Contentment

Recently, two dear people from my childhood passed away. They were the parents of my best friend from elementary school. They died just a couple of weeks from each other. I probably spent as much time at their house as a little girl as I did my own. My friend's parents were very geniunly dear people. I can't remember them ever being angry. They weren't over-the-top bubbly, but they were always pleasant. She had a crippling disease ever since she was a girl and I never once heard her complain. They lived in a modest house and I can't recall them taking expensive trips or vacations. She never wore fancy jewelry. She didn't even own a car. Their children went to public school. They bought a second hand bedroom set from my mom over 30 years ago that they kept until they died.

They could have afforded fancier things, or a bigger house. They could have afforded cruises. I'm fairly certain he would have happily bought her diamonds and bling had she wanted them. But they didn't do any of those things, and they were content. Happy.

As they have been in my thoughts so heavily this week, I thought about their lives and what an incredible lesson we all can learn from them. Often we spend our time and our lives chasing something else... more money, a bigger house, a newer car, a better job, more this, more that.....more, more, more. How often do we bother to look around our lives with appreciation with what we have? When do we allow ourselves to be content?

These two people who lived their modest life by choice had figured out something that many of us miss. By simple appreciation, they found happiness and contentment. They spent their energy loving each other instead of chasing the "more". They found a contentment and peace within their lives that many people yearn for. The irony is that most of us can have that peace if we would simply stop chasing the next bigger, better thing. We could be content, and content by choice, such as they were.

Fresh Fish Tips

Choosing fresh fish makes a huge difference in outcome, so here are some tips to make it easier:

Select fish that has a mild smell, not a strong fishy odor.

Cut fish should be moist with no dryness around the edges.

Fish fillets should be firm.

Frozen fish should have no sign of ice, blood, or dry patches.

Cook fish the same day you buy it, or by day 2 as long as it’s stored in the coldest part of your fridge. Otherwise, freeze it, as long as it wasn’t already frozen before.

Use frozen fish within 3 months.

Defrost fish in your fridge, not at room temperature.

Pin bones are often found in “boneless” cut fish. Feel for them before cooking and remove them with sterilized tweezers.

If buying a whole fish (head & all), look at the eyes. If they are dried out or sunken....fish around for a fresher fish.

Planet Fruitcake

I love creating new recipes and sometimes my ideas turn out better than other times. Earlier in the season I thought it would be a great idea to combine two of my favorites...cheesecake and fruitcake. A fruitcake cheesecake!

I set about making my creation and all things considered, it turned out perfectly. The cheesecake baked beautifully. The candied fruit was minced to perfection. Every bite had just enough candied fruit mixture as to be distinct but not overwhelming. Ta da!

It was beautiful too! It looked like Christmas. Quite lovely.

I sliced it up and served my children who gobbled it right up. Of course, most things containing sugar will be gobbled up by kids, so I suppose they are not the best to judge.

Then I served the cheesy beauty to my husband, who took about 3 bites before he asked, "Is there orange rind in here?" "Yes, I said. I used candied fruitcake fruits to make a fruitcake cheesecake." He just kind of looked at me weird, but kept eating... although considerably slower. He asked me not to ruin his holiday cheer with any more fruitcakedness (or something like that) and that anyone who thought it was a good idea to combine a cheesecake with fruitcake must be from the planet Fruitcake. It totally made me laugh.

The truth is that hardly anyone likes fruitcake. It's not because fruitcake has the reputation of being dry. Honestly, it's usually very moist. Dense, but moist. Fruitcake has been the butt of jokes for years as the gift nobody wants. I suppose the characteristic candied fruits that give it it's distinct flavors are really to blame. I suppose it's a taste appreciated by a select few. Kind of like liverwurst or sardines.

So as I meandered back into the kitchen to cut myself another slice I thought about what I should do with the remaining fruitcake fruit. I was planning on putting it in cookies and even quite possibly a (dare I say it) fruitcake. Should I throw them away? Then it occurred to me that only people from the planet Fruitcake would really appreciate these particular goodies, but the people who loved fruitcake (however few of us there are) would also love my fruitcake cheesecake, and other fruitcake concoctions that the week had yet to bring. Then it dawned on me! Ahhhh! More for me and and the other Fruitopians! If you can't stand the fruitcake, get off of my planet! ;)

Face Lift!

I'm driving my kids home from school, and my 9 year old daughter tells me that she is going to look young forever because when she's 30..... "FACIAL LIFT" (she sings)!

I say, "Face lift? When you are 30?"

"Yes," she says, "When I am 30."

"Wow," I say, "That seems kind of early. I guess I'm past due." (I happen to be 43 years old)

"No, it's not too late for you mommy," she says. "You just better hurry up!"

The Body Talks

I don't know everything, but one of the things that I do know for sure is that our bodies speak to us. Sometimes in a whisper. Sometimes in a scream. Often though, we tend to only listen to the screams, when indeed it may be the whispers that are the most important.

For decades I had exceptional strength and fitness in my body. I had been teaching challenging fitness classes for 6-15 hours a week for years, respectfully listening to my body and exercising with utmost safety. And for years my body paid me back, keeping me strong, young, and able.

Then a few years ago I encountered a situation that altered my lifestyle. No longer was I tecahing like I had been for decades. Suddenly my town, my environment, my schedule, my job, my home life changed. My body questioned me. I hushed it and told it that things had changed, I was busy and I would get around to taking care of it later. I did too. But admittedly, not in the manner in which it was accustomed to. My 90 minutes or more nearly every day, became 20-30 minutes every other day.... then 3 times a week.... 2 times....sometimes.

My body began asking me why I was ignoring it. I told it I still cared, and I would try harder. And I did. I started exercising more, sometimes strenuously, like I used to... and it felt good. I cheered when my muscles burned, and they did too. I smiled when I knew I had ran multiple miles at a time. I could feel my inner strength, and my body responded back, telling me that it liked it.

But then I would behave peculiarly. I would lose interest and stop for a week at a time, sometimes more. Again, my body questioned me, and whispered that it needed me. I started to ignore the whispers.

I didn't just stop being active. I just slowed down. I knew I'd probably lose some muscle mass... sure, but I figured I could live with that. I'd be ok.

I'd still occasionally hear the whispers. And the words began to change. Instead of "Move me", I started hearing "I hurt", "I'm getting weaker", "I'm not ok". I hushed the whispers, until I heard the scream,"I'M BROKEN NOW! I DON'T WORK RIGHT!"

My once healthy, strong body body now had RA, an auto-immune disorder where my body attacks it's own joints. My body hurt, it creaked, it cracked with every movement. Now even daily movements wre becoming a problem, much less exercise. I couldn't even imagine doing those "hardcore" workouts of my past. I was mad that my body had failed me & dared to scream at me. I yelled back, "Why did you do this?!?!" My body whispered back, "Why did you stop listening?" I instantly knew I had been wrong in being angry at my body, for I had been the one showing neglect. How could I expect my body to perform so flawlessly, if indeed, I had quit treating it so well. My body was speaking to me the whole time, while I was shushing it....."Shhhh, I'm busy now....Shhhh, I'm not in the mood.....Shhhh, the situation it different now.....Shhh, shhhh, shhhh." Until finally, my body's scream got my attention.

So many of us pay attention to our bodies only after they scream to us that something is wrong. While the whole time, our bodies are constantly in in concert with what we should be doing.

I decided that being angry or feeling sorry for myself wouldn't help one bit. Instead I began to speak to my body again, thanking it for all it had done and continues to do for me. Undoubtedly, exercise is more of a challenge now. My mind may be in the mood to exercise, but it may happen to be on a day when my joints are snapping with every move, and I can't follow through with my intended workout without the risk of hurting my body. Now, each time I get ready to workout, I listen intently for the whispers, for my body & I must now agree to when and how movement is best... and we get along fine. I'm getting stronger all of the time. I'm not sure I'll get back to the fitness level I had before, but I'm not ruling it out either. My body & I are communicating about that on a day-by-day basis, and we are back to good terms. Everyday, I take care of it, and everyday it takes care of me. I listen to my body's whispers, and my body listens to my inner whispers as well. I am what I think I am, and my body believes that too. Therefore, I strive to think with gratitude, with strength, and with confidence.

Food and Family

You know, there's something special about preparing food for the people that you love. We had had family from out of town visiting, and when I initially learned of their arrival I immediately started planning menus for their stay. Not because our visiting was going to be about food and eating, but because it was important to me to express that I was thinking about them and I wanted to be able to show that I care about them.

Over time, it has become more noticeable to me just why I cook, and why I take the extra steps to feed those who sit at my table in a healthy way. It's because I care. It's because I love them. Otherwise I would let dinner be a free-for-all! Not making dinner for them would express that I didn't care, or at best, that I was indifferent.

Dinner's not about being a fancy cook, or even a good cook. It's not about indulgences either. The most humblest of meals can feel like a hug to the human soul when prepared with the intention of love, and create the far bigger impact than a fancy smancy 5 course chef prepared meal any day of the week!

When I cook, I am thinking about those who will eat it the whole time. I want my food to be good because I want to make them happy. I want my food to be good for them because I care about their health.

Cooking isn't really a chore then. It's an opportunity to express care. It's a chance to say "I love you" without saying a word. It's a physical expression.

Does that means all of the meals I prepare always get standing ovations and the people that I serve always tell me how wonderful a thing I did for them? Nope. Occasionally I may even get more of a critique than I care for, I mean, let's face it... not everything we cook is going to be a home run! Or perhaps they are just busy and wolf down their food without of a thanks! Sometimes. But even that doesn't change my intent. I prepared it with love so that intention stays out there in the universe, no matter what.

Not long ago, I was visiting my 20 year old son, and he was talking to his older sisters. I heard him say to them that one of the things he missed about being at home was how "mom would cook for us". He said that it just "felt good".
He expressed it as a feeling. And knowing that he got my message felt very good in my heart, indeed.

Toning Shoes

Ever wonder if those ugly, rounded sole toning shoes actually work? I mean, the girl advertsising them on TV has a great pair of legs and a nice rear too. Must be the shoes, right?

Chances are it's more likely her genetics, how she eats, and how she exercises than what shoes she wears. There may be some very minor benefits for some though because it may cause the body to have to balance differently, thus potentially causing muscles to contract differently than normal, which may potentially cause a slight toning effect. Then again, if if have foot, back, knee, or balance issues this could cause you some actual harm. Hmmmmm.

Now, some shoes are heavier than others which may cause some muscle fatugue (eventually anyway), but I supposed wearing one pound ankle weights would achieve the same thing for about $90 less, if that's what you were after.

Personally, I think you're better off spending the $100 (the average cost for these shoes) on a set of weights, a personal trainer, a jump rope, a hula hoop, a meal plan, a workout DVD, and a pedometer, all of which you can probably experience with better results for the same price.