Gratitude

This year I tried my first gentle Ayurvedic cleanse. It calls for stewed fruit in the morning with cinnamon and nutmeg. Then kitchari (basmati rice with mung beans and spices) and vegetables for lunch and dinner. Adding some fish or chicken with dinner is suggested. The general idea is that eating simple, cooked foods promotes smooth digestion and allows the body time to heal and detoxify. I loved the sound of this healthy, moderate cleanse.

To say I failed would be both true and false. I failed to stick to the guidelines because they didn't fit my body. I was starving, anxious and constantly preoccupied with food. I'm used to eating small meals and snacks every few hours. To change my diet to 3 meals while simultaneously eliminating coffee and chocolate was just too much for me to take! I was trying and resisting and determined to make this work, but my gurgling stomach, emotional outbursts and uncharacteristic behavior demanded a change.

On day two my boyfriend asked me, "What's your motivation? What are you hoping to get out of this?" I guess some part of me believed that in order to be a healthy and spiritual person, things have to be hard and sacrifice has to be involved. This cleanse taught me that's not the case. My regular eating habits are very healthy and many people in the world would consider me to have "optimal health." I'm living in my ideal weight range, with high energy and good digestion. I do not struggle with illnesses nor body aches. I'm active and able to do the things I want. I had to stop and ask myself, "What more to do you need to finally feel at peace and be happy?" The answer: nothing. I just had to make the conscious choice to feel satisfied and appreciate all of the abundance and goodness already in my life. That's it. This theme keeps popping for me. The more I focus on (and talk about) the positive aspects of my job, health, relationships and life, the more calm and happy I feel. It sounds obvious, but my thoughts and words have a way of running away with me. So today, now, in this moment, I declare a renewed commitment to gratitude. I'm loving and appreciating the many gifts already within me and around me. In the end, this experience turned out to be more of a mind-cleanse than a body-cleanse. And THAT was just what the doctor ordered!

Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor.

I made a big decision this week.  After years of thinking and learning and exploring my options, I enrolled in the Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor program at the Kerala Ayurvedic Academy.  This year-long, 500 hour program will teach me all about Ayurveda, the Science of Life.  Ayurvedic science is aimed at the preservation of health and prevention of disease by establishing balance and harmony through nutrition, herbs, meditation, and daily routines. The course catalog details amazing classes like Nutrition and Cooking, Physiology, Herbology, Yoga Therapy, Prevention Science, Disease Pathology, Ayurvedic bodywork and more.  It's a big commitment of time, money and energy, but when I really think about it, this is how I want to spend my time, energy and money.  This program is not connected to my day job or how I make money, but I know it will add so much value to my life.  I see this program as another way for me to give.  When I learn and get inspired, I can support people on their own paths to healing.  This is what I'm meant to do.  Whether it leads to a career change, side business or simply a passionate personal hobby, I know it will be great.

Immediately after enrolling, the waves of doubt started to creep in.  The financial commitment can be scary.  But like all the other incredible experiences in my life, I just have to dive in and go for it.  There will always be a million reason why NOT to do something.  But I choose to live my life with a yes mentality.  I can make it work.  I know I'm still processing this big change.  I'm using my meditation practice to let it sink in and feel all the awesome emotions that come up.  I love new chances to grow and learn and challenge myself.  So here we go...bring it on!

P.S. If you want to read more about my one-month Ayurveda experiment, scan to December 2010 in my blog archive.

Plum Bistro

Every time I make a declaration or life pledge, the universe sweeps in to test me.  “What are you going to do now?  How are you going to fix this problem?” taunting me while flicking out the power in my entire neighborhood.  My friend was expecting a dinner of saffron and apricot quinoa, cheese with crackers, mint water and a strawberry dessert in an hour at my place.  Hmmmm.

I decided that my food culture needed to hit the road, as in walk up Broadway to Pike and find Plum Bistro, an organic and vegan oasis.  I had been wanting to try Plum for months, but it takes an open-minded foodie friend to dive into organic vegan food with as much enthusiasm as me.  Kristen is that person.  Embracing a raw food diet, CSA produce boxes and homemade coconut ice cream, I knew Kristen would be game.

Immediately I knew I would not be disappointed.  My eyes lingered over the long wood communal table, exposed concrete walls, thick wood beams and pink carnations in small ceramic vases. The tall ceilings and open garage style window created an airy, lofty feel.  This gorgeous environment plus a glass of crisp water (no ice) with lemon, orange and cucumber left me feeling pampered and content within minutes.  The menu detailed grilled seasonal pizzas, traditional raw plates and many dishes with a southern, Cajun or Jamaican influence.  These people share my food culture. 

Happy hour allowed us to try several small plates for affordable prices, another reason to love this place.  We shared everything and started with their famous spicy, chili mac and yease.  I didn’t even get a chance to ask how they made it because I was savoring every creamy bite.  It reminded me of El Gaucho’s burnt mac ‘n cheese with the crunchy top layer.  I loved the spicy kick.

Next we had quinoa nachos.  Eating decadent, rich foods has never felt so good because they were made with whole grains, veggies and sauces made from nuts.  What guilt?  More nachos, please!

Our third dish was a beet and citrus salad.  It was simple and clean.  However, I prefer my beets with a little goat or feta cheese and some greens.  This dish wasn’t my favorite, but I appreciate the creative combination of beets with oranges.

Finally we had the Breaded Portobello Steaks.  This felt like man-food.  The filling and hearty mushrooms had a crunchy and savory outer layer that felt meaty and substantial.  It came with roasted capers, grape sauce, fennel and smashed purple potatoes.  The effect was a colorful and satisfying entrée. 

The entire experience left me feeling satisfied and energized.  Amazing conversation, slow courses, the gentle hum of other patrons at our community table and great service turned my plan B into an A+.   Vegan cheesy, I know ;)

My Food Culture

Inspired by many friends and lunch time conversations, I decided to finally read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.  Like me, Barbara decided to live via experimentation and break out of her food comfort zone.  Her commitment is to eat foods grown locally and seasonally by real people, including her own family on her new farm in Virginia.

I’ve read a few chapters and already experienced some strong personal connections.  On page 17 she writes, “…we’re looking hard for a food culture of our own.  A profit-driven food industry has exploded and nutritionally bankrupted our caloric supply, and we long for a Food Leviticus to save us from the sinful roil of cheap fats and carbs.”  I relate to this perspective because I do feel like I’m yearning for a healthy food culture.  There are so many things I try to avoid (processed foods, fast food, simple sugars, high fructose corn syrup, etc.) that it takes work to cook real food that is wholesome and nutrient-rich.  She adds that fad diets have “helped us form powerfully negative associations with the very act of eating.”  My reaction is to declare my own personal food culture.  This culture I will create at home, offer to friends and family and value as an important part of my life, finances and energy.

Nicole’s Food Culture

● Food and eating are for pleasure, for nourishment and for building community.

● I eat a diet based on fresh and whole foods, mainly fruits and vegetables.

● I eat slowly to savor each bite and stimulate healthy digestion.

● I avoid highly processed foods, high fructose corn syrup and mystery ingredients.

● I use spices and herbs to enhance flavor and promote health.

● I value the time spent eating with family and friends over a beautiful table.

As I continue reading and learning about my country’s food industry and the challenges of farming, I feel my awareness expanding.  I'm looking at food labels, not at calories or carbs, but at ingredient lists and investigating where the product was produced.  I'm initiating conversations with friends and community members about these topics and developing my food culture.  I'm cooking dinner for a friend tonight.  It's the perfect opportunity to share my culture and enjoy it's delicious fruits.

Blog Under Construction

Pardon the dust... I am in the process of restructuring my blog.  The monthly experiments no longer inspire me, so I'm refreshing my focus.  Instead of a disjointed, short-term experiment, I'm now interested in diving deeply into the topics that most intrigue me, namely naturopathic medicine, yoga, meditation, kirtan, cooking and creating a balanced lifestyle.  My job as a teacher provides me enough free time to explore these areas and process my learning through writing.  For that I'm very thankful.

Last Friday I attended a campus tour and presentation at Bastyr University called "the Bastyr Experience."  As I drove through the entrance, surrounded by lush trees and fresh air, I knew I was on to something good.  That day I learned more about the Naturopath program.  They define naturopathic medicine (sometimes called "naturopathy") as a distinct system of primary health care that emphasizes prevention and the self-healing process through the use of natural therapies. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) blend centuries-old knowledge and a philosophy that nature is the most effective healer with current research on health and human systems.

Effectively, I'm considering going to med school.  This possibility is blowing my mind.  The program, campus, doctors, philosophy and career possibilities speak to me.  In order to create a venue for my own learning and growth around this dream, I'm dedicating my blog to my many mini-steps that will lead me down this path.  Join me as I remove my own internal obstacles and doubts to consider this dream as a real possibility for my life.

Book Swap

In my tiny condo, I fight a constant battle against the stuff that threatens to fill up every closet, shelf and counter top.  Donating clothes, books and furniture makes me feel free and light.  Even taking out the garbage is strangely satisfying.  I truly believe we have to clear out the crap from our lives to invite the fresh and new.  So today I walked my butt over to Half Price Books and sold some of the mediocre books that no longer need to live in my bookcase.  They only gave me 75 cents (waahhh wahhh), but that bought me almost an entire book in the clearance section (they sell for a dollar).  This green type of exchange intrigues me.  The cyclical nature of swapping merchandise definitely falls into the category of Finding Free.  Crossroads Trading Company also bought some of my clothes recently, which I transferred into store credit.  How can you not like free shopping?  I'm definitely not missing those clothes.  I can't even remember what they were now.  Obviously not staples in my wardrobe.  Today's mission of Finding Free was 75% successful.

Getting Comfortable with the Space

This whole not-working thing is so foreign to me.  I've been working since I was 15 and have spent all of my summers working, traveling and/or studying.  This entire week I've been fighting the urge to work, setting up meetings and then canceling them, becoming that indecisive girl that drives me crazy.  I love the possibility of learning, meeting new people and of course making money, but I'm resisting schedules, responsibilities and feeling locked-in.  I want to be free and open and spontaneous, but it's such a dramatic contrast from my uber-planned, bell-to-bell packed school year life.  Just last week I was writing report cards, packing boxes, moving classrooms, working with students, hula hooping at Field Day and shaking 81 little hands at 5th Grade Graduation.  The lifestyle shift is undeniable.

I know this has been a transition week and all change takes a while to get used to.  I can't complain without eliciting eye rolls from my friends and even from myself.  I have a newfound respect for people that work from home and the time discipline they must create.  Living in the present moment becomes even more spiritually challenging when you have a lot of free moments.  So now my goal is to maximize rewarding summer experiences, organize my own time, get comfortable with the space and not spend all of my money.  Which brings me to today's Finding Free gift.

I hiked the Discovery Park loop in Magnolia with a girlfriend this morning.  The gorgeous views, hour-long walk and reflective conversation made it a satisfying way to start the day.  Getting outside, even on cloudy days, feels somehow productive and invigorating.  I loved the stairs, views of the Sound, wild flowers and mountain feel within the city.  We're making it a weekly thing.  My heart, body and wallet unanimously agree.  YES!