Holistic Holiday - How To "Get Slow"

You rush through the holidays, running here and there, and end up exhausted. Somehow these days full of duties, obligations and busyness have begun to build up and become expected in out lives. You spend your time doing things you don't really want to do, yet feel you should. You've come to believe that being productive and crossing things off your to-do list is the ultimate goal - including helping everyone else with their holiday tasks, which doesn't allow you much time to breathe.

The truth is, life on this Earth is a brief gift, and your time is too precious to be used like this. If you want your holiday season to be balanced and healthy, you need to lessen your load and increase your down time. This means planning less in a day, prioritizing those things that make your heart sing and de-prioirtizing those things that are not imperative.

If you must accomplish many things each remaining day of this year, you can still change the quality with which you do things. Where can you find ease in the midst of stress? How can you cultivate the art of going slowly?

Take a few moments before you climb out of bed in the morning to remember your dreams and to think about what you want from the upcoming holiday weeks. Leave your watch on the bedside table. Take the scenic route to do your shopping. Sit for a moment with your eyes closed and listen to some instrumental holiday music - without all of the commercials. Don't pack your party schedule so tightly that there is no time for a short walk. Light candles before you start to cook dinner with your family and friends. As you unpack the ornaments that your family has created over time, take a few minutes to reflect on all that has happened since then and how much they have grown.

Add one moment here and there for slowness; it can be done simply and will have a profound effect on your well-being. Enjoy the journey of the 2009 season.

How can I help you live better for life? livebetter4life.com

A Tasty and Easy Soup for Cold and Flu Prevention!!!

This recipe comes from a fellow Institute of Integrative Nutrition graduate who focuses on the Macrobiotic way of cooking. This soup is a home remedy that works wonders when you are under the weather. It helps with colds and flu, as well as with overindulgence in food and drink. The cayenne, garlic and ginger work synergistically to stimulate circulation and mild sweating, and are helpful at moving fevers out of the body.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ quarts vegetable stock
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger root, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon (about 3 cloves) garlic, finely chopped
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon tamari, or to taste
• 2 cups kale leaves, chopped
• ½ block tofu, about 8 ounces, cut in 1/2 –inch cubes (optional)
• 1 tablespoon scallions, chopped fine

Preparation:

Heat vegetable stock with ginger, garlic and cayenne. Simmer 15 minutes over low flame.

Increase heat to medium, add tamari and kale and cook 5 minutes.

Add tofu, heat through, ladle into bowls and top with scallions.

Serves 4

Copyright 2006 by Jen Hoy

www.about.macrobiotic.com