Greetings!
As the weather begins to cooperate with our ideas of being outside in the warmth of the sun, those wishing to be outside in a public place in Barrie with a smoke in their hand are out of luck. Two nights ago, the voting at City Council resulted in the decision to ban smoking in public places. This includes sidewalks and parks. Is Barrie ahead of the line of municipalities to create this ban, or are we a bit uptight about our health here?
I don't really care to bore you with my thoughts on this one. I get both sides. People who smoke need a place to smoke (but by the way, are you still smoking? Come on!!!) since you can't in restaurants or bars, where smokes and drinks kinda go hand in hand. People who don't smoke don't want to get the lung cancer without benefiting from a nic buzz. Blah blah blah. Like I said, I get both sides.
My point today, however, is that there are many annoying and inconsiderate things that are done in public that are just as worthy of by-laws as smoking bans. For instance, it is March 25th today-- and how many people still have Christmas decor up? On my walk yesterday, I saw lights, one of those bizarre mechanical reindeer--no longer grazing on a front lawn, mind you--- and further down the street there was a very creepy deflated gigantic Santa that was wrong in the first place! Sorry, boys and girls, Mommy and Daddy won't be putting up giant blow-up Santa next year because he got flattened by the snow storm and now that the weather is nice, the dog keeps lifting its leg on his remains.
Take your decor down by Feb 1st, or pay the fine I say.
How about zinging people who talk loudly during movies? I am not trying to sound like a grumpy old woman, but it is not cheap to attend a movie, and the topping for my popcorn is the price of gas-- so how about making it even more expensive to be a jerk at the theatre? I cannot think of a time a smoker would refuse to move away from you if you asked them to, but watch out for the stink eye you'll get if you ask loud movie watchers to shut it!
Watch your movie at home and talk all you want, or pay-as you-go, Motormouth.
Perhaps it is the Torontonian in me with some lingering road rage, but I know I speak for all of us when I include my dismay for drivers who wait in the left lane at a light but neglect to signal ahead of time that they need to turn left on the green. Maybe a by-law is impossible, but how about some public service messages to these people?
Help me get to work on time-- it takes one little click to warn us all to get over to the right......
Salad Girl's tip of the post:
Have you laughed 20 times today? To help prevent depression, we are all supposed to.
Create a list of by-laws you'd like your family members and fellow citizens to follow. (OK-- don't really do this, but it's pretty funny to make a list of all the annoying and stupid things people do all the time! )
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Dear, dear diary,
I have mentioned it before, but I am a big fan of my journal. I think that the would-be writer in me has always written in a journal to keep my writing a constant and daily practice. When I arrived home from school for March Break on Friday and couldn't find my diary in my purse I was in a full-fledged tizzy. Part of me fearing the hands that would find it and discover this gateway in to my soul, the other part seriously concerned about how to start a new one in the meantime of finding the missing one. Journals are my constant companions, and to be out of order and without this full-time therapist on me, would just totally screw me up!
I decided to blog about journals today because I did something yesterday that floored me. I just finished reading Note to Self: on Keeping a Journal and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Samara O'Shea (FABULOUS) and I was stunned by this fellow journal-writer who reads hers over and over-- in fact, even bravely published excerpts from them in this book. So I took the leap and followed her lead and opened one: a full journal that I kept from 1997- 2001. In my hard-covered large-page book full of my sprawl, were my own accounts of years of being in University, teachers college, starting out a career and meeting the man I am now married to. I don't usually reread what I write in these books-- at least, not in a fell swoop like yesterday's.
Over the course of one afternoon, my emotions were all over the map. I was surprised-- did I really write this? Did I really have these feelings for that guy or this anger towards some event? I was embarrassed by my narcissism and whining-- do I sound like this to others? I was annoyed by me-- how has anyone ever been my roommate? I felt protective of my younger and more naive self-- my current self warning me as I read the daydreams and plans, Don't believe him, Tamara-- he was bad news all along and you should've known better...... I felt sad to think of all the time that I have spent worrying, or stressed, or hating my body. What a waste of time.
At the same time, I felt proud of my triumphs, and commended myself on some of the conclusions I was able to draw. It turns out that many of the dilemmas I am having about myself right now were there all along, and many words of wisdom that I still need were penned by none other than me. While journalling yesterday after re reading this old journal, I told myself to take my 23 year-old self's advice and stop taking myself so seriously. I felt bashful and giddy while reading about when I first met my husband, and read to him a few things I had written about him in those crazy days of infatuation. The look in his eyes after reading descriptions of him from over 8 years ago, is one that is now captured in the pages of yesterday's journal entry forever.
I don't imagine I will read the rest of them (there are 7 more) for a while-- even though my purpose in keeping them has always remained the same: writing for me, not an audience. But it is a very cool feeling to look at them on my shelf, the volumes that make up the life I live.
It turns out, by the way, that I had placed my journal on the coffee table before even putting my purse down. Phew!
Salad Girl's tips of the post:
Start a journal today if you don't keep one. Write every truth you can, without thinking about what people will think when they read it. If you do keep one, make sure your entries are well dated and include the time and place you are writing. Keep your journal on you at all times to sneak in a good write when you are given the gift of a delay at the dentist or on the subway or when a friend is late meeting you. Write with tea, with a glass of wine or with nothing at all but the honest question "How are you today?"
I decided to blog about journals today because I did something yesterday that floored me. I just finished reading Note to Self: on Keeping a Journal and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Samara O'Shea (FABULOUS) and I was stunned by this fellow journal-writer who reads hers over and over-- in fact, even bravely published excerpts from them in this book. So I took the leap and followed her lead and opened one: a full journal that I kept from 1997- 2001. In my hard-covered large-page book full of my sprawl, were my own accounts of years of being in University, teachers college, starting out a career and meeting the man I am now married to. I don't usually reread what I write in these books-- at least, not in a fell swoop like yesterday's.
Over the course of one afternoon, my emotions were all over the map. I was surprised-- did I really write this? Did I really have these feelings for that guy or this anger towards some event? I was embarrassed by my narcissism and whining-- do I sound like this to others? I was annoyed by me-- how has anyone ever been my roommate? I felt protective of my younger and more naive self-- my current self warning me as I read the daydreams and plans, Don't believe him, Tamara-- he was bad news all along and you should've known better...... I felt sad to think of all the time that I have spent worrying, or stressed, or hating my body. What a waste of time.
At the same time, I felt proud of my triumphs, and commended myself on some of the conclusions I was able to draw. It turns out that many of the dilemmas I am having about myself right now were there all along, and many words of wisdom that I still need were penned by none other than me. While journalling yesterday after re reading this old journal, I told myself to take my 23 year-old self's advice and stop taking myself so seriously. I felt bashful and giddy while reading about when I first met my husband, and read to him a few things I had written about him in those crazy days of infatuation. The look in his eyes after reading descriptions of him from over 8 years ago, is one that is now captured in the pages of yesterday's journal entry forever.
I don't imagine I will read the rest of them (there are 7 more) for a while-- even though my purpose in keeping them has always remained the same: writing for me, not an audience. But it is a very cool feeling to look at them on my shelf, the volumes that make up the life I live.
It turns out, by the way, that I had placed my journal on the coffee table before even putting my purse down. Phew!
Salad Girl's tips of the post:
Start a journal today if you don't keep one. Write every truth you can, without thinking about what people will think when they read it. If you do keep one, make sure your entries are well dated and include the time and place you are writing. Keep your journal on you at all times to sneak in a good write when you are given the gift of a delay at the dentist or on the subway or when a friend is late meeting you. Write with tea, with a glass of wine or with nothing at all but the honest question "How are you today?"
Thursday, March 12, 2009
who are your "yes" people?
I can't actually remember who gave me the term " 'yes' people ", but I probably read it in some self-help book and have ever since noticed that in my life, there are " 'yes' people" and " 'no' people", and that in our lives, we need to have both kinds .
" 'Yes' people " are people who, when you share your ideas, opinions, dreams and complaints, understand your point. They may not personally agree with what you have shared, but they make you feel validated for having these thoughts. If you approach a " 'yes' person", you will undoubtedly walk away from your conversation with energy and confidence that you have every right to have the thoughts you are having if you doubted yourself before. This is a person that you crave talking to when you have something--happy or sad-- to share. This person serves as a cheerleader or a connector, but this is also a person who can gently call you on being overly-something (in my case, overly-emotional or overly-worry-wartish; in other cases, perhaps overly difficult or flighty). This person is a special kind of friend, or a colleague or family member, that you interact with and leaves you with good gut feelings.
For instance, your " 'yes' person" might say ""Your idea is awesome-- you could totally do that-- I LOVE IT! Keep me posted!". Or, "I think this is a bit like when Loulou ..x... and what ended up working for her was ..y....". Your " ' yes' person" may also say things like "It really sucks that Bingo made that comment to you, but you have to remember that Bingo is like that, and he's probably already forgotten that he said it and pissing someone else off now as we speak. Do we need to have a cup of tea, or a glass of wine?".
Otherwise said, she or he has the patience of Job dealing with you, but also cuts you off when you have had too many sips out of the self-doubt blues bottle. S/he can take your half-empty glass and fill it right up.
I am noticing lately that my piece of the world is also full of naysayers, and unfortunately, some of the worst culprits can be the people who care about us the most. Julia Cameron, author of "The Artist's Way", writes about people called our crazymakers. She speaks of the people that, when you meet them with any sort of positive feelings, they'll replace them with feelings of wanting to crawl back in bed, keep your mouth shut or scream. They, in contrast to your " 'yes' people", take your half-empty glass, knock it over and smash it to smithereens.
I think the world needs these people, too. Perhaps they keep order in the world and balance out over-dreamers who need a reality check. Their participation in our lives educates us on how to be compassionate, rise against adverse times, deal with difficult neighbours or be kind to our parents when they push our buttons. We need them-- but in a world where optimism keeps us healthy, we must really avoid surrounding ourselves with them, particular in blue or doubtful times.
Salad Girl's tip of the post:
Make your mental list of, or journal about, your " 'yes' people". In some way, thank them for their contribution to your life in words or by being that person right back to them.
" 'Yes' people " are people who, when you share your ideas, opinions, dreams and complaints, understand your point. They may not personally agree with what you have shared, but they make you feel validated for having these thoughts. If you approach a " 'yes' person", you will undoubtedly walk away from your conversation with energy and confidence that you have every right to have the thoughts you are having if you doubted yourself before. This is a person that you crave talking to when you have something--happy or sad-- to share. This person serves as a cheerleader or a connector, but this is also a person who can gently call you on being overly-something (in my case, overly-emotional or overly-worry-wartish; in other cases, perhaps overly difficult or flighty). This person is a special kind of friend, or a colleague or family member, that you interact with and leaves you with good gut feelings.
For instance, your " 'yes' person" might say ""Your idea is awesome-- you could totally do that-- I LOVE IT! Keep me posted!". Or, "I think this is a bit like when Loulou ..x... and what ended up working for her was ..y....". Your " ' yes' person" may also say things like "It really sucks that Bingo made that comment to you, but you have to remember that Bingo is like that, and he's probably already forgotten that he said it and pissing someone else off now as we speak. Do we need to have a cup of tea, or a glass of wine?".
Otherwise said, she or he has the patience of Job dealing with you, but also cuts you off when you have had too many sips out of the self-doubt blues bottle. S/he can take your half-empty glass and fill it right up.
I am noticing lately that my piece of the world is also full of naysayers, and unfortunately, some of the worst culprits can be the people who care about us the most. Julia Cameron, author of "The Artist's Way", writes about people called our crazymakers. She speaks of the people that, when you meet them with any sort of positive feelings, they'll replace them with feelings of wanting to crawl back in bed, keep your mouth shut or scream. They, in contrast to your " 'yes' people", take your half-empty glass, knock it over and smash it to smithereens.
I think the world needs these people, too. Perhaps they keep order in the world and balance out over-dreamers who need a reality check. Their participation in our lives educates us on how to be compassionate, rise against adverse times, deal with difficult neighbours or be kind to our parents when they push our buttons. We need them-- but in a world where optimism keeps us healthy, we must really avoid surrounding ourselves with them, particular in blue or doubtful times.
Salad Girl's tip of the post:
Make your mental list of, or journal about, your " 'yes' people". In some way, thank them for their contribution to your life in words or by being that person right back to them.
Monday, March 9, 2009
the importance of great colleagues!
Bonjour!
We probably all feel this way today, those returning to work or with small children especially, I imagine.... I WANT THAT HOUR BACK! We will all enjoy the prolonged daylight hours, and spring must be on the way... blah blah blah-- but let's face it: it's always a crappy day-after when we lose the hour.
Being exhausted at work today and trying to focus my students (more like pulling teeth) reminded me about the importance of good colleagues. I feel so lucky to have friends at work. Aside from having fun chats in the staff room and exchanging the customary knowing glances when you overhear the wackier kids ask your buddy bizarre questions in the hall, it is so great to arrive to work and share stories from your weekend events.
Over the past two weekends, Monday morning at work has involved reminiscing about our fun together at kooky events. Two Fridays ago, a group of us put together a team and entered a Volleyball tournament, involving pitchers in between games. We got pretty good by game number four! And this past weekend, yet another group of played at my friend Bingo's house (no, his name is not really this, but from now on Bingo is all males and Loulou is all girls.... for everyone's personal safety and out of respect... and now I digress....). He had us over, young and less young, and each one of us brought beers from a different country. You had to sample the beer to earn the flag to wear on our clothes. It was hysterical! We all enjoyed the tour of the tall boys, and increasingly funny conversation.
Clearly, we ended up with a lot of drunken babble, pretty amazing Guitar Heros, late night cab rides and colossal hangovers-- but my point is simple: we had fun and had one extra reason to smile at one another today. Waking up to see my husband's and my chain of little flags on the fridge made me feel like a proud Brownie in my morning fog today.
Salad Girl's tip of the post:
If you haven't yet, get to know your colleagues. These are the people that you see more than your family and no matter how different they may be from you, there are lessons to learn from them. Plan a pot luck lunch, a book swap, a clothing swap, a once-a-week walking group, something. If you are lucky like me, plan a new event with your pals-- boozy or not. I feel closer to these folks now, and, after all, our purpose in life is to connect with one another.
(One addtional tip: do try the beer from Lithuania. YUM!)
We probably all feel this way today, those returning to work or with small children especially, I imagine.... I WANT THAT HOUR BACK! We will all enjoy the prolonged daylight hours, and spring must be on the way... blah blah blah-- but let's face it: it's always a crappy day-after when we lose the hour.
Being exhausted at work today and trying to focus my students (more like pulling teeth) reminded me about the importance of good colleagues. I feel so lucky to have friends at work. Aside from having fun chats in the staff room and exchanging the customary knowing glances when you overhear the wackier kids ask your buddy bizarre questions in the hall, it is so great to arrive to work and share stories from your weekend events.
Over the past two weekends, Monday morning at work has involved reminiscing about our fun together at kooky events. Two Fridays ago, a group of us put together a team and entered a Volleyball tournament, involving pitchers in between games. We got pretty good by game number four! And this past weekend, yet another group of played at my friend Bingo's house (no, his name is not really this, but from now on Bingo is all males and Loulou is all girls.... for everyone's personal safety and out of respect... and now I digress....). He had us over, young and less young, and each one of us brought beers from a different country. You had to sample the beer to earn the flag to wear on our clothes. It was hysterical! We all enjoyed the tour of the tall boys, and increasingly funny conversation.
Clearly, we ended up with a lot of drunken babble, pretty amazing Guitar Heros, late night cab rides and colossal hangovers-- but my point is simple: we had fun and had one extra reason to smile at one another today. Waking up to see my husband's and my chain of little flags on the fridge made me feel like a proud Brownie in my morning fog today.
Salad Girl's tip of the post:
If you haven't yet, get to know your colleagues. These are the people that you see more than your family and no matter how different they may be from you, there are lessons to learn from them. Plan a pot luck lunch, a book swap, a clothing swap, a once-a-week walking group, something. If you are lucky like me, plan a new event with your pals-- boozy or not. I feel closer to these folks now, and, after all, our purpose in life is to connect with one another.
(One addtional tip: do try the beer from Lithuania. YUM!)
Saturday, March 7, 2009
i heart saturdays!
Greetings!
It is a grey and mild Saturday noon hour and I just adore being in my pyjamas (reindeer decorated, but the softest flannel in my collection so keep Christmas with you all through the year, I say!) still at this hour. My morning has involved waking at 9:30 (sweet, sweet slumber), tea and a great book in bed followed by an un- abandoned journaling session, and a peanut butter and banana topped bagel. Does it get more blissful than this?
I just started "Note to Self: on Keeping a Journal and Other Dangerous Pursuits", by Samara O'Shea. What a treat! I am addicted to writing in my journal-- I keep it on me at all times. For me, it's a place to record, process, celebrate and bitch about the events of my days. I have been surviving and celebrating lately by keeping gratitude lists-- Oprah recommended this ages ago and I kinda liked it. This is a pursuit that I recommend highly to anyone-- but it has occurred to me lately that my gratitude lists are making me turn a blind eye to my dreams and true feelings.
I will use the example of my day job. I work in other teachers' classrooms each day to teach French. I have lovely colleagues and VERY kind students, who generally are OK with learning French, or at least polite about it if they hate the subject. I approach most days with a positive outlook, or I can create one for myself if I don't feel the love on the drive to work.
Here are the crappy parts: I push a cart around to each room with supplies for each class. That it is a fancy cart does not make this job seem any less degrading. Three classes I work in are set up as chaos, either because the teacher of the room doesn't get bothered by loud students, messes, no space to manoeuvre around, etc. It makes me CRAZY! The joy in keeping one's own classroom inviting and beautiful and inspiring has been removed from me. I work out of a dark office full of photocopy paper and I am constantly clock watching to make sure I am on time for the next class. Am I rushing because I am stressed or stressed because I am always in a rush?
On the other and less whiny hand, I don't have to work late to keep a room tidy or decorated. As I walk through the hallways, every student that knows me proudly beams "Bonjour!" to me. I don't generally deal with parents because, who cares-- it's just French. I can keep my marking minimal because the assessment is easy-- can they understand me (B), engage in coherent and spontaneous conversation in French with me (A) or do they answer "Merci beaucoup" when I ask them what they did for the weekend (C or D depending how many actual words exist in French...)? I make a great salary with holidays I will never have in any other type of job. And as my Auntie Margie says, "Every now and again, you will make a difference to one kid".
As I read my less whiny hand, I see the angel on my left shoulder, the gratitude list girl who always thinks it's best to look on the bright side. But slogging through the day to day pains of crashing in to things with my cart (I always make my husband push the grocery cart for this reason!), arriving to rooms full of students' crap everywhere, feeling like a babysitter instead of an educator-- I hear the devil on my right shoulder saying "stop the bullshit gratitude lists-- you deserve more than this! You're dying in this life-- write all the books you dream of, for crying out loud! Get your 'Yoga and Journaling' classes started! Your Salad Girl catering business plan is ingenious!".
Whether we listen to the little angel or the little man in red has been a forever compelling life path question, I know. I send my dilemma out to the world. How does one leave the comforts of a great salary, pension, holidays, blah blah blah, to carve out a life full of passion and dreams of nurturing others and creativity?
The good news for any of us juggling this question is that, to the Monday to Friday people, Saturdays will never lose their bliss. No dilemma so great as figuring out your destiny at 33 years old (34 in two weeks) cannot be made better nor more dream-filled, by reading a book that inspires you in bed, with tea and a PBB bagel in your flannel jammies.
Salad Girls Tips of the post:
It is a grey and mild Saturday noon hour and I just adore being in my pyjamas (reindeer decorated, but the softest flannel in my collection so keep Christmas with you all through the year, I say!) still at this hour. My morning has involved waking at 9:30 (sweet, sweet slumber), tea and a great book in bed followed by an un- abandoned journaling session, and a peanut butter and banana topped bagel. Does it get more blissful than this?
I just started "Note to Self: on Keeping a Journal and Other Dangerous Pursuits", by Samara O'Shea. What a treat! I am addicted to writing in my journal-- I keep it on me at all times. For me, it's a place to record, process, celebrate and bitch about the events of my days. I have been surviving and celebrating lately by keeping gratitude lists-- Oprah recommended this ages ago and I kinda liked it. This is a pursuit that I recommend highly to anyone-- but it has occurred to me lately that my gratitude lists are making me turn a blind eye to my dreams and true feelings.
I will use the example of my day job. I work in other teachers' classrooms each day to teach French. I have lovely colleagues and VERY kind students, who generally are OK with learning French, or at least polite about it if they hate the subject. I approach most days with a positive outlook, or I can create one for myself if I don't feel the love on the drive to work.
Here are the crappy parts: I push a cart around to each room with supplies for each class. That it is a fancy cart does not make this job seem any less degrading. Three classes I work in are set up as chaos, either because the teacher of the room doesn't get bothered by loud students, messes, no space to manoeuvre around, etc. It makes me CRAZY! The joy in keeping one's own classroom inviting and beautiful and inspiring has been removed from me. I work out of a dark office full of photocopy paper and I am constantly clock watching to make sure I am on time for the next class. Am I rushing because I am stressed or stressed because I am always in a rush?
On the other and less whiny hand, I don't have to work late to keep a room tidy or decorated. As I walk through the hallways, every student that knows me proudly beams "Bonjour!" to me. I don't generally deal with parents because, who cares-- it's just French. I can keep my marking minimal because the assessment is easy-- can they understand me (B), engage in coherent and spontaneous conversation in French with me (A) or do they answer "Merci beaucoup" when I ask them what they did for the weekend (C or D depending how many actual words exist in French...)? I make a great salary with holidays I will never have in any other type of job. And as my Auntie Margie says, "Every now and again, you will make a difference to one kid".
As I read my less whiny hand, I see the angel on my left shoulder, the gratitude list girl who always thinks it's best to look on the bright side. But slogging through the day to day pains of crashing in to things with my cart (I always make my husband push the grocery cart for this reason!), arriving to rooms full of students' crap everywhere, feeling like a babysitter instead of an educator-- I hear the devil on my right shoulder saying "stop the bullshit gratitude lists-- you deserve more than this! You're dying in this life-- write all the books you dream of, for crying out loud! Get your 'Yoga and Journaling' classes started! Your Salad Girl catering business plan is ingenious!".
Whether we listen to the little angel or the little man in red has been a forever compelling life path question, I know. I send my dilemma out to the world. How does one leave the comforts of a great salary, pension, holidays, blah blah blah, to carve out a life full of passion and dreams of nurturing others and creativity?
The good news for any of us juggling this question is that, to the Monday to Friday people, Saturdays will never lose their bliss. No dilemma so great as figuring out your destiny at 33 years old (34 in two weeks) cannot be made better nor more dream-filled, by reading a book that inspires you in bed, with tea and a PBB bagel in your flannel jammies.
Salad Girls Tips of the post:
- Open your journal and write out your secrets! Release them on to the page-- it is more patient than people (as Anne Frank, the wisest thirteen year old, said)
- Make gratitude lists, but counteract them with "badditude lists" of what is getting your goat.
- Enjoy every Saturday you can in bed with good books and tea for as late as you can.
- Face every day knowing that the next Saturday is only a few days away.
Namaste!
Salad Girl
Sunday, March 1, 2009
a salad a day keeps the blues away....
Happy New Month!
I adore the first of each new month-- always seems like a great opportunity to set some goals, make new plans, check in with how far you have come along over the previous month. Maybe it's the teacher in me, but writing the new month in my diary or on the black board just floats my boat!
I love eating a big salad every day. My colleagues and my husband kinda laugh at me because every Sunday I make five salads for my lunches at school for the week-- and they don't vary very much. Spinach, yellow peppers, grape tomatoes, carrots, brocolis and chick peas or red kidney beans. I sometimes think I have a streak of the OCD-- if I can't make my salads, I get really blue. Making them on Monday would NOT be the same. The chopping, admiring the life force in each vegetable, dropping ingredients in the glad containers-- it's like a Sunday ritual-- a meditation-- an artistic creation that I crave as much as eating these things of beauty.
Every day, without fail, someone says "That looks so good...." and it is.
So here's my tip: try it. We all have been told that we should be eating our 5-10, and getting the rainbow of colours, and we all are busy people that don't have time to make a salad a day. We all also like a good poop each day, and we all answer "I'm fine-- but tired" when we are asked how we are. I can't suggest it enough-- make 5 salads for your lunches on a Sunday. You will feel good, energetic, cheerful. And you will only get your hands wet and cold once!
Give it a try and keep me posted on how you do. A salad a day is like a good chat with a good friend-- it just feels good.
On to my chopping board, this sunny Sunday afternoon. Happy March!
Salad Girl
I adore the first of each new month-- always seems like a great opportunity to set some goals, make new plans, check in with how far you have come along over the previous month. Maybe it's the teacher in me, but writing the new month in my diary or on the black board just floats my boat!
I love eating a big salad every day. My colleagues and my husband kinda laugh at me because every Sunday I make five salads for my lunches at school for the week-- and they don't vary very much. Spinach, yellow peppers, grape tomatoes, carrots, brocolis and chick peas or red kidney beans. I sometimes think I have a streak of the OCD-- if I can't make my salads, I get really blue. Making them on Monday would NOT be the same. The chopping, admiring the life force in each vegetable, dropping ingredients in the glad containers-- it's like a Sunday ritual-- a meditation-- an artistic creation that I crave as much as eating these things of beauty.
Every day, without fail, someone says "That looks so good...." and it is.
So here's my tip: try it. We all have been told that we should be eating our 5-10, and getting the rainbow of colours, and we all are busy people that don't have time to make a salad a day. We all also like a good poop each day, and we all answer "I'm fine-- but tired" when we are asked how we are. I can't suggest it enough-- make 5 salads for your lunches on a Sunday. You will feel good, energetic, cheerful. And you will only get your hands wet and cold once!
Give it a try and keep me posted on how you do. A salad a day is like a good chat with a good friend-- it just feels good.
On to my chopping board, this sunny Sunday afternoon. Happy March!
Salad Girl
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
