Nourishing Nostalgia

Jeanna GLeave a comment

Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?

Ahhh, food. One of my favorite topics. I live to eat and I eat to live. Comfort food, health food, leftovers, gourmet menus, international cuisine, a la carte and fixed price…I love it all.

And when did this love of food begin? My birthday. It was the one day each year when I could decide what the family would eat for dinner. And what did I choose? Lasagne and cheesecake. Every year.

So many more foods are a recipe for nostalgia. My Grandma Fyfe’s chocolate chip cookies in a coffee tin make me feel as though nothing could be wrong with the world, just like they did back then. Ice cream sundaes channel tv time with my dad. Eggplant Parms remind me of my hardworking mom, because that’s what my dad and I shared when we visited the restaurant during her shift. Macintosh apples and cheddar slices were shared after we picked a bushel in the fall. Chinese and champagne ring in the New Year. NY Deli bagels and chicken cutlet sandwiches are enough to persuade me to move back north. Late night microwaveable mac and cheese was always shared with my sister after a night on the town. Now she makes homemade, but she and I will always remember our roots. Shrimp cocktail, olives, and ham crisps usher in every holiday gathering. Peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter and fluff, peanut butter and pickles… all labeled with my initials on a piece of masking tape that I’d shove in my backpack on the way to catch the school bus. My Uncle’s pea pancake surprises, my Aunt’s fruit Jell-O “delight,” my friend’s mom’s peanut butter fudge…

Well, I think it’s safe to say that if I ever run out of ideas for my blog about childhood, I’ve found my next theme!

Worth the Practice

Jeanna GLeave a comment

How important is spirituality in your life?

Spirituality plays a large role in my daily living and thinking. I don’t pencil “Practice Spirituality” onto my to-do list because it has become a natural part of who I am. Yes, I am a Christian, and I pray daily and go to church regularly. However, this is not all of what spirituality means to me.

I believe spirituality has to do with why I live my life the way I do. What do I think my purpose is, and how do I live to achieve it? In the search for the meaning of life, what choices am I making that are guiding me to the answer I hope to find?

Spiritual wellness also means feeling joy. What do I do to feel alive deep in my soul? I listen to music that gives me chills. I spend time in community to share in the joy of others. I watch sports because I love to cheer and celebrate the accomplishments of those who have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into achieving a goal. I read books and view works of art so that I can gain new perspectives and learn to appreciate new things. And I spend time with my pets because they remind me that happiness can be as easy as a back scratch, a treat, and a nap.

Now if only I could practice meditation without grocery list distraction!

Give Yourself a Timeout

Jeanna GLeave a comment

When we were kids and did something wrong, we’d get a timeout. “Go sit over there and think about what you did wrong. You can come back when you know how to act right.” Oftentimes I am so busy taking care of other things and people that I forget to take care of myself. Sure I eat and shower and whatnot, but am I also nurturing my social, spiritual, and emotional wellness? Am I taking the time to remember who I am and to honor myself by doing what I truly enjoy?

As a kid, I loved being outside. There was so much to take in, so much to feel and wonder about. My daughter and I went on vacation to a lake house with our friends this past weekend. Together we floated in the lake, warmed by the sun and cooled by the water, talking and laughing, rolling over the wake sent our way by the passing boats. The sky stirred our imaginations as we watched the clouds morph into different shapes, wondered about the low-flying helicopters, pretended to be birdwatchers who knew the difference between an egret and a heron, oohed over the distant fireworks, and were mesmerized by the full moon rising and the way its reflection reached across the water to touch us. We breathed the fresh air and felt a close affinity for the world around us. I played, it made me happy, and now I feel recharged and ready for whatever’s next.

Do you forget who you are sometimes, too? It’s time to be your own wellness coach, so blow the whistle and give yourself a timeout! What do you miss doing? Think about it and then go act right!