoulders. Our mental "muscles" either increase in stamina and strength as we ascertain new ways to overcome, or we allow the new and unexpected afflictions to atrophy our resolve.
Take a moment and visualize the greatest struggle you are currently facing. The giant you must overcome, identify it. Now envision lifting it from your shoulders and throwing it off. Put all your strength into it, dig your feet deep into the soil and thrust it off. In the act of "throwing off" the hardship that fear has placed in our hearts, we are able to then face our challenges clear headed. How do we do this? How do we throw off the weights? We live in hope and abandon fear. We let go of the question "why" and we embrace the question "how." How can I gain from this experience, how may I grow stronger for it? How will I live in hope, and have a grip on the reality of what it must take to prevail? These are the questions worthy of your invaluable time and energy. What afflicts you does not hold a candle to who you are, the stuff you are made of.
If you feel there is no strength left in you, it's alright. If you find it to difficult to hope, it is ok. Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen we have real answers, applicable tools that can assist you and guide you towards wellness. Find beauty and hope around you and let it permeate to your soul. Meditate, pray, be silent. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to hope often and eat peacefully....
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
What a lucid image. Haven't we all at one point or another felt this way? That we had nothing left, that our inner reserves had been completely depleted? That an ant could push us over. What a blessing it is that we are all in this together, that we share in the similar struggles and experiences, that none of us are truly alone. It is at these moments, these edifices of our lives that we have the opportunity to experience the greatest internal growth. If we choose to stand firm in the opportunity of these moments and the resource for growth they grant us, we may benefit greatly. By navigating these struggles properly we will gain a richness in character and spirit that lead to an abundant life.
Throughout my personal history it seems I have either grown better or grown bitter from each life experience. The remarkable truth about this is it is completely and utterly my choice! Why do we forget this, why do we live in confusion about this law? We unbeknownst make crucial life altering choices daily by the way we react to our circumstance. Either we shrink or grow under the weight that life has placed on our shoulders. Our mental "muscles" either increase in stamina and strength as we ascertain new ways to overcome, or we allow the new and unexpected afflictions to atrophy our resolve.
Take a moment and visualize the greatest struggle you are currently facing. The giant you must overcome, identify it. Now envision lifting it from your shoulders and throwing it off. Put all your strength into it, dig your feet deep into the soil and thrust it off. In the act of "throwing off" the hardship that fear has placed in our hearts, we are able to then face our challenges clear headed. How do we do this? How do we throw off the weights? We live in hope and abandon fear. We let go of the question "why" and we embrace the question "how." How can I gain from this experience, how may I grow stronger for it? How will I live in hope, and have a grip on the reality of what it must take to prevail? These are the questions worthy of your invaluable time and energy. What afflicts you does not hold a candle to who you are, the stuff you are made of.
If you feel there is no strength left in you, it's alright. If you find it to difficult to hope, it is ok. Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen we have real answers, applicable tools that can assist you and guide you towards wellness. Find beauty and hope around you and let it permeate to your soul. Meditate, pray, be silent. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to hope often and eat peacefully....
Monday, June 13, 2011
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet......"
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition aspired, and success achieved." Helen Keller
Most of us would glance at this quote and concur that is a true statement. I would venture to say most of us would consider this quote to be common sense. Now whether or not we have the wherewithal to grasp this concept while in the throws of our most challenging trials, is a matter of a completely different sort. While undergoing these growing pains of life, it is at times of great difficulty to have the insight to see the future benefits our current situation may grant us. But there is always truth in pain; a hidden lesson, an advantageous character trait we have the opportunity to develop, if we so choose. In every situation we possess the option to benefit from it in the form of personal growth.
A Mexican Proverb that I cherish states, "It is not enough for a person to know how to ride; they must know how to fall." While in the "thick-of-it" it's an expected response for us to feel victimized or perhaps hopeless. But I am convinced the only way we truly fail is if we stay in that mental state. The particular thoughts associated with the previous stated emotion very often lead to resentment, bitterness and the stunting of personal growth. This path leads to the altercation of our true being in leiu of how we have allowed our challenge to mold us. I say allowed because whether we feel like it or not we always have a choice. We may have no control of what happens to us but we do have a choice of how we will let it effect us. There is another path. One that is less traveled yet yields great rewards. This is the path to wellness, self-restoration and healing. The path that leads to the building up of our character, the path that leads to peace and freedom. The first path may appear to be in the spirit of self-preservation, when in truth it is only in the act of letting go that we preserve ourselves. By releasing our pain we also inadvertently release ourselves from the bondage that was never ours in the first place.
My blog as of late has reflected much about this need to "release our pain." It has been a vital truth to my own personal storm... What good can you take from your current situation? What life lesson can you acquire that will strengthen you and build your character? How can you walk away from this situation better for having experienced it? The element that will carry us sucessfully through our struggles, is found in the act of renewing our souls. We must be certain that in this growth we are moving towards happiness, peace and prosperity. This takes a conscious effort and is well worth it to our well-being.
Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen and let us aid you on your path to wellness. Let go often of all that burdens you and seize the opportunity for growth through the right mental attitude toward your current condition. And as always this is sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully....
Most of us would glance at this quote and concur that is a true statement. I would venture to say most of us would consider this quote to be common sense. Now whether or not we have the wherewithal to grasp this concept while in the throws of our most challenging trials, is a matter of a completely different sort. While undergoing these growing pains of life, it is at times of great difficulty to have the insight to see the future benefits our current situation may grant us. But there is always truth in pain; a hidden lesson, an advantageous character trait we have the opportunity to develop, if we so choose. In every situation we possess the option to benefit from it in the form of personal growth.
A Mexican Proverb that I cherish states, "It is not enough for a person to know how to ride; they must know how to fall." While in the "thick-of-it" it's an expected response for us to feel victimized or perhaps hopeless. But I am convinced the only way we truly fail is if we stay in that mental state. The particular thoughts associated with the previous stated emotion very often lead to resentment, bitterness and the stunting of personal growth. This path leads to the altercation of our true being in leiu of how we have allowed our challenge to mold us. I say allowed because whether we feel like it or not we always have a choice. We may have no control of what happens to us but we do have a choice of how we will let it effect us. There is another path. One that is less traveled yet yields great rewards. This is the path to wellness, self-restoration and healing. The path that leads to the building up of our character, the path that leads to peace and freedom. The first path may appear to be in the spirit of self-preservation, when in truth it is only in the act of letting go that we preserve ourselves. By releasing our pain we also inadvertently release ourselves from the bondage that was never ours in the first place.
My blog as of late has reflected much about this need to "release our pain." It has been a vital truth to my own personal storm... What good can you take from your current situation? What life lesson can you acquire that will strengthen you and build your character? How can you walk away from this situation better for having experienced it? The element that will carry us sucessfully through our struggles, is found in the act of renewing our souls. We must be certain that in this growth we are moving towards happiness, peace and prosperity. This takes a conscious effort and is well worth it to our well-being.
Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen and let us aid you on your path to wellness. Let go often of all that burdens you and seize the opportunity for growth through the right mental attitude toward your current condition. And as always this is sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully....
Monday, June 6, 2011
"It isn't the mountains ahead that wear you out......"
"It isn't the mountains ahead that wear you out, it's the grain of sand in your shoe." Unknown
In the pursuit of happiness we all face certain challenges that threaten the very existence of our joy. It is important to realize it is not the mountain that will oppose us nearly as much as the grain of sand in our shoe. What is your grain of sand? Is it a feeling of unworthiness? Is it fear that you will never make it over your mountain? Is it sadness or despair of the acutest kind? Our perspective of our struggles has a great deal more to do with our ability to handle the situation, than the actual severity of the task at hand.
These past recent months have brought many new challenges my way, some unexpected some foreseen. In retrospect, I have ascertained that my emotional stress had little if anything to do with the actual "mountain" I was facing. My ability to overcome was in direct correlation to my mental perspective of the circumstance at hand. Samuel Grafton stated, " A penny will hide the biggest star in the Universe if you hold it close enough to your eye." What "penny" are you allowing to blind you from the grand possibilities of your existence here? No matter what the piece of "sand" is, it is not greater than the power you hold within you to overcome.
Now I want to be clear, it isn't that your emotions are invalid. There is no freedom in the denial of how we feel. Im not suggesting that you don't have a right to be scared about the mountain or the pebble. What I am advocating is that it is in our best interest to frequently practice acts that will lead to the release of disadvantageous thoughts and emotions. So in turn we will be prepared to face our challenges with the stamina and resources we need. How do we do this? Recently, with my heart in my hand I spent some time writing. I did not labor over words, I simply and freely wrote. When I was finished I read the words that had found there way from my soul to the page and was blown away by what had been revealed. I found myself, I found my sorrow, I found my truth. If you really want to have a finger on the pulse of your soul I would suggest journaling. With that release came a new sense of bravery and inner resolve.
To my esteemed readers who's mountain is cancer, my message to you is have compassion for yourself....Whatever you feel without self-judgement write it down. This is vital to your personal journey of growth. Give yourself the opportunity to take off your shoes and shake out the sand, so that you can step with confidence toward your future. Sometimes you'll need to take off your shoes a couple times a day, whatever you need to do to move forward do it. And if you want to be a part of a group of folks that are facing that same mountain, and who take frequent stops to take off their shoes, come see us at The Wellness Kitchen. We have journaling support groups here at your service and people you can talk to. We can provide the food you need to face the mountain and the support you need to reach your goals. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to face your mountains with preparedness and eat peacefully...
In the pursuit of happiness we all face certain challenges that threaten the very existence of our joy. It is important to realize it is not the mountain that will oppose us nearly as much as the grain of sand in our shoe. What is your grain of sand? Is it a feeling of unworthiness? Is it fear that you will never make it over your mountain? Is it sadness or despair of the acutest kind? Our perspective of our struggles has a great deal more to do with our ability to handle the situation, than the actual severity of the task at hand.
These past recent months have brought many new challenges my way, some unexpected some foreseen. In retrospect, I have ascertained that my emotional stress had little if anything to do with the actual "mountain" I was facing. My ability to overcome was in direct correlation to my mental perspective of the circumstance at hand. Samuel Grafton stated, " A penny will hide the biggest star in the Universe if you hold it close enough to your eye." What "penny" are you allowing to blind you from the grand possibilities of your existence here? No matter what the piece of "sand" is, it is not greater than the power you hold within you to overcome.
Now I want to be clear, it isn't that your emotions are invalid. There is no freedom in the denial of how we feel. Im not suggesting that you don't have a right to be scared about the mountain or the pebble. What I am advocating is that it is in our best interest to frequently practice acts that will lead to the release of disadvantageous thoughts and emotions. So in turn we will be prepared to face our challenges with the stamina and resources we need. How do we do this? Recently, with my heart in my hand I spent some time writing. I did not labor over words, I simply and freely wrote. When I was finished I read the words that had found there way from my soul to the page and was blown away by what had been revealed. I found myself, I found my sorrow, I found my truth. If you really want to have a finger on the pulse of your soul I would suggest journaling. With that release came a new sense of bravery and inner resolve.
To my esteemed readers who's mountain is cancer, my message to you is have compassion for yourself....Whatever you feel without self-judgement write it down. This is vital to your personal journey of growth. Give yourself the opportunity to take off your shoes and shake out the sand, so that you can step with confidence toward your future. Sometimes you'll need to take off your shoes a couple times a day, whatever you need to do to move forward do it. And if you want to be a part of a group of folks that are facing that same mountain, and who take frequent stops to take off their shoes, come see us at The Wellness Kitchen. We have journaling support groups here at your service and people you can talk to. We can provide the food you need to face the mountain and the support you need to reach your goals. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to face your mountains with preparedness and eat peacefully...
Monday, May 30, 2011
"Every breath is an opportunity to recieve and let go....."
"Every breath is an opportunity to receive and let go. I receive love and I let go of pain." Brenda MacIntyre
We all share in the expereince of being born into a beautifully imperfect world, to less than perfect family's, to deficient circumstances. And somewhere along the way we all encounter situations and experience intricate relationships that make us feel less than worthy. Our sensitive beings tend to carry pain from our past, deep insecurities born out of our affiliations with others and the environment we live in. But at some point through all the thinking and analyzing we must make a conscious choice. A personal judgement that is favorable for us. A decision to let go...
It is understandable when someone has wronged us to contemplate the all encompassing infamous question... why??? And though it is natural and to a certain extent good to self analyze, this path if not only visited will lead to disillusionment. At some point we must take what we have learned, bravely pick ourselves up and move on. Whether it be in a very physical sense or a mental way or a spiritual capacity there is an urgency in our despair to move forward. This guide is meant to aid us, it is our spirit crying out to us to release what is not meant for us to keep. For some of us that translates into letting go of a harmful relationship, many of us will find peace in the action of letting go of a toxic memory. For some it's letting go of self-destructive patterns we have attained from the mechanism we have created to survive. Pernicious emotions if left unchecked and unrequited leads to emotional unrest which begets a very real basis for "dis" ease in the fiber of our bodies.
Ann Landers stated, "Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent free in your head." This quote I have to admit made me giggle, but in truth we all entertain these kind of thoughts, far too frequently. It is only in our realization of our own unique spirit and the importance our gifts have to the world, that enables us to release those people or things that have scarred us. Sometimes joy is found more in letting go out of the respect for ones being than the mining of our past may produce. For in all honesty we all know this one simple truth, life is too short to live in pain and disarray. And that is exactly what state this kind of thinking puts us in. You deserve to be happy....You deserve love....You deserve to live life abundantly. The question is do you believe it?
In the quest for this kind of peace I have started to verbally speak truth into my life. Try looking in the mirror and saying "I love you," "I forgive you," "You are worthy," and pay attention to the shift that will happen in your emotional and mental state. It is of vital importance to be active in our personal daily communication. What can you let go of today that will release you from pain? What can you receive today in the form of love and joy? Ask yourself this question and act upon it. You are of invaluable worth....
Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen and let go of the uncertainty that moving on can bring. Move onto a healthier life, to an advantageoous thought life and real answers you deserve on your quest to health and wellness. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to let go often and eat peacefully....
We all share in the expereince of being born into a beautifully imperfect world, to less than perfect family's, to deficient circumstances. And somewhere along the way we all encounter situations and experience intricate relationships that make us feel less than worthy. Our sensitive beings tend to carry pain from our past, deep insecurities born out of our affiliations with others and the environment we live in. But at some point through all the thinking and analyzing we must make a conscious choice. A personal judgement that is favorable for us. A decision to let go...
It is understandable when someone has wronged us to contemplate the all encompassing infamous question... why??? And though it is natural and to a certain extent good to self analyze, this path if not only visited will lead to disillusionment. At some point we must take what we have learned, bravely pick ourselves up and move on. Whether it be in a very physical sense or a mental way or a spiritual capacity there is an urgency in our despair to move forward. This guide is meant to aid us, it is our spirit crying out to us to release what is not meant for us to keep. For some of us that translates into letting go of a harmful relationship, many of us will find peace in the action of letting go of a toxic memory. For some it's letting go of self-destructive patterns we have attained from the mechanism we have created to survive. Pernicious emotions if left unchecked and unrequited leads to emotional unrest which begets a very real basis for "dis" ease in the fiber of our bodies.
Ann Landers stated, "Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent free in your head." This quote I have to admit made me giggle, but in truth we all entertain these kind of thoughts, far too frequently. It is only in our realization of our own unique spirit and the importance our gifts have to the world, that enables us to release those people or things that have scarred us. Sometimes joy is found more in letting go out of the respect for ones being than the mining of our past may produce. For in all honesty we all know this one simple truth, life is too short to live in pain and disarray. And that is exactly what state this kind of thinking puts us in. You deserve to be happy....You deserve love....You deserve to live life abundantly. The question is do you believe it?
In the quest for this kind of peace I have started to verbally speak truth into my life. Try looking in the mirror and saying "I love you," "I forgive you," "You are worthy," and pay attention to the shift that will happen in your emotional and mental state. It is of vital importance to be active in our personal daily communication. What can you let go of today that will release you from pain? What can you receive today in the form of love and joy? Ask yourself this question and act upon it. You are of invaluable worth....
Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen and let go of the uncertainty that moving on can bring. Move onto a healthier life, to an advantageoous thought life and real answers you deserve on your quest to health and wellness. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to let go often and eat peacefully....
Monday, May 23, 2011
"The Arctic expresses the sum of all wisdom: Silence."
"The Arctic expresses the sum of all wisdom: Silence."....Walter Bauer
Most of us are afraid of the great expanse of silence. I would venture to say this has something to do with our fear of being alone with ourselves...what may rise up in our psyche and our hearts if we were to just stop and be still? What may we have to face from the crevices of our minds and souls that we have neglected? Confuscious stated, "Silence is the true friend that never betrays." Our society has become so entrenched in the unhealthy habit of being in a constant state of over stimulation. Whether the never ending chaos of SOUND comes in the form of an ipod, a tv, the constant chatter of yourself or other humans, the mental busy-ness we have created can be mind numbing. There is something about noise that comforts us, that gives us a false sense of assurance. When in truth silence is a pathway to self-awareness and peace and true soul guidance.
William Penn states, "True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body..." How can we truly know ourselves or be at peace if we don't pause and listen to our souls? In all honesty we are always listening; it isn't the absence of sound that grants us this opportunity. What is of greatest importance is what we are choosing to listen to. If we are searching for relief or inner harmony, accepting the gift of silence and practicing meditation are the pathways to this kind of replenishment. Most of the great spiritual leaders, Gandhi, Jesus, Buddha, Emerson they all meditated....why? Because they understood that in the act of quieting our spirit we reach a clearer view of life, purpose, and attain sound answers. And aren't we all searching for answers?
Most of us find great joy and comfort when we immerse ourselves in nature. I have found one key component of the cessation that nature provides is the silence that envelops my mind while I'm in it. Whenever I feel lost I quiet myself. In the observation of our culture you will find most attempting to fill silence with words; this is a sign of unrest. It is unnecessary to choke the free air with expendable chatter, let us be choosy with our self-expression and edify our spirits through the analyzing of our communication. If you are overwhelmed or in a state of desperation, still your heart, mind and soul. Learn the tools of meditation and apply them in the form of daily habits, it is worthy of your time. This practice is just as vital as eating healthy food, breathing clean air and regulating your thoughts. Certain productive chemicals are released during meditation that are otherwise hard to attain. Do not fear yourself, do not be afraid to still your mind, this is a deception to keep you in a constant state of being unaware. Unaware of what is really going on in your soul. It is only in the recognition of our soul climate that we can make lasting changes.
Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen, sit in our garden and be still...lounge on our veranda and rest...quiet the constant chatter and listen to the peace of silence. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to be still and eat peacefully...
Most of us are afraid of the great expanse of silence. I would venture to say this has something to do with our fear of being alone with ourselves...what may rise up in our psyche and our hearts if we were to just stop and be still? What may we have to face from the crevices of our minds and souls that we have neglected? Confuscious stated, "Silence is the true friend that never betrays." Our society has become so entrenched in the unhealthy habit of being in a constant state of over stimulation. Whether the never ending chaos of SOUND comes in the form of an ipod, a tv, the constant chatter of yourself or other humans, the mental busy-ness we have created can be mind numbing. There is something about noise that comforts us, that gives us a false sense of assurance. When in truth silence is a pathway to self-awareness and peace and true soul guidance.
William Penn states, "True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body..." How can we truly know ourselves or be at peace if we don't pause and listen to our souls? In all honesty we are always listening; it isn't the absence of sound that grants us this opportunity. What is of greatest importance is what we are choosing to listen to. If we are searching for relief or inner harmony, accepting the gift of silence and practicing meditation are the pathways to this kind of replenishment. Most of the great spiritual leaders, Gandhi, Jesus, Buddha, Emerson they all meditated....why? Because they understood that in the act of quieting our spirit we reach a clearer view of life, purpose, and attain sound answers. And aren't we all searching for answers?
Most of us find great joy and comfort when we immerse ourselves in nature. I have found one key component of the cessation that nature provides is the silence that envelops my mind while I'm in it. Whenever I feel lost I quiet myself. In the observation of our culture you will find most attempting to fill silence with words; this is a sign of unrest. It is unnecessary to choke the free air with expendable chatter, let us be choosy with our self-expression and edify our spirits through the analyzing of our communication. If you are overwhelmed or in a state of desperation, still your heart, mind and soul. Learn the tools of meditation and apply them in the form of daily habits, it is worthy of your time. This practice is just as vital as eating healthy food, breathing clean air and regulating your thoughts. Certain productive chemicals are released during meditation that are otherwise hard to attain. Do not fear yourself, do not be afraid to still your mind, this is a deception to keep you in a constant state of being unaware. Unaware of what is really going on in your soul. It is only in the recognition of our soul climate that we can make lasting changes.
Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen, sit in our garden and be still...lounge on our veranda and rest...quiet the constant chatter and listen to the peace of silence. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to be still and eat peacefully...
Friday, May 13, 2011
"The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another."
I felt completely overwhelmed this week and to be honest with you I seriously doubted if I had the mental or emotional capacity to get done what needed to be accomplished. In this state of growth this quote from William James encouraged me, "The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another." Sounds pretty simple right? Not so easy to do....What does this really mean? How do we apply this? Most of us feel so powerless against the thoughts that race through our minds. We must recognize the influence our thoughts have over the immediate well-being or distress of our emotions. The intricate part our thoughts play in our overall well-being is immense, therefore our activity towards our mental health must be done with great effort and care.
In the instance of being overwhelmed....let's discuss this. Generally speaking, if we have found ourselves in a state of being utterly mentally exhausted we have been looking to far ahead. Yes it's good to plan, yes it's good to be mindful of our futures, but we must avoid the trap of being so caught up in the future that we rob ourselves of the only certainty we have which is NOW. For some of us that means we are looking at the lengthy months ahead of chemo or radiation. For some of us it means we are worrying about how we will sleep tonight through the pain. For some of us the worry is where our next meal will come from or will we have the money to pay the bills? My encouragement to you is tackle the moment, the one that's right in front of you. And in that moment search for some peace, some happiness and hold onto it. It is a gift to you from life, savor it. That gift could be in the form of a smile, a light breeze, the warmth of the sun or an encouraging word from a loved one. Don't let those gifts pass you by, they are meant to sustain you.
The truth is there will always be future sadness, but there will also be future joy! Let us focus on whatever healthy delight that presents itself to us and in our gratitude let us be lifted up and encouraged. More good will come to us, more health to our minds, more vitality to our bodies, if we CHOOSE to think on prosperous things. Edmund Spenser stated, "It is the mind that maketh good or ill, That maketh wretch or happy, rich or poor." When I hear this quote, the health I want to illuminate here is not necessarily monetary gains. Richness of the mind and body and relational treasures, that is the richness of life. You have everything you need all the experiences you have overcome all the joy and sadness you have experienced has made you who you are and brought you right to this place. Eliminate the bad, live in the good and don't allow being overwhelmed to rob you of your happiness that you could be living in. Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen and find some peace, take a moment for yourself to rejuvenate and choose to think on health, well-being and prosperity. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully...
In the instance of being overwhelmed....let's discuss this. Generally speaking, if we have found ourselves in a state of being utterly mentally exhausted we have been looking to far ahead. Yes it's good to plan, yes it's good to be mindful of our futures, but we must avoid the trap of being so caught up in the future that we rob ourselves of the only certainty we have which is NOW. For some of us that means we are looking at the lengthy months ahead of chemo or radiation. For some of us it means we are worrying about how we will sleep tonight through the pain. For some of us the worry is where our next meal will come from or will we have the money to pay the bills? My encouragement to you is tackle the moment, the one that's right in front of you. And in that moment search for some peace, some happiness and hold onto it. It is a gift to you from life, savor it. That gift could be in the form of a smile, a light breeze, the warmth of the sun or an encouraging word from a loved one. Don't let those gifts pass you by, they are meant to sustain you.
The truth is there will always be future sadness, but there will also be future joy! Let us focus on whatever healthy delight that presents itself to us and in our gratitude let us be lifted up and encouraged. More good will come to us, more health to our minds, more vitality to our bodies, if we CHOOSE to think on prosperous things. Edmund Spenser stated, "It is the mind that maketh good or ill, That maketh wretch or happy, rich or poor." When I hear this quote, the health I want to illuminate here is not necessarily monetary gains. Richness of the mind and body and relational treasures, that is the richness of life. You have everything you need all the experiences you have overcome all the joy and sadness you have experienced has made you who you are and brought you right to this place. Eliminate the bad, live in the good and don't allow being overwhelmed to rob you of your happiness that you could be living in. Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen and find some peace, take a moment for yourself to rejuvenate and choose to think on health, well-being and prosperity. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully...
Thursday, May 5, 2011
"Oh, if you're a bird, be an early bird....."
"Oh, if you're a bird, be an early bird
and catch the worm for your breakfast plate.
If you're a bird, be an early bird -
but if you're a worm, sleep late."... Shel Silverstein
We waste a lot of time and precious energy associating ourselves with others ideals. We as a culture also tend to sit in judgement over others lives much too often for our own good. What is right for the bird is not what is right for the worm. While it is vital to counsel with those we feel have admirable qualities, it is also of great importance to make our own educated choices. We must walk down our own paths to freedom, self-awareness and health. And in turn it serves and esteems our character most, to respect the paths of others.
Think back over your life, the last month, yesterday.....How many times have you held yourself back from courageously living your life out of the anxiety of rejection or disapproval from others? Arguably our place in society and the general concurrence of what is right or wrong can be of great importance to us. But this is not what I'm speaking of here, I'm talking about our ability to live out our purpose here in lieu of others opinions. What you wear, what you do for a living, who you love, what you believe in....these are just some of the things we look towards others for affirmation. The truth is the only person you must live with is yourself, you must sit with your own bones. In the action of looking ourselves in the eye, can we say in all confidence that we are living out our aspirations? That we are following through with our principles, ideology's, theology, morals...no one else's?
We all must answer for our own lives. If we sacrifice who we are, our aspirations for others, we are the only one who suffers. Thich Nhat Hanh states, "To be beautiful means to be yourself. You do not need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself." And in truth once you accept yourself you give others the unique opportunity to get acquainted with who you really are. Avoid the trap of projecting your insecurities on others, bring your energy in, trust the immense quality of YOU. In the same breath it serves us no commendable purpose to judge others. In the act of judging others we degrade ourselves and the recipients of our judgement with our skewed assessments and assumptions.
Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen, we respect you and the path you have chosen and we will come alongside you with compassion and understanding. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to be who you are, whether it be the worm or the bird.... and eat peacefully.....
and catch the worm for your breakfast plate.
If you're a bird, be an early bird -
but if you're a worm, sleep late."... Shel Silverstein
We waste a lot of time and precious energy associating ourselves with others ideals. We as a culture also tend to sit in judgement over others lives much too often for our own good. What is right for the bird is not what is right for the worm. While it is vital to counsel with those we feel have admirable qualities, it is also of great importance to make our own educated choices. We must walk down our own paths to freedom, self-awareness and health. And in turn it serves and esteems our character most, to respect the paths of others.
Think back over your life, the last month, yesterday.....How many times have you held yourself back from courageously living your life out of the anxiety of rejection or disapproval from others? Arguably our place in society and the general concurrence of what is right or wrong can be of great importance to us. But this is not what I'm speaking of here, I'm talking about our ability to live out our purpose here in lieu of others opinions. What you wear, what you do for a living, who you love, what you believe in....these are just some of the things we look towards others for affirmation. The truth is the only person you must live with is yourself, you must sit with your own bones. In the action of looking ourselves in the eye, can we say in all confidence that we are living out our aspirations? That we are following through with our principles, ideology's, theology, morals...no one else's?
We all must answer for our own lives. If we sacrifice who we are, our aspirations for others, we are the only one who suffers. Thich Nhat Hanh states, "To be beautiful means to be yourself. You do not need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself." And in truth once you accept yourself you give others the unique opportunity to get acquainted with who you really are. Avoid the trap of projecting your insecurities on others, bring your energy in, trust the immense quality of YOU. In the same breath it serves us no commendable purpose to judge others. In the act of judging others we degrade ourselves and the recipients of our judgement with our skewed assessments and assumptions.
Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen, we respect you and the path you have chosen and we will come alongside you with compassion and understanding. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to be who you are, whether it be the worm or the bird.... and eat peacefully.....
Monday, May 2, 2011
"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing."
I had the great pleasure of performing live music with my band for the theatrical debut of "Dreamweaver" this weekend. It was my first true experience with live theatre and with 6 shows spanning a couple days I was exhausted! But during this unique experience I grew a deeper love and appreciation for the arts. The expression of someones mind played out in the form of music and dance on stage was beautiful.
We get so caught up in the daily grind, the mechanics of our society that I fear most of us have lost a great deal of our imagination and ability to revel in "wonder". When we think of art we may think of paintings, music, dance, theatre. But these expressions are all born in the mind, they are the most used the most common ways we as humans find to express ourselves. They are our mind at "play". When was the last time you witnessed something beautiful and let your mind respond to it in the form of art? When was the last time you took a great sorrow of yours and let it bleed out on a piece of paper? So many of us do not allow ourselves the joy of soul expression through art because we have resigned ourselves that if it doesn't make us money or were not exceptionally talented at it that it is not worth doing. This is a great injustice to ourselves. What beauty might come of our culture if we let go of this restrictive ideology? What beauty might come from you? Just as we need air for our lungs, food for our body's and love for our hearts....we need art for our souls.
We have the great privilege of seeing the world through our own unique perspective therefore our art is comparable to no one. We must let our minds give homage by acting out our imagination and our response to life in whatever art form we see fit.
Frank Stella states, " You see what you know." What are you choosing to see? Are you seeing beauty in the simple things? I would encourage you to turn off the TV, feast your eyes instead on something worthy of your time. Great architecture of nature, or the human hand. The smile of a newborn child just starting out in the world. The fields of fragrant flowers and the soaring birds. The great ocean and its crashing waves. The calm river with its bountiful secret life floating beneath the surface. This is the world you live in....We have the choice to see truth and beauty. Once you see something of great worth, say something back. Maybe with a paintbrush, maybe with clay or perhaps with dance or song, or a smile. Live your art out daily because you have the privledge of being human and it is vital to express oneself.
Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen and witness the art of our 1892 manse, the art of the oak trees or the trickling water of the waterfalls. Become a part of the art of healthy living. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to live out your art daily and eat peacefully....
We get so caught up in the daily grind, the mechanics of our society that I fear most of us have lost a great deal of our imagination and ability to revel in "wonder". When we think of art we may think of paintings, music, dance, theatre. But these expressions are all born in the mind, they are the most used the most common ways we as humans find to express ourselves. They are our mind at "play". When was the last time you witnessed something beautiful and let your mind respond to it in the form of art? When was the last time you took a great sorrow of yours and let it bleed out on a piece of paper? So many of us do not allow ourselves the joy of soul expression through art because we have resigned ourselves that if it doesn't make us money or were not exceptionally talented at it that it is not worth doing. This is a great injustice to ourselves. What beauty might come of our culture if we let go of this restrictive ideology? What beauty might come from you? Just as we need air for our lungs, food for our body's and love for our hearts....we need art for our souls.
We have the great privilege of seeing the world through our own unique perspective therefore our art is comparable to no one. We must let our minds give homage by acting out our imagination and our response to life in whatever art form we see fit.
Frank Stella states, " You see what you know." What are you choosing to see? Are you seeing beauty in the simple things? I would encourage you to turn off the TV, feast your eyes instead on something worthy of your time. Great architecture of nature, or the human hand. The smile of a newborn child just starting out in the world. The fields of fragrant flowers and the soaring birds. The great ocean and its crashing waves. The calm river with its bountiful secret life floating beneath the surface. This is the world you live in....We have the choice to see truth and beauty. Once you see something of great worth, say something back. Maybe with a paintbrush, maybe with clay or perhaps with dance or song, or a smile. Live your art out daily because you have the privledge of being human and it is vital to express oneself.
Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen and witness the art of our 1892 manse, the art of the oak trees or the trickling water of the waterfalls. Become a part of the art of healthy living. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to live out your art daily and eat peacefully....
Monday, April 25, 2011
"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." George Bernard Shaw
So much gets lost in translation....Our perception of the world and our place in it is seen through our singular perspective. Great pains can be felt by us all when we assume the knowledge of other's thoughts and their projected viewpoint of us. Most of these suppositions are made out of our own perception of the various forms of communication or lack thereof. Anthony Robbins states, "The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives."
In the act of communion with others there must be a certain level of self-respect in place. By the act of conversing we are implying that what we have to say or give the world is of value. We are meant to commune with one another, to be connected to each other. What have you chosen to declare today? What did you tell yourself with your eyes when you looked in the mirror this morning? What is your energy revealing when you enter a room? What did you say with your consumer dollar today? Have you brought peace and prosperity with your words? Are you speaking health and wellness and love and acceptance to those around you and to yourself? These are vital questions we must ask ourselves for our thoughts in the form of communication will shape our entire existence. Its power will shape our relationships with others and the world. We must choose wisely what we are declaring into our lives and the lives of others.
I am a very sensitive emotional person. I struggle greatly in this area of assuming how others perceive me. These are the tools that I have found essential in the art of verbal communication in spite of my weakness. The first step in the act of favorable communication is to not assume things. Don't assume that others know how you feel; this assumption can lead to discourse and personal turmoil. Second step is BREATH...Be honest and open and calm with your words and your energy. Third step is LISTEN, and I mean really listen...listen as a friend would with kind ears. Ask questions so that you may have a clear mind to receive the truth of the situation. Get out of your own way (I constantly have to tell myself this). Most importantly communicate love to yourself so that you can in turn have something to give the world.
Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen. Communicate to yourself that your body is worthy of healthy food, that you deserve to rest. Say by your actions that your well being is worthy of the time it takes to find your own path to wellness. And as always this is Sarah, encouraging you to communicate in truth and eat peacefully...
So much gets lost in translation....Our perception of the world and our place in it is seen through our singular perspective. Great pains can be felt by us all when we assume the knowledge of other's thoughts and their projected viewpoint of us. Most of these suppositions are made out of our own perception of the various forms of communication or lack thereof. Anthony Robbins states, "The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives."
In the act of communion with others there must be a certain level of self-respect in place. By the act of conversing we are implying that what we have to say or give the world is of value. We are meant to commune with one another, to be connected to each other. What have you chosen to declare today? What did you tell yourself with your eyes when you looked in the mirror this morning? What is your energy revealing when you enter a room? What did you say with your consumer dollar today? Have you brought peace and prosperity with your words? Are you speaking health and wellness and love and acceptance to those around you and to yourself? These are vital questions we must ask ourselves for our thoughts in the form of communication will shape our entire existence. Its power will shape our relationships with others and the world. We must choose wisely what we are declaring into our lives and the lives of others.
I am a very sensitive emotional person. I struggle greatly in this area of assuming how others perceive me. These are the tools that I have found essential in the art of verbal communication in spite of my weakness. The first step in the act of favorable communication is to not assume things. Don't assume that others know how you feel; this assumption can lead to discourse and personal turmoil. Second step is BREATH...Be honest and open and calm with your words and your energy. Third step is LISTEN, and I mean really listen...listen as a friend would with kind ears. Ask questions so that you may have a clear mind to receive the truth of the situation. Get out of your own way (I constantly have to tell myself this). Most importantly communicate love to yourself so that you can in turn have something to give the world.
Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen. Communicate to yourself that your body is worthy of healthy food, that you deserve to rest. Say by your actions that your well being is worthy of the time it takes to find your own path to wellness. And as always this is Sarah, encouraging you to communicate in truth and eat peacefully...
Monday, April 18, 2011
"It is part of the cure, to wish to be cured."
"It is part of the cure, to wish to be cured." Seneca
It is essential if you are facing cancer or any other chronic illness to wish to be cured. Now all of us would imaginably say, "Of course I wish to be cured, who wants to be sick?" In the act of wishing you are hoping it to be true, therefore you are open to the reality of regaining your vitality. What I'm speaking of here is the wish to be cured and the application of the power of our minds and inner resolve to believe we will regain our health. I want to make it clear, I am not talking about the current buzz word in our society of "positive thinking." This ideology if not coupled with action is useless. I'm talking about being an efficacious part of your treatment and recovery through the projection of your thoughts into the action of your life.
You are a statistic of ONE. Your health, your battle is your OWN...so own it. By believing in the ability of your body to heal, you accept the responsibility of being an active part in your proper nutrition through the vehicle of whole foods. We are meant to heal by the food we eat. Hippocrates stated, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be they food." By trusting you will recover you will find the right MD'S and ND'S to partner with as you use the most innovative treatments available. By accepting that you will regain your health you will then take an active part in your process of healing. This is the true application of intentional thinking.
James Allen stated, "If you would perfect your body, guard your mind. If you would renew your body, beautify your mind." This is a place of empowerment. It is understandable that when faced with cancer one would feel helpless. But a place where you have complete control is this, you control what food you choose to eat...And what you choose to think. And what you choose to put in your body will either improve the vitality and ability of your body to kill cancer cells or it will feed them. What you choose to think and accept as truth will either empower you on this journey or weaken you. This is the place where your true power dwells, this is where your strength is born. Set your boundaries, get around people that will encourage you, find the treatment that works for you, trust your instincts. Stay in the truth that your body when given the building blocks it needs has the power to flourish and heal itself.
Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen. You will find nothing but encouragement and compassion here. We are here to provide the education and partnership you deserve. Truly from our heart we care about you and your health and wellness....And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully....
It is essential if you are facing cancer or any other chronic illness to wish to be cured. Now all of us would imaginably say, "Of course I wish to be cured, who wants to be sick?" In the act of wishing you are hoping it to be true, therefore you are open to the reality of regaining your vitality. What I'm speaking of here is the wish to be cured and the application of the power of our minds and inner resolve to believe we will regain our health. I want to make it clear, I am not talking about the current buzz word in our society of "positive thinking." This ideology if not coupled with action is useless. I'm talking about being an efficacious part of your treatment and recovery through the projection of your thoughts into the action of your life.
You are a statistic of ONE. Your health, your battle is your OWN...so own it. By believing in the ability of your body to heal, you accept the responsibility of being an active part in your proper nutrition through the vehicle of whole foods. We are meant to heal by the food we eat. Hippocrates stated, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be they food." By trusting you will recover you will find the right MD'S and ND'S to partner with as you use the most innovative treatments available. By accepting that you will regain your health you will then take an active part in your process of healing. This is the true application of intentional thinking.
James Allen stated, "If you would perfect your body, guard your mind. If you would renew your body, beautify your mind." This is a place of empowerment. It is understandable that when faced with cancer one would feel helpless. But a place where you have complete control is this, you control what food you choose to eat...And what you choose to think. And what you choose to put in your body will either improve the vitality and ability of your body to kill cancer cells or it will feed them. What you choose to think and accept as truth will either empower you on this journey or weaken you. This is the place where your true power dwells, this is where your strength is born. Set your boundaries, get around people that will encourage you, find the treatment that works for you, trust your instincts. Stay in the truth that your body when given the building blocks it needs has the power to flourish and heal itself.
Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen. You will find nothing but encouragement and compassion here. We are here to provide the education and partnership you deserve. Truly from our heart we care about you and your health and wellness....And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully....
Monday, April 11, 2011
"The doors we open and close each day...."
"The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live."---Flora Whittemore
It's very easy on our journey here to sincerely feel as if life is "just happening" to us. There are so many variables to how our day, month, year may go. As children we are subject to people and things we have no control or choice in. Our well-being is almost entirely up to who is caring for us. Being born into the world this way and developing in this sort of manner can at times make us vulnerable to sinking back into this mental state of being out of control. But it is vital to remind ourselves of our liberation, our transcendence to adulthood and all the joy and responsibility that comes with it. Though this seems like a very rudimentary thing to remind ourselves as we all know we're adults, I mean, come on...we pay bills, drive cars etc.....! But check your mental state next time life throws you a curve ball and notice if the first place you mentally go is not a place of helplessness or of feeling victimized.
I know when I grapple with the thought that the walls are closing in on me it is effortless for me to slip back into this infantile mental state. It is easy to feel like a victim of circumstance. But the truth that I constantly remind myself of is this: WE ALWAYS HAVE CHOICES... Even if our situation is so dire that the only choice we have left is our mental attitude or inner resolve. And in truth these are the most powerful choices we have available to us. It is these opportunities and our interaction with them that create our inner being and mold our character. We must be thankful for these chances to grow; they are invaluable to our lives and our person.
What doors have you opened today? What doors have you closed? What and who's energy have you allowed to effect you today? What direction is your life headed in? It's not in the big details of our lives that we find true change, it is in the minor adjustments, the daily habits, the doors we walk through each day that alter us the most. Look around at the climate of your life. Do you like what you see? Let us not be so detached from our lives that we no longer understand the power we have to create the life we would hope for. Let us not be so jaded that we forget to be a part of our own process and LIFE.
We must create peace and love and kindness in our own hearts. Then we will inevitably see the outside conditions of our lives change because of WHO we are. As you open and close doors today I urge you do it purposefully and thoughtfully. Be in the business of soul work so that you can be the kind of person that would naturally inhabit the life that you desire to experience. Your outer circumstance will then be a positive reflection of who you are inside. Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen and enter into the door that leads to wellness. We are a passage you can choose to walk through that leads to mental and physical well-being. It is our joy to serve you. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully...
It's very easy on our journey here to sincerely feel as if life is "just happening" to us. There are so many variables to how our day, month, year may go. As children we are subject to people and things we have no control or choice in. Our well-being is almost entirely up to who is caring for us. Being born into the world this way and developing in this sort of manner can at times make us vulnerable to sinking back into this mental state of being out of control. But it is vital to remind ourselves of our liberation, our transcendence to adulthood and all the joy and responsibility that comes with it. Though this seems like a very rudimentary thing to remind ourselves as we all know we're adults, I mean, come on...we pay bills, drive cars etc.....! But check your mental state next time life throws you a curve ball and notice if the first place you mentally go is not a place of helplessness or of feeling victimized.
I know when I grapple with the thought that the walls are closing in on me it is effortless for me to slip back into this infantile mental state. It is easy to feel like a victim of circumstance. But the truth that I constantly remind myself of is this: WE ALWAYS HAVE CHOICES... Even if our situation is so dire that the only choice we have left is our mental attitude or inner resolve. And in truth these are the most powerful choices we have available to us. It is these opportunities and our interaction with them that create our inner being and mold our character. We must be thankful for these chances to grow; they are invaluable to our lives and our person.
What doors have you opened today? What doors have you closed? What and who's energy have you allowed to effect you today? What direction is your life headed in? It's not in the big details of our lives that we find true change, it is in the minor adjustments, the daily habits, the doors we walk through each day that alter us the most. Look around at the climate of your life. Do you like what you see? Let us not be so detached from our lives that we no longer understand the power we have to create the life we would hope for. Let us not be so jaded that we forget to be a part of our own process and LIFE.
We must create peace and love and kindness in our own hearts. Then we will inevitably see the outside conditions of our lives change because of WHO we are. As you open and close doors today I urge you do it purposefully and thoughtfully. Be in the business of soul work so that you can be the kind of person that would naturally inhabit the life that you desire to experience. Your outer circumstance will then be a positive reflection of who you are inside. Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen and enter into the door that leads to wellness. We are a passage you can choose to walk through that leads to mental and physical well-being. It is our joy to serve you. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully...
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
'Always do what your afraid to do'
"It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, 'Always do what you're afraid to do'....Ralph Waldo Emerson
We have all heard throughout our lives, "face your fears." Arguably we hear this repetitive ideology more in our young formative years. It seems to lose some of its charm as we get older and more apprehensive of failure. It's interesting how we encourage the young. It would do us a great deal of good if we had the courage we hope our youth would possess. At first glance this quote seems pretty self-explanatory. But the question I started to ask myself is why? Why should we face our fears? Is there an underlying truth that we haven't discovered about fear? Most accepted thought may be because fear is a hindrance to our stability and health. But I am starting to believe that fear is an undiscovered guide, it reveals in us what our greatest strengths may be if we would just take the opportunity to amplify our attributes.
I have learned to respect and have a healthy love of fear. In search of the reasons fear makes itself present in our lives I have noticed a pattern. When I experience fear it is usually associated with the thing or event that would give me the greatest satisfaction if faced and overcome. I have learned that fear is usually connected to a character trait that I have the most capacity to be wildly successful at. And if we are to examine our opportunities then we are to see that fear is just a tool that if used correctly can spur us on to our own advancement. We have also heard countless times "Nothing worth anything comes for free or without hard work." So why don't we apply this thought pattern to fear? Can we view fear as our built in source of inspiration, something like our own life coach. Wouldn't it behoove us to frame fear in this sort of manner? Can fear be a useful guide? Would life really be as sweet if it didn't involve overcoming our fears?
Some of my readers are facing the hardest challenge of their lives. Some of you are battling cancer. I cannot imagine the fear that must be associated with such a task. My encouragement to you would be.....use that fear. Use that fear to spur you on to do your own research. To ask the right questions and find the right Md's or Nd's that you will use. Use it to build the right team around you as you embark on this challenge. Use it to spur you on to greatness as you bravely walk down the path to wellness. And if you discover it to be too difficult to be brave as some days it will be an insurmountable task, find trustworthy people who can be fearless for you. Find people who will stand up for you who will hold you up when its hard to stand. And if you have a challenging time finding those people, come see us at The Wellness Kitchen. We are your advocates. We are here to come alongside you on this passage and provide the education, the opportunity and the emotional and physical support you need. Whether it's through our Food as Medicine Classes, our Healing Foods Menu, our Oncology Massage Therapist or our Family Therapist... we are ready and joyfully willing to be on your team. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to taste the satisfaction of facing your fears and to eat peacefully.....
We have all heard throughout our lives, "face your fears." Arguably we hear this repetitive ideology more in our young formative years. It seems to lose some of its charm as we get older and more apprehensive of failure. It's interesting how we encourage the young. It would do us a great deal of good if we had the courage we hope our youth would possess. At first glance this quote seems pretty self-explanatory. But the question I started to ask myself is why? Why should we face our fears? Is there an underlying truth that we haven't discovered about fear? Most accepted thought may be because fear is a hindrance to our stability and health. But I am starting to believe that fear is an undiscovered guide, it reveals in us what our greatest strengths may be if we would just take the opportunity to amplify our attributes.
I have learned to respect and have a healthy love of fear. In search of the reasons fear makes itself present in our lives I have noticed a pattern. When I experience fear it is usually associated with the thing or event that would give me the greatest satisfaction if faced and overcome. I have learned that fear is usually connected to a character trait that I have the most capacity to be wildly successful at. And if we are to examine our opportunities then we are to see that fear is just a tool that if used correctly can spur us on to our own advancement. We have also heard countless times "Nothing worth anything comes for free or without hard work." So why don't we apply this thought pattern to fear? Can we view fear as our built in source of inspiration, something like our own life coach. Wouldn't it behoove us to frame fear in this sort of manner? Can fear be a useful guide? Would life really be as sweet if it didn't involve overcoming our fears?
Some of my readers are facing the hardest challenge of their lives. Some of you are battling cancer. I cannot imagine the fear that must be associated with such a task. My encouragement to you would be.....use that fear. Use that fear to spur you on to do your own research. To ask the right questions and find the right Md's or Nd's that you will use. Use it to build the right team around you as you embark on this challenge. Use it to spur you on to greatness as you bravely walk down the path to wellness. And if you discover it to be too difficult to be brave as some days it will be an insurmountable task, find trustworthy people who can be fearless for you. Find people who will stand up for you who will hold you up when its hard to stand. And if you have a challenging time finding those people, come see us at The Wellness Kitchen. We are your advocates. We are here to come alongside you on this passage and provide the education, the opportunity and the emotional and physical support you need. Whether it's through our Food as Medicine Classes, our Healing Foods Menu, our Oncology Massage Therapist or our Family Therapist... we are ready and joyfully willing to be on your team. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to taste the satisfaction of facing your fears and to eat peacefully.....
Monday, March 21, 2011
"The vision that you glorify in your mind...this you will become."
"The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart-this you will become." James Allen
So much of our attention and mental power in our society goes towards questions such as these, "What do I want out of my life?"...."What do I want to be?"...."What can I "get" from my experience here?" And though these questions are arguably good to ask, the question that might serve us better is, "Who am I?"
We speak frequently about the power of our minds. The positive or negative effects they have on our bodies and every aspect of our experience here. Take a moment and take into account the thoughts you have entertained in the last hour. Write them down....go ahead, this will be fun and revealing. Get out a piece of paper and pen, jot down every thought from the most trivial to the ones of highest importance. Read them out loud. Now make two columns and divide your thoughts into advantageous and disadvantageous. Now ask yourself what the majority of this logic you are meditating on is communicating into your life? Are they thoughts of stress, failure or incompetence? Are they understandings of health, wellness, happiness and productivity? What are you speaking into your life through the expectations of your thoughts?
Every emotion you have, the way you react to life has everything to do with your logistical viewpoint. The circumstance of your life is so intricately woven within the realm of your thought habits that its cause and effects can be mapped out accurately. Take this a step further and we realize that our thought patterns create our moral guides that beget the pillars of our being. James Allen stated, "Men (or women) do not attract that which they want, but that which they are." Think about that for a second. Instead of focusing our energies on our outer circumstances and desires, it would better serve us to refocus on our inner state of being. We then come to the knowledge that our inner-climate is in direct correlation with our thought life. We attain what we "want" in life by no outer source. We only gain in this life that which we are. Look inward, trace your thoughts, wield them into creative forces for your advantage. Only then are we able to ascend to the greater being in us. Immerse yourself into the healing atmosphere of The Wellness Kitchen. Nurture your mind with thoughts of health and submerge yourself in the education that will aid you in attaining complete wellness. And as always, this is Sarah encouraging you to think purposefully and eat peacefully....
So much of our attention and mental power in our society goes towards questions such as these, "What do I want out of my life?"...."What do I want to be?"...."What can I "get" from my experience here?" And though these questions are arguably good to ask, the question that might serve us better is, "Who am I?"
We speak frequently about the power of our minds. The positive or negative effects they have on our bodies and every aspect of our experience here. Take a moment and take into account the thoughts you have entertained in the last hour. Write them down....go ahead, this will be fun and revealing. Get out a piece of paper and pen, jot down every thought from the most trivial to the ones of highest importance. Read them out loud. Now make two columns and divide your thoughts into advantageous and disadvantageous. Now ask yourself what the majority of this logic you are meditating on is communicating into your life? Are they thoughts of stress, failure or incompetence? Are they understandings of health, wellness, happiness and productivity? What are you speaking into your life through the expectations of your thoughts?
Every emotion you have, the way you react to life has everything to do with your logistical viewpoint. The circumstance of your life is so intricately woven within the realm of your thought habits that its cause and effects can be mapped out accurately. Take this a step further and we realize that our thought patterns create our moral guides that beget the pillars of our being. James Allen stated, "Men (or women) do not attract that which they want, but that which they are." Think about that for a second. Instead of focusing our energies on our outer circumstances and desires, it would better serve us to refocus on our inner state of being. We then come to the knowledge that our inner-climate is in direct correlation with our thought life. We attain what we "want" in life by no outer source. We only gain in this life that which we are. Look inward, trace your thoughts, wield them into creative forces for your advantage. Only then are we able to ascend to the greater being in us. Immerse yourself into the healing atmosphere of The Wellness Kitchen. Nurture your mind with thoughts of health and submerge yourself in the education that will aid you in attaining complete wellness. And as always, this is Sarah encouraging you to think purposefully and eat peacefully....
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
"I come into the peace of wild things..."
"I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief...For a time I rest in the grace of the world and am free." Wendell Berry
Lately I have made a conscious effort to surround myself in the comfort of "wild things." Places that remind me to be human, to think, to have peace, to wrestle with my spirit and grow. I sat on my friends porch yesterday and watched calves follow their mother through the rich green grass. I witnessed them clumsily gallop with eagerness as their mother called to them. I watched and listened to the birds scratch and move the dry leaves looking for their morning sustenance. I smelled the sweet cherry blossoms blooming on the nearby tree. I stopped and I took it all in.
When was the last time you submerged your senses and your soul into the abundant life occurring around you? This is the natural order of things, you are meant to be connected to the earth, to nature and to be a part of an ecosystem that works cynergistically. There are faculties of peace all around us. Are you using them? Are you toiling the soil in your hands and tending your garden? Are you resting in the wild things that are unconcerned with the political climate of the day, or your social or financial status or your worries? Are you laden with grief of what may come, or what may never come to pass? Is an illness stealing your peace and placing you in a mental jail of worry? If this is so I urge you as I urge myself to rest in peace.
Find that place where only your soul dwells and listen. Meditate on what is good and just and true. Surround yourself with things of nature, whether that be natural food, your being in relation to your gifts and the unique place you hold in this world or the grace of nature itself. Remember that your spirit needs bits of "wildness" to remind you what it is to be human. Disconnect yourself from the TV, the cell phone, the car, even if just for a couple hours and see how you feel... Rid yourself of worry it serves no favorable purpose. Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen and indulge your senses in healthy food, the architecture of the 1892 Victorian manse, the comfort of the oak trees and the soothing waterfalls. Give your spirit what it needs to thrive. Let us be as passionate about our soul work as all the other facets of our lives. And as always, this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully....
Lately I have made a conscious effort to surround myself in the comfort of "wild things." Places that remind me to be human, to think, to have peace, to wrestle with my spirit and grow. I sat on my friends porch yesterday and watched calves follow their mother through the rich green grass. I witnessed them clumsily gallop with eagerness as their mother called to them. I watched and listened to the birds scratch and move the dry leaves looking for their morning sustenance. I smelled the sweet cherry blossoms blooming on the nearby tree. I stopped and I took it all in.
When was the last time you submerged your senses and your soul into the abundant life occurring around you? This is the natural order of things, you are meant to be connected to the earth, to nature and to be a part of an ecosystem that works cynergistically. There are faculties of peace all around us. Are you using them? Are you toiling the soil in your hands and tending your garden? Are you resting in the wild things that are unconcerned with the political climate of the day, or your social or financial status or your worries? Are you laden with grief of what may come, or what may never come to pass? Is an illness stealing your peace and placing you in a mental jail of worry? If this is so I urge you as I urge myself to rest in peace.
Find that place where only your soul dwells and listen. Meditate on what is good and just and true. Surround yourself with things of nature, whether that be natural food, your being in relation to your gifts and the unique place you hold in this world or the grace of nature itself. Remember that your spirit needs bits of "wildness" to remind you what it is to be human. Disconnect yourself from the TV, the cell phone, the car, even if just for a couple hours and see how you feel... Rid yourself of worry it serves no favorable purpose. Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen and indulge your senses in healthy food, the architecture of the 1892 Victorian manse, the comfort of the oak trees and the soothing waterfalls. Give your spirit what it needs to thrive. Let us be as passionate about our soul work as all the other facets of our lives. And as always, this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully....
Monday, February 28, 2011
"...Lock all your heartaches within it, Then sit on the lid and laugh..."
"Build for yourself a strong box,
Fashion each part with care;
When it's strong as your hand can make it,
Put all your troubles there;
Hide all your thoughts of your failures,
And each bitter cup you quaff;
Lock all your heartaches within it,
Then sit on the lid and laugh..."
---Bertha Adams Backus
Thank goodness for Bertha right? Are you laughing yet? Just pause for a moment and place this image into your mind. Your sitting on a huge chest, one that's too big for your feet to touch the ground, your legs are flipped up the air, your head is tilted back and you are releasing the loudest belly laugh of your life.....And in that chest is all that has tried to break you. All the people who have judged you, the illness that has tried to take your body, the sorrow that has tried to consume your heart. All the things that have kept you from living a fulfilled life of joy and purpose. I am telling you these "things" do not define you. They do not make you who you are. Your response to these challenges create your inner resolve and character, but in that process is YOU. It is your choice how you will let these events mold you and that is a place of empowerment. Stay in that place. I urge you as I urge myself to not be victims. The troubles themselves do not encapsulate the intricate and wonderful makings of YOU.
At first glance this poem seems simplistic, maybe even verging on ridiculous. But think with me a little deeper. Life is a process, for the most part if your going to be balanced and at peace, it is a healing process. And on that journey a vital element of healing is possessing the discernment to recognize what was meant to destroy you. Identify those things and then, JUST LAUGH. Go ahead, its alright to laugh at it. And the reason it is ok is because the truth is, nothing can destroy you but you. Your own thoughts of who you are and your worth in this world, at the end of the day is entirely up to you. These thoughts you keep and cherish and play over and over in your mind daily will either strengthen or weaken you. There is no way around this. Your self-image is powerful, it reaches its fingers out into everything you do. My encouragement to you is, be right with your own soul. Look at the person in the mirror with love and compassion.
We all know how beneficial laughter is to us. Aside from increasing our endorphins, antibodies and blood flow, laughter just plain feels good. Don't take yourself or this life so seriously that you miss out on the simple joy's that present themselves daily. And don't allow your "mountains" to hold you down and keep you in a state of oppression. Laugh at them, the truth is you have everything you need for life and happiness. The pain that was meant to ruin you will fade and in it's place will be new strength and resolve...It's all a choice, and the choice is no ones but yours. What a blessing that is...At The Wellness Kitchen there is an atmosphere of love, healing and laughter. Come visit us and let is come alongside you on your journey to wellness. And as always, this is Sarah encouraging you to laugh often and eat peacefully...
Fashion each part with care;
When it's strong as your hand can make it,
Put all your troubles there;
Hide all your thoughts of your failures,
And each bitter cup you quaff;
Lock all your heartaches within it,
Then sit on the lid and laugh..."
---Bertha Adams Backus
Thank goodness for Bertha right? Are you laughing yet? Just pause for a moment and place this image into your mind. Your sitting on a huge chest, one that's too big for your feet to touch the ground, your legs are flipped up the air, your head is tilted back and you are releasing the loudest belly laugh of your life.....And in that chest is all that has tried to break you. All the people who have judged you, the illness that has tried to take your body, the sorrow that has tried to consume your heart. All the things that have kept you from living a fulfilled life of joy and purpose. I am telling you these "things" do not define you. They do not make you who you are. Your response to these challenges create your inner resolve and character, but in that process is YOU. It is your choice how you will let these events mold you and that is a place of empowerment. Stay in that place. I urge you as I urge myself to not be victims. The troubles themselves do not encapsulate the intricate and wonderful makings of YOU.
At first glance this poem seems simplistic, maybe even verging on ridiculous. But think with me a little deeper. Life is a process, for the most part if your going to be balanced and at peace, it is a healing process. And on that journey a vital element of healing is possessing the discernment to recognize what was meant to destroy you. Identify those things and then, JUST LAUGH. Go ahead, its alright to laugh at it. And the reason it is ok is because the truth is, nothing can destroy you but you. Your own thoughts of who you are and your worth in this world, at the end of the day is entirely up to you. These thoughts you keep and cherish and play over and over in your mind daily will either strengthen or weaken you. There is no way around this. Your self-image is powerful, it reaches its fingers out into everything you do. My encouragement to you is, be right with your own soul. Look at the person in the mirror with love and compassion.
We all know how beneficial laughter is to us. Aside from increasing our endorphins, antibodies and blood flow, laughter just plain feels good. Don't take yourself or this life so seriously that you miss out on the simple joy's that present themselves daily. And don't allow your "mountains" to hold you down and keep you in a state of oppression. Laugh at them, the truth is you have everything you need for life and happiness. The pain that was meant to ruin you will fade and in it's place will be new strength and resolve...It's all a choice, and the choice is no ones but yours. What a blessing that is...At The Wellness Kitchen there is an atmosphere of love, healing and laughter. Come visit us and let is come alongside you on your journey to wellness. And as always, this is Sarah encouraging you to laugh often and eat peacefully...
Monday, February 21, 2011
"Let everyone sweep in front of his (or her) own door, and the world will be clean."
"Let everyone sweep in front of his (or her) own door, and the world will be clean."
-Johann Wolfgan Von Goethe
What a simple yet eminent truth. There is a natural order of things in this world. A way of life that benefits your body, your relationship to others and your alliance with the environment you inhabit. You are made to be whole and well. Part of living in this "wholeness" is making good choices and realizing that the decisions we live out daily don't just effect us. What consumer power we have shapes the world's economy and our relationship to the earth through our environmental effect these decisions make. Our actions and how clean we keep our "porches" and our bodies greatly effects the earth and the future stability of humankind.
Our response through our consumerism has vast reaching effects. You could say our inaction is just as powerful. It has an impact on the hands growing the food and the communities this growth either exploits or benefits. Take that process further and our buying power effects the earth's environmental condition. The UN reports, "Almost a fifth of the emissions that contribute to global warming come from livestock...more emissions than from all the world's cars, trucks and planes combined!" This is not referring to healthy grass pastured and humanely raised animals. This is in reference to the military industrial complex that has taken over our agricultural sector and has exploited innocent animals and our environment. There are countless ways our decisions are effecting the earths' health: Plastics in the ocean, coral wastelands due to toxic waste from animals, deforestation due to our obsession with the consumption and harvesting of meat. These are all heavy subjects, our decisions create corpulent realities. But the tremendous thing is once you know, you then have a choice, a responsibility to do what is right. Not just what is right or convenient for you, but what benefits all things. Let's make choices that lead to health and wellness not death and deprivation. Cause we do have a choice...
What a great life this is that we have this immense opportunity to respond in any way we see fit. Let us feel the weight of this responsibility and let us ascend to the best us. Let us be conscious eaters and consumers of all kinds. Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen and order some Healing Foods for yourself and your loved ones. Rest assured that the food you're eating is not in the spirit of exploitation or abuse. But live in the truth that your choice is adding to the health and wellness of your body and the world. You will have more energy, you will have a greater capacity for mental stability. Your body will flourish when it has what it needs. And you will know that you are a part of a healthy world economy and there is dignity and pride in that. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully....
-Johann Wolfgan Von Goethe
What a simple yet eminent truth. There is a natural order of things in this world. A way of life that benefits your body, your relationship to others and your alliance with the environment you inhabit. You are made to be whole and well. Part of living in this "wholeness" is making good choices and realizing that the decisions we live out daily don't just effect us. What consumer power we have shapes the world's economy and our relationship to the earth through our environmental effect these decisions make. Our actions and how clean we keep our "porches" and our bodies greatly effects the earth and the future stability of humankind.
Our response through our consumerism has vast reaching effects. You could say our inaction is just as powerful. It has an impact on the hands growing the food and the communities this growth either exploits or benefits. Take that process further and our buying power effects the earth's environmental condition. The UN reports, "Almost a fifth of the emissions that contribute to global warming come from livestock...more emissions than from all the world's cars, trucks and planes combined!" This is not referring to healthy grass pastured and humanely raised animals. This is in reference to the military industrial complex that has taken over our agricultural sector and has exploited innocent animals and our environment. There are countless ways our decisions are effecting the earths' health: Plastics in the ocean, coral wastelands due to toxic waste from animals, deforestation due to our obsession with the consumption and harvesting of meat. These are all heavy subjects, our decisions create corpulent realities. But the tremendous thing is once you know, you then have a choice, a responsibility to do what is right. Not just what is right or convenient for you, but what benefits all things. Let's make choices that lead to health and wellness not death and deprivation. Cause we do have a choice...
What a great life this is that we have this immense opportunity to respond in any way we see fit. Let us feel the weight of this responsibility and let us ascend to the best us. Let us be conscious eaters and consumers of all kinds. Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen and order some Healing Foods for yourself and your loved ones. Rest assured that the food you're eating is not in the spirit of exploitation or abuse. But live in the truth that your choice is adding to the health and wellness of your body and the world. You will have more energy, you will have a greater capacity for mental stability. Your body will flourish when it has what it needs. And you will know that you are a part of a healthy world economy and there is dignity and pride in that. And as always this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully....
Monday, February 14, 2011
"...choosing to eat foods that support life-all life, not just your own."
"....it's about looking more closely at where your food comes from and how it got to your plate and choosing to eat foods that support life-all life, not just your own." Kathy Freston
We spoke a little while ago about staying connected to the sun and how this natural order of things leads to health and happiness. If we are on this path of self-love we must ascend in every aspect of our lives. We must first become more conscious beings, aware of our choices and how they effect others and this abundant earth we call home. It is essential if we are in the pursuit of balance, that we start with the proper treatment of our bodies and the world we have been placed in, to take care of.
A substantial part of your energy level, your capacity to live in a state of mental prosperity starts at the cellular level. What you consume, what you receive into your body creates the mechanism of your constant growth. In other words, your body will be made up of the food you eat...and not just what you eat, but what you eat eats. About every 7 years all of the cells in your body have been replaced, even down to the tissue of your heart. Think about that for a second. What are you placing in your body to create these healthy new cells? We must ask ourselves these hard questions: Are we absorbing the energy and nutrients from abused, ill animals? Are we eating food from a microwave, that has been mutated and is nutrient empty? Ponder on that for a moment, if were eating compromised food that is meant to create the building blocks of our cells, what then will happen to our bodies? Are we eating chemically harvested nutrient deficient fruits and vegetables? These are questions worth asking, these are the questions that will lead to us being whole, healthy conscious consumers. We must scrutinize and research what we are using as fuel for our bodies, if we want them to last.
We must also understand whether our consumer dollar is exploiting the hands that farm the foods and the community's they live in. If our choices aid in the deforestation of the world due to our obsession with harvesting meat. If our choices are sustainable. We have many choices to make in life and with that comes great responsibility to do what is right for everyone and everything. What a blessing it is that we have a choice. Let us make the right choices for ourselves and for generations to come. Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen, order our Healing Foods and feel the joy and health that comes with being a conscious healthy eater. Let us care for our earth together through the act of our thankfulness by partaking in natures natural way of supplying us with sustinance. And as always this is Sarah, encouraging you to eat peacefully....
We spoke a little while ago about staying connected to the sun and how this natural order of things leads to health and happiness. If we are on this path of self-love we must ascend in every aspect of our lives. We must first become more conscious beings, aware of our choices and how they effect others and this abundant earth we call home. It is essential if we are in the pursuit of balance, that we start with the proper treatment of our bodies and the world we have been placed in, to take care of.
A substantial part of your energy level, your capacity to live in a state of mental prosperity starts at the cellular level. What you consume, what you receive into your body creates the mechanism of your constant growth. In other words, your body will be made up of the food you eat...and not just what you eat, but what you eat eats. About every 7 years all of the cells in your body have been replaced, even down to the tissue of your heart. Think about that for a second. What are you placing in your body to create these healthy new cells? We must ask ourselves these hard questions: Are we absorbing the energy and nutrients from abused, ill animals? Are we eating food from a microwave, that has been mutated and is nutrient empty? Ponder on that for a moment, if were eating compromised food that is meant to create the building blocks of our cells, what then will happen to our bodies? Are we eating chemically harvested nutrient deficient fruits and vegetables? These are questions worth asking, these are the questions that will lead to us being whole, healthy conscious consumers. We must scrutinize and research what we are using as fuel for our bodies, if we want them to last.
We must also understand whether our consumer dollar is exploiting the hands that farm the foods and the community's they live in. If our choices aid in the deforestation of the world due to our obsession with harvesting meat. If our choices are sustainable. We have many choices to make in life and with that comes great responsibility to do what is right for everyone and everything. What a blessing it is that we have a choice. Let us make the right choices for ourselves and for generations to come. Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen, order our Healing Foods and feel the joy and health that comes with being a conscious healthy eater. Let us care for our earth together through the act of our thankfulness by partaking in natures natural way of supplying us with sustinance. And as always this is Sarah, encouraging you to eat peacefully....
Monday, February 7, 2011
"I shall not pass this way again..."
"Through this toilsome world, alas!
Once and only once I pass;
If a kindness I may show,
If a good deed I may do
To a suffering fellow man,
Let me do it while I can.
No delay, for it is plain
I shall not pass this way again."-Unknown
In my life I have come across sadness, trials and confusion. Does any of this speak to you and your circumstance? Are you in a desert of your own? A place of reflection or decision making? Are you facing an illness? What is your heartache? I am not an advocate of the use of "positive thinking" to remain in a state of denial of your situation. I am an advocate for principles of health, principles of well being and how those laws and truths can minister to us in our desperation.
This is the truth I am embracing today. And I say today because at times for all of us that is where we must live, in each breath of each day in the attempts to move forward. The truth is no matter what our woes may be, there is always someone to give to, someone else to lift up. There is always an aching heart to serve. The ways in which we can be in the service of others is countless. You can hand someone the warmth and acceptance of a smile, a kindness or a forgiveness. Look around you for someone to pour the beauty of compassion on.
Whenever I feel lost this is the path that reminds me of who I am. It reaquaints me with the best human being I can ascend to be. It is the path that releases the bondage of being in a constant state of self-focus. It opens up the door to the jail cell that that particular state of mind can place us in. Giving to others places us in the stream of blessings that comes when you stretch yourself past what you think your capacity may be. That peace returns to us and lifts us up even if the recipient doesn't "get it" or appreciate it. We do not give of ourselves for recognition, we give because it is good for us. Essentially it is a gift to us to give to others.
Life is a daily beautiful, heart wrenching experience. Let us embrace the truths that will bring us fulfillment and peace. Live in the service of humankind. You will then find a new you that will aid in your realization of the beauty of this place. Don't misunderstand me, living in the service of others is not at the cost of self-denial. It is the foundation of self-love. We are so programmed to think in terms of its "all about me." This is not the way of happiness. Self-love comes from the root of sharing your gifts with the world, it is only in this place that your joy will grow. It is only in the pouring out of ourselves that we are in turn fulfilled. Find yourself through the act of giving. Go against all you have been fed by society, try something new and see how beautiful life can be. Here at The Wellness Kitchen we embrace this way of life. We are here to help you on your path to wellness. It is our joy to be in the service of you. So come and share with us what burdons you and we will help carry your load. We can learn together what to eat, how to treat our bodies, minds and souls properly. And as always this is Sarah, encouraging you to eat peacefully and give all you have....
Once and only once I pass;
If a kindness I may show,
If a good deed I may do
To a suffering fellow man,
Let me do it while I can.
No delay, for it is plain
I shall not pass this way again."-Unknown
In my life I have come across sadness, trials and confusion. Does any of this speak to you and your circumstance? Are you in a desert of your own? A place of reflection or decision making? Are you facing an illness? What is your heartache? I am not an advocate of the use of "positive thinking" to remain in a state of denial of your situation. I am an advocate for principles of health, principles of well being and how those laws and truths can minister to us in our desperation.
This is the truth I am embracing today. And I say today because at times for all of us that is where we must live, in each breath of each day in the attempts to move forward. The truth is no matter what our woes may be, there is always someone to give to, someone else to lift up. There is always an aching heart to serve. The ways in which we can be in the service of others is countless. You can hand someone the warmth and acceptance of a smile, a kindness or a forgiveness. Look around you for someone to pour the beauty of compassion on.
Whenever I feel lost this is the path that reminds me of who I am. It reaquaints me with the best human being I can ascend to be. It is the path that releases the bondage of being in a constant state of self-focus. It opens up the door to the jail cell that that particular state of mind can place us in. Giving to others places us in the stream of blessings that comes when you stretch yourself past what you think your capacity may be. That peace returns to us and lifts us up even if the recipient doesn't "get it" or appreciate it. We do not give of ourselves for recognition, we give because it is good for us. Essentially it is a gift to us to give to others.
Life is a daily beautiful, heart wrenching experience. Let us embrace the truths that will bring us fulfillment and peace. Live in the service of humankind. You will then find a new you that will aid in your realization of the beauty of this place. Don't misunderstand me, living in the service of others is not at the cost of self-denial. It is the foundation of self-love. We are so programmed to think in terms of its "all about me." This is not the way of happiness. Self-love comes from the root of sharing your gifts with the world, it is only in this place that your joy will grow. It is only in the pouring out of ourselves that we are in turn fulfilled. Find yourself through the act of giving. Go against all you have been fed by society, try something new and see how beautiful life can be. Here at The Wellness Kitchen we embrace this way of life. We are here to help you on your path to wellness. It is our joy to be in the service of you. So come and share with us what burdons you and we will help carry your load. We can learn together what to eat, how to treat our bodies, minds and souls properly. And as always this is Sarah, encouraging you to eat peacefully and give all you have....
Monday, January 31, 2011
"Most of the luxuries..."
"Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind." Henry David Thoreau
Many of the quotes I hold close in my heart and apply daily to my life come from the great thinkers of the transcendentalist movement of the early 19th century. In a time when the political, emotional and moral climate of the country was drastically changing, there emerged some great analytical minds. Minds that call us to return to nature and to our being.
At first glance this quote might induce thoughts of all the obvious things we can agree have been a detriment to our society. Weapons, the things that we invent for our "convenience" that pollute the earth, obvious things. But I want to dig a little deeper, for it is only in the knowing of the cause that we can find the clarity to eliminate from our lives the things that have become our masters. What enslaves you? What traps your mind and renders you useless to living in the now? What has become your God? Is it food? Is it the television? Is it a substance? Is it your cell phone? Is it other's acceptance? Is it power? Money?....This is a vital question that is worth answering. We are all so different yet we are the same. What entraps us has the same result for all of us no matter what it is...the result is us not being FREE.
It's an interesting phenomena, we search for the things to make us happy and fill us up but these things if found from an external source can end up enslaving us. Emerson stated, "The great genius returns to essential man." What does this mean? On a surface level, yes we can all peer into our lives and eliminate our "things." But I would urge you as I urge myself, to find the answer to the question why? Why do we need these things? What is missing in us? Can we, in all sincerity look at our hearts and say unabashedly....I'm OK? Say it out loud now as you read this. See how it makes you feel.
I am taking myself to the task of self-restoration. I have come to the belief that it is not so much in the external "finding" of who we are that we ascend to peace. It is in the work of restoring ourselves to our true being. It is an inner event. Who we really are, what we are meant to give to the world cannot be found outside of ourselves. Re-acquaint yourself with the you before you were injured by life and the other hurt people trying to find their way through the maze. Re-acquaint yourself with who you truly are unaffected and live it out daily. Turn off the T.V. and engage the human beings in the room. Begin real heart wrenching, fulfilling relationships with people. People not things. Believe me friends, no outer circumstance, place or thing will give you peace. It is only found within. Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen sit on our veranda with some healing tea and be still, and listen. And as always this is Sarah, encouraging you to eat peacefully...
Many of the quotes I hold close in my heart and apply daily to my life come from the great thinkers of the transcendentalist movement of the early 19th century. In a time when the political, emotional and moral climate of the country was drastically changing, there emerged some great analytical minds. Minds that call us to return to nature and to our being.
At first glance this quote might induce thoughts of all the obvious things we can agree have been a detriment to our society. Weapons, the things that we invent for our "convenience" that pollute the earth, obvious things. But I want to dig a little deeper, for it is only in the knowing of the cause that we can find the clarity to eliminate from our lives the things that have become our masters. What enslaves you? What traps your mind and renders you useless to living in the now? What has become your God? Is it food? Is it the television? Is it a substance? Is it your cell phone? Is it other's acceptance? Is it power? Money?....This is a vital question that is worth answering. We are all so different yet we are the same. What entraps us has the same result for all of us no matter what it is...the result is us not being FREE.
It's an interesting phenomena, we search for the things to make us happy and fill us up but these things if found from an external source can end up enslaving us. Emerson stated, "The great genius returns to essential man." What does this mean? On a surface level, yes we can all peer into our lives and eliminate our "things." But I would urge you as I urge myself, to find the answer to the question why? Why do we need these things? What is missing in us? Can we, in all sincerity look at our hearts and say unabashedly....I'm OK? Say it out loud now as you read this. See how it makes you feel.
I am taking myself to the task of self-restoration. I have come to the belief that it is not so much in the external "finding" of who we are that we ascend to peace. It is in the work of restoring ourselves to our true being. It is an inner event. Who we really are, what we are meant to give to the world cannot be found outside of ourselves. Re-acquaint yourself with the you before you were injured by life and the other hurt people trying to find their way through the maze. Re-acquaint yourself with who you truly are unaffected and live it out daily. Turn off the T.V. and engage the human beings in the room. Begin real heart wrenching, fulfilling relationships with people. People not things. Believe me friends, no outer circumstance, place or thing will give you peace. It is only found within. Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen sit on our veranda with some healing tea and be still, and listen. And as always this is Sarah, encouraging you to eat peacefully...
Monday, January 24, 2011
Stay connected to the sun....
"Stay connected to the sun...."
Throughout my own journey to wellness I have come across the same question many times while trying to convey the importance of whole foods. "Why would I spend more money and what's so great about organic food?" Honestly the best advice I have is this: stay connected to the sun. I'm going to attempt to explain this in the most comprehensible way that I know how. The sun feeds the grass...The grass feeds the cow...The cow feeds the soil with its waste...The soil feeds the grass that the cow eats that the sun feeds that feeds you. Say that five times fast. Now let's take a glance at conventional farming techniques as it is vastly different than sustainable farming. The chemical feeds the genetically modified corn...The cow eats the corn in a concentration camp of sorts...The cow's waste creates an environmental hazard, due to there being 30,000 cows in one spot causing a toxic wasteland of hormones, antibiotics and steroids...The cow is ill...You eat the cow.
Now cows have an intricate digestive tract that is created to solely flourish on the ingestion of grass. Grass fed by the sun and fed by healthy soil. When functioning in this natural free grazing order of things, the cow remains healthy and thriving. They are in no need of steroids, antibiotics or hormones. When they eat genetically modified corn fed by chemicals they need these treatments to stay alive. It takes a cow free grazing on grass 5 years to reach slaughter weight, it takes a cow fed on conventional western techniques 9 months. By the time they are slaughtered their livers are about 3 times the size they should be and would die very soon if not slaughtered. Why is this important to you? Because if you are eating a sick animal you are setting yourself up to be sick since your body is absorbing the cow.
This applies to any animal you are consuming. You can take this knowledge and also apply it to all fruits and vegetables...it's the same truth. Either what you're eating is being fed by the sun and the earth naturally, or what you're eating is being fertilized by chemicals and unsustainable farming techniques. Do your body a service and reconnect with the sun and disconnect from the chemical. Nothing is more vital than your food. Nothing should hold greater value while you create your budget. If this element in not taken care of correctly we will pay for it in other countless ways. Buying local organic food is an investment in your health, it is the most important investment you can make. I constantly have to remind myself that spending more money on food is my health insurance. I have to "frame" it in the right state of mind. Times are hard for most of us now. But those times can get much more challenging when you add a chronic illness into the mix. And if were eating westernized food, it is truly only a matter of time before we will be confronted by illness.
Everything you order from The Wellness Kitchen respects and follows the guidelines of local organic food. We understand that in the prevention of illness, food is the key ingredient. We also realize that if you are already faced with an illness such as cancer, the best thing you can do is eliminate the toxic intake into your body by the proper use of whole foods. It is our privilege to take care of ourselves and the earth and buying local organic food is accomplishing both. Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen and let's learn together to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us. And as always, this is Sarah, encouraging you to eat peacefully....
Throughout my own journey to wellness I have come across the same question many times while trying to convey the importance of whole foods. "Why would I spend more money and what's so great about organic food?" Honestly the best advice I have is this: stay connected to the sun. I'm going to attempt to explain this in the most comprehensible way that I know how. The sun feeds the grass...The grass feeds the cow...The cow feeds the soil with its waste...The soil feeds the grass that the cow eats that the sun feeds that feeds you. Say that five times fast. Now let's take a glance at conventional farming techniques as it is vastly different than sustainable farming. The chemical feeds the genetically modified corn...The cow eats the corn in a concentration camp of sorts...The cow's waste creates an environmental hazard, due to there being 30,000 cows in one spot causing a toxic wasteland of hormones, antibiotics and steroids...The cow is ill...You eat the cow.
Now cows have an intricate digestive tract that is created to solely flourish on the ingestion of grass. Grass fed by the sun and fed by healthy soil. When functioning in this natural free grazing order of things, the cow remains healthy and thriving. They are in no need of steroids, antibiotics or hormones. When they eat genetically modified corn fed by chemicals they need these treatments to stay alive. It takes a cow free grazing on grass 5 years to reach slaughter weight, it takes a cow fed on conventional western techniques 9 months. By the time they are slaughtered their livers are about 3 times the size they should be and would die very soon if not slaughtered. Why is this important to you? Because if you are eating a sick animal you are setting yourself up to be sick since your body is absorbing the cow.
This applies to any animal you are consuming. You can take this knowledge and also apply it to all fruits and vegetables...it's the same truth. Either what you're eating is being fed by the sun and the earth naturally, or what you're eating is being fertilized by chemicals and unsustainable farming techniques. Do your body a service and reconnect with the sun and disconnect from the chemical. Nothing is more vital than your food. Nothing should hold greater value while you create your budget. If this element in not taken care of correctly we will pay for it in other countless ways. Buying local organic food is an investment in your health, it is the most important investment you can make. I constantly have to remind myself that spending more money on food is my health insurance. I have to "frame" it in the right state of mind. Times are hard for most of us now. But those times can get much more challenging when you add a chronic illness into the mix. And if were eating westernized food, it is truly only a matter of time before we will be confronted by illness.
Everything you order from The Wellness Kitchen respects and follows the guidelines of local organic food. We understand that in the prevention of illness, food is the key ingredient. We also realize that if you are already faced with an illness such as cancer, the best thing you can do is eliminate the toxic intake into your body by the proper use of whole foods. It is our privilege to take care of ourselves and the earth and buying local organic food is accomplishing both. Come see us at The Wellness Kitchen and let's learn together to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us. And as always, this is Sarah, encouraging you to eat peacefully....
Monday, January 17, 2011
"If your ever going to love me, love me now.."
"If you're ever going to love me love me now, while I can know
All the sweet and tender feelings which from real affection flow...
If you've dear, sweet thoughts about me, why not whisper them to me?
Don't you know 'twould make me happy and as glad as glad could be?...
If you knew someone was thirsting for a drop of water sweet
Would you be so slow to bring it? Would you step with laggard feet?
There are tender hearts all 'round us who are thirsting for our love;
Why withhold from them what nature makes them crave all else above?
I won't need your kind caresses when the grass grows o'er my face;
I won't crave your love or kisses in my last low resting place.
So, then, if you love me any, if its but a little bit,
Let me know it now while living; I can own and treasure it.".....Unknown
We hear it all the time. We know we should tell the ones we love that we care for them. But how many of us can say in all sincerity that we live it? Each one of us is met when we enter this world with the knowledge that we cannot know the hour, the minute, the day we will leave this place. Let us not get so caught up in our routine. What "needs" to be done. If I have learned anything worth sharing with you in my 31 years here on this earth, it is that above all else nothing is of greater importance than people. There is nothing more pressing than the exchange of love from one human spirit to another. Taking a moment to kiss your child, to hold a friends hand in their joy, to hug a loved one in their despair. These are the things that should fill our lives and make us feel worthy.
We have one another for a reason and that reason is to love. To lift each other up, to show compassion towards each other. And not just the people who look like us, or think like us, or worship the same deity as us, or salute the same flag as us. We are called to love one another, with no bounds. Let us mend our relationships, let us love people for who they are in all their imperfections, just as we must love ourselves in our own transgressions. Let us not be so callused to the world. Let us open our hearts so that we may experience true friendship, true love, true companionship. Love is the best that is in us, let us share it with each other. Call a loved one you have grown apart from, hug someone, kiss someone you love.....I know last week we spoke of Mother Theresa and her boundless compassion and love. And I write again today about love because love is what has kept me and cradled me in this last week. I write these words to pay homage to it, and the effect that it has had on my life. Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen. We are here to lift you up. Let us learn together how to nourish our bodies, our minds and our souls. And as always this is Sarah, encouraging you to love often and eat peacefully...
All the sweet and tender feelings which from real affection flow...
If you've dear, sweet thoughts about me, why not whisper them to me?
Don't you know 'twould make me happy and as glad as glad could be?...
If you knew someone was thirsting for a drop of water sweet
Would you be so slow to bring it? Would you step with laggard feet?
There are tender hearts all 'round us who are thirsting for our love;
Why withhold from them what nature makes them crave all else above?
I won't need your kind caresses when the grass grows o'er my face;
I won't crave your love or kisses in my last low resting place.
So, then, if you love me any, if its but a little bit,
Let me know it now while living; I can own and treasure it.".....Unknown
We hear it all the time. We know we should tell the ones we love that we care for them. But how many of us can say in all sincerity that we live it? Each one of us is met when we enter this world with the knowledge that we cannot know the hour, the minute, the day we will leave this place. Let us not get so caught up in our routine. What "needs" to be done. If I have learned anything worth sharing with you in my 31 years here on this earth, it is that above all else nothing is of greater importance than people. There is nothing more pressing than the exchange of love from one human spirit to another. Taking a moment to kiss your child, to hold a friends hand in their joy, to hug a loved one in their despair. These are the things that should fill our lives and make us feel worthy.
We have one another for a reason and that reason is to love. To lift each other up, to show compassion towards each other. And not just the people who look like us, or think like us, or worship the same deity as us, or salute the same flag as us. We are called to love one another, with no bounds. Let us mend our relationships, let us love people for who they are in all their imperfections, just as we must love ourselves in our own transgressions. Let us not be so callused to the world. Let us open our hearts so that we may experience true friendship, true love, true companionship. Love is the best that is in us, let us share it with each other. Call a loved one you have grown apart from, hug someone, kiss someone you love.....I know last week we spoke of Mother Theresa and her boundless compassion and love. And I write again today about love because love is what has kept me and cradled me in this last week. I write these words to pay homage to it, and the effect that it has had on my life. Come visit us at The Wellness Kitchen. We are here to lift you up. Let us learn together how to nourish our bodies, our minds and our souls. And as always this is Sarah, encouraging you to love often and eat peacefully...
Monday, January 10, 2011
"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."
"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."
Mother Theresa
Take a moment and read this quote again. Think on its deeper meaning and meditate on its simple yet vast reaching truth. This is the greatest call we have as human beings. If humankind could grasp and apply this one lesson, that we all "belong" to one another, there would be no war, no poverty, no hatred, no ignorance. Let us be people that live this quote out daily. Mother Theresa was a pillar of love and compassion. Her life was filled to the brim because she poured herself out and blessed the world with her gifts. This quote speaks to the better person in all of us.
This week brought unexpected challenges into my life. I have to admit I was a little blindsided and had to check myself many times to regain the right mental attitude. For some of you this week you are dealing with health afflictions, some are struggling with finances, for some of you it's broken relationships. Whatever is weighing down your heart, find comfort in the reality that we are all in this together. Look around you and when you see others, see yourself. As this week stretched me, I found great comfort in the love and warmth of my friends. Their compassion and kindness towards me was immeasurable. What would we do without each other? I'm convinced that people are all that truly matter.
If you find it hard to find someone that you can rely on, I would encourage you to first be someone others can rely upon. If you wish someone would just listen to you, be a good listener. If you desire that someone would come alongside you and lift you up, go find someone and impact their lives. If you long to be loved simply just the way you are, love someone unconditionally. It is only in the service of others that we find true happiness and fulfillment. We must step out of our own way, behind our own pain and let our gifts flow to an aching world. Fill your life with hope and compassion for others, these are the things that will cradle you in your darkest hours. When we leave this world all that will be left behind is the love we gave. Acknowledge your place in this world, you have gifts that no one else possesses, share them. Just as we are called to take care of the earth, our bodies, our spirits let us remember that we are called to take care of one another. People are living out their gifts here at The Wellness Kitchen. Loving hands are preparing healing foods. Compassionate hearts are reaching out to the community and offering education, rest and rejuvenation. Continue on your journey here with us. And as always, this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully...
Mother Theresa
Take a moment and read this quote again. Think on its deeper meaning and meditate on its simple yet vast reaching truth. This is the greatest call we have as human beings. If humankind could grasp and apply this one lesson, that we all "belong" to one another, there would be no war, no poverty, no hatred, no ignorance. Let us be people that live this quote out daily. Mother Theresa was a pillar of love and compassion. Her life was filled to the brim because she poured herself out and blessed the world with her gifts. This quote speaks to the better person in all of us.
This week brought unexpected challenges into my life. I have to admit I was a little blindsided and had to check myself many times to regain the right mental attitude. For some of you this week you are dealing with health afflictions, some are struggling with finances, for some of you it's broken relationships. Whatever is weighing down your heart, find comfort in the reality that we are all in this together. Look around you and when you see others, see yourself. As this week stretched me, I found great comfort in the love and warmth of my friends. Their compassion and kindness towards me was immeasurable. What would we do without each other? I'm convinced that people are all that truly matter.
If you find it hard to find someone that you can rely on, I would encourage you to first be someone others can rely upon. If you wish someone would just listen to you, be a good listener. If you desire that someone would come alongside you and lift you up, go find someone and impact their lives. If you long to be loved simply just the way you are, love someone unconditionally. It is only in the service of others that we find true happiness and fulfillment. We must step out of our own way, behind our own pain and let our gifts flow to an aching world. Fill your life with hope and compassion for others, these are the things that will cradle you in your darkest hours. When we leave this world all that will be left behind is the love we gave. Acknowledge your place in this world, you have gifts that no one else possesses, share them. Just as we are called to take care of the earth, our bodies, our spirits let us remember that we are called to take care of one another. People are living out their gifts here at The Wellness Kitchen. Loving hands are preparing healing foods. Compassionate hearts are reaching out to the community and offering education, rest and rejuvenation. Continue on your journey here with us. And as always, this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully...
Monday, January 3, 2011
"Seek not outside yourself, heaven is within."
"Seek not outside yourself, heaven is within." Mary Lou Cook
Throughout my past I wish I would have embraced this truth. It is so powerful and can reach out to every aspect of our lives if taken to heart. During this time of rejuvenation, we all look at our lives in hope of determining who we will become this year and the things in our lives that are in desperate need of change. As we glance into 2011 and imagine the possibilities, we must first begin with an introspective look into our hearts and souls. This is where true, lasting change will occur. Most of us begin the year with thoughts such as: "I need to lose weight," or "I need to exercise" or "I need to eat better." These are all vital practices of an external root, but if we want them to become steady habits, they must grow out of the realm of self-respect and self-love. We must not gain this self love because of what we accomplish or how people treat and view us. Our image of ourselves needs to come from a pure unmovable place that is deep within, a place that does not falter with the weather, the economy or the changing of seasons.
If you want mental freedom, if you want happiness, if you want peace, the first step on your journey must be in the direction of self worth. None of us will find this balance from any outer source, it is only found within. We spend massive amounts of money and time on our outer appearances and our persona. We would do ourselves a great service if we were to spend that energy feeding our souls. Out of our heart flows our lives. What is going on in your heart? What do you hold as truths? These are the things that will lead you to treat your body better and flow love out of your soul into everything you do. That is my encouragement to you this year. Make this a year of self ingenuity. You will then see your outer circumstances change, because YOU have changed. Self love begins with the realization of who we are and what we have to offer the world. That path leads to the proper treatment of our bodies souls and minds, out of respect for our being. Come see us at the The Wellness Kitchen to meditate, nurture your body with whole foods and learn. We care about you, your growth and your health. And as always, this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully....
Throughout my past I wish I would have embraced this truth. It is so powerful and can reach out to every aspect of our lives if taken to heart. During this time of rejuvenation, we all look at our lives in hope of determining who we will become this year and the things in our lives that are in desperate need of change. As we glance into 2011 and imagine the possibilities, we must first begin with an introspective look into our hearts and souls. This is where true, lasting change will occur. Most of us begin the year with thoughts such as: "I need to lose weight," or "I need to exercise" or "I need to eat better." These are all vital practices of an external root, but if we want them to become steady habits, they must grow out of the realm of self-respect and self-love. We must not gain this self love because of what we accomplish or how people treat and view us. Our image of ourselves needs to come from a pure unmovable place that is deep within, a place that does not falter with the weather, the economy or the changing of seasons.
If you want mental freedom, if you want happiness, if you want peace, the first step on your journey must be in the direction of self worth. None of us will find this balance from any outer source, it is only found within. We spend massive amounts of money and time on our outer appearances and our persona. We would do ourselves a great service if we were to spend that energy feeding our souls. Out of our heart flows our lives. What is going on in your heart? What do you hold as truths? These are the things that will lead you to treat your body better and flow love out of your soul into everything you do. That is my encouragement to you this year. Make this a year of self ingenuity. You will then see your outer circumstances change, because YOU have changed. Self love begins with the realization of who we are and what we have to offer the world. That path leads to the proper treatment of our bodies souls and minds, out of respect for our being. Come see us at the The Wellness Kitchen to meditate, nurture your body with whole foods and learn. We care about you, your growth and your health. And as always, this is Sarah encouraging you to eat peacefully....
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