I'm Awesome She Replied
Hope you're having a great summer!
It's been a couple months since my last post. If you remember, that one was about pursuing happiness.
I've been working hard on happiness. Listening to my heart, doing what makes my heart leap for joy, having no regrets - no matter how scary. Starting my healthy food delivery business, The Bread & Buddha Kitchen, has been a heart-driven, happiness mission. Sometimes, though, feeling overwhelmed can get the best of me, and I'll think about throwing in the dish towel.
Luckily, a timely summer trip to Tucson with my mom and sister helped me simmer down. On the second morning of the trip, my sister and I were the first to arrive at breakfast. It was 6:30am, humid and cloudy. Monsoon season, who knew. Filling our water, our server asked how we were. We replied with a groggy "good" and returned the question. "I'm awesome," she replied. "The clouds. The rain. I just love this weather. I can walk my dog without booties, curl up under a blanket with a cup of tea. It just makes me so happy."
I can appreciate a good rainy day, too, but coming from Chicago happy heal kicks for clouds was a first. Even though yoga teaches me to shift perspectives, I wondered how many other things I could really see differently. So I signed up for a class on positivity and learn three new things.
We are all wired to be negative. It's a basic survival instinct that allows us to assess a situation, figure out what's wrong and fix it for comfort and safety.
Thinking positively is not natural. It's learned. We need to pave the path to positivity through practice and train our brains to see the good.
Gratitude is good, but recognizing what went well in our day can be better. Doing more of what goes well creates lightness and joy.
I've been paving new positive pathways for weeks now and I'm feeling, well, pretty positive. This isn't a rose-colored, polly-anna moment either. Rather, there's a new excitement to my days as I get to focus on the things that are going well. I feel less daunted by the mountains, because while they are still steep, I feel buoyed by "well"ness.
One thing I want to do more is write. My plan is to reach you once a month with helpful information to make being well simpler. As always, I'll keep you updated on any offerings in hopes that we can truly connect. Here's one coming up...
September 15, 10:30 - 1:30pm, $100
A mini wellness retreat at Elawa Farm in Lake Forest with me and Chef Gale Gand.
Click around for a new hearty summer salad recipe plus learn how to make an addicting breakfast. I also tried to make avocado ice cream for you, but decided it's best to leave Ben and Jerry alone. Use coupon code: WOOTWOO to save $10 this month when you order from The Bread & Buddha Kitchen.
As always, I'll leave you with...
My favorite day of summer so far, aside from visiting my boys at camp and exploring this cool place.
My new favorite oil and it's not for food.
With gratitude and heartfelt intention...
Pam
