Last night was fun. Mitch and I sat in the driveway, the guy from Scream and some crazy gypsy fortune teller handing out candy to neighborhood trick-or-treaters. Clearly Halloween has evolved since we were young and even since our kids were young, but it’s still a great holiday and I will always make efforts to celebrate it! After all, how many holidays do we really have that don’t involve either sacrifice, gift giving, or too much cooking?
In the end, however, way too much candy was left over and now I must deal with that, especially since I try hard to practice what I preach. So sure, I did indulge last night. I worked hard at comparing which I liked better, the 3 Musketeers or the Twix bars, even though I already knew not much can beat a fluffy Musketeer. Of course I didn’t want to leave out Hershey’s bars just because they were too plain, licorice sticks because they were too ordinary or gummies because they were too round. Fair treatment for all, that’s my motto.
Today, however, is a new day, new month and even a clock change. My very good friend, the sun, woke up earlier today, and I am glad to greet her. I find great peace in waking up before her and then watching the world unfold as she rises. Hearing the early morning birds singing as I drink my first glass of water, while the smell of fresh brewing coffee (decaf for me) fills my home. With Mitch and Blaze (my big red dog) still sleeping, Roxy (my grandkitty) and I have already been through our morning routine which involves a lot of belly rubbing and purring and now she is out on the patio ready to start her day of lizard stalking and napping. Now with my first cup of coffee in hand, I am ready to sit at the computer and see what has happened in the world while I slept. This morning routine is one I am happy to open my eyes to every day and is a ritual that brings me great peace and comfort. Soon Mitch and Blaze will awaken and after Blaze’s breakfast we will all go for our Sunday morning family walk, which is special to all of us.
Then, off to the Parkland farmer’s market. It’s the first one of the season and we are excited to bring home freshly made guacomole and hydroponically grown salad greens. Today I will drink lots of water and eat healthy veggies that will nourish my body and soul. Sunday nights I have been making huge trays of grilled veggies on the barbeque. Asparagus, zucchini, squash, corn on the cob,carrots, mushrooms and onions, just to name a few, sprinkled with olive oil and some spices, grilled for just about `15-20 minutes on a medium flame, makes an absolutely delicious main course for me. Seriously the corn and the asparagus are addictive! Mitch and Kyle when he is home, enjoy this as a side dish and everyone is happy. Just a wild guess, but I bet if kids tried these , instead of the ones in a can or from the freezer, they would learn to love their veggies instead of resisting them.
The rest of Sundays are always spent doing the things we may not have time for during the work week. Sitting on the patio with a word puzzle, watching a football game, visiting friends or napping, we try hard to keep Sundays underscheduled. It’s become key to feeling rejuvinated and ready to kick butt come Monday morning.
Just as we make our own drama, so do we create our own peace. I encourage you to create rituals in your life that bring you peace, reduce stress and quiet the static in your head. A little bit of peace goes a long way. Namaste