Reflect, Appreciate, and Prepare

Winter is a most mystical season! Just take a look at the natural world around us. During the frost of winter, plants submerge their essence into their roots, animals thicken their hides, and ponds harden into ice. This is a time of apparent inactivity yet beneath the stillness there is a hubbub of hidden happenings. Gestation and incubation are bubbling away in preparation for the renewal of spring.

What’s happening in nature is echoed in us. Like it is for the plants and animals, winter is a crucial time for humans to slow down, take stock, and accumulate reserves so we can be at our finest when it's time to spring forward. The short days and the long nights afford us time to look deeply into ourselves and reflect on the past year, appreciate our present, and prepare for the coming year.

But alas, the magic of winter is often over-shadowed by the frenzied bustle of the holidays, jam-packed schedules, and the flu; all poised to deplete our energies. So what to do? I would like to offer a short list of four practices I have found to be supportive and restoring.

Thoughtful Activities:

Techniques such as, meditation, prayer, journaling, and counseling can help move awareness of our deeper desires into our conscious mind. These tools have the ability to calm our emotions, relax the mind, and raise our spirit; just the thing for a cold winter’s night.

Phone A Friend:

The winter months can be isolating for many. This is a great time to reach out and reconnect. Write a letter, send a text. Hold a door, share a smile. Ask for help.

Seek Inner Warmth:

Maybe it’s time to reconsider that breakfast smoothie habit (just for the season) and opt for warmer sustenance. When cold weather strikes a chilling blow, warming and concentrated foods such as soups, stews, and porridges should take center stage.

One of my favorite go-to recipes for winter is Commonweal’s Most Nourishing and Healing Tea from Rebecca Katz, a delicious concoction reminiscent of a chai tea. Rebecca affectionately calls it, “… a backrub in a cup” and I agree!  nourishing-and-healing-tea-recipe

 

Express Gratitude:

Be thankful for every day, every moment! Let me start by saying “thank you” to each and every one of you that has read my blog and offered your encouragement. It means more to me than you might ever know. My hope is you will welcome the arrival of winter and rejoice in this beautiful season of reflection, appreciation, and preparation!

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." --Edith Sitwell

The Gift of Pain

I have always wanted to participate in the monthly Linkup Party for People with Chronic Illnesses hosted by A Chronic Voice but never made the effort to do so. But that is about to change, today I was inspired to write so I’m letting the first three prompts (Ranting, Adding, and Spreading) be my guide for my entry in the July-linkup-party 

 

Angry Back

Since taking on the title of Professional Patient, I have become adept at handling most of the medicine balls life has thrown my way. There are times however; my dealings with illnesses, doctors, and insurance companies are enough to tense the devil. That’s when I rage and rant.

My most recent angry outburst was last week when my lower back muscles decided to tighten and spasm. As I lay on the floor, alternating between my heating pad and ice pack, I started to think of all the things I could (should) be doing. Getting down in the dirt and working in my garden was top of the list. Stupid back, why me, why now?!

After a few miserable hours, I evaluated my state of affairs and reluctantly employed one of my distress tolerance tools –Radical Acceptance. “I am in pain but it’s not the worst pain I’ve ever had. While I’m stuck indoors, what can I do that will distract me from the pain but not make it worse?” I decided my house arrest would be best served tackling a long overdue project, cleaning out the forest of papers and binders left over from my master’s degree program.

Subtract to Add

As I was trashing my grad school masterpieces, I came to a realization. I feel cluttered; mentally and physically. As I started thinking about my plans to purchase more baskets and containers for my stuff, I had a crazy idea: What if I just got rid of the stuff? Drastic, I know.

Keeping the clean sweep going, I purged a closet of some old clothes and accessories. I did some social media housekeeping as well. I unfollowed some pages, unsubscribed from emails, and deleted some apps from my phone. Removing some of the burdensome things from my life afforded me the opportunity to add what I truly wanted: room to move, room to breathe!

Spreading My Wings (and Flying out of My Comfort Zone)

A few days later, one of my neighbors was out for a walk. She saw me on my porch and stopped for a chat. She asked if I had been to the gym lately. I admitted I had not so she suggested I attend the 10:30 yoga class with her. Yikes!

I haven’t felt like going to the gym for a couple months now. I struggled establishing a routine, treadmills can be a bore, and I’ve never been a huge fan of group fitness either. I’ve questioned what possessed me to join a gym in the first place and have considered cancelling my membership. I have used my anti-gym mentality to convince myself that yard work and housework were plenty enough exercise. But now my spazzy back had nixed the yard work, what was I going to do?! I can’t spend the rest of my days lying on the floor… or could I?

As I was formulating a way to politely decline, she offered to pick me up. Well, who could say no to that?

While she drove, our banter was light and I enjoyed listening to her tell me about the other fitness classes she has taken. Once there, she introduced me to some of the other regulars, making me feel welcome and less anxious.

The instructor led us through a series of restorative poses that were energizing, relaxing, as well as soothing to my lower back (surprise, surprise!) As the class was winding down and I laid on my mat, spread out in Savasana, a feeling of gratitude washed over me. Gratitude for my blessed and privileged life (yes, that includes my spazzy back), and for a thoughtful and tenacious friend, who came along at the right time and helped me remember the importance of taking time to care for myself.

Sense of Purpose

Even though I no longer have a paying job, I still work. Managing and coordinating my household, health, and medical benefits keep me plenty busy. And while what I do is vital to my and my family’s existence, the sense of purpose and belonging I used to feel while being gainfully employed isn’t always apparent.

Pink Angelic Eggs

 I have been a DTR (Dietetic Technician, Registered) for years (decades), and have worked hard to maintain my certification. I’ll never give it up. I’ve also retained my membership to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). One of the perks of membership is a subscription to Food & Nutrition Magazine. It’s full of gorgeous photos, informative articles, and mouth-watering recipes.

 

Butternut Squash Arugula Pita Pizza

A little over a year ago, they added an inter-active Test Kitchen segment “where readers are invited to a collective cook-off for a chance to be featured in the magazine and win cool prizes!” A highlighted recipe is offered up as inspiration, members are asked to prepare the dish and provide feedback. Sharing on social media with the hashtag #FNTestKitchen is encouraged but not required.

 

Simple Moroccan-Spiced Lamb

I absolutely love entering! After submitting my entry for this month’s issue, I thought intensely about what I love the most. I realized the Test Kitchen means more to me than just a chance to try something new. Participating provides a sense of belonging, community, and purpose! My revelation inspired me to write a letter to the editor thanking them.

Barilla Ready Pasta with Shrimp & Green Beans

Letter to The Editor

Hello,

I love to cook and try new recipes and have found partaking in the test kitchen contests to be a true gift. I deal with multiple chronic illnesses and a few years ago I made the difficult decision to stop working (though I will never give up my DTR credential.) Participation provides me with a sense of purpose, one that transcends my everyday responsibilities.

The contest acts as a distraction that provides a respite. Time that might have been spent ruminating on the limitations of my health, I spend on my entry.

I find myself pleasantly consumed by the details of the process: reading and comprehending the recipe, making a shopping list, procuring the ingredients, cooking, styling my finished product for photos, and then sharing my handiwork via social media. Of course I share the real deal with my family!

Thank you for providing me an opportunity to feel like I still have a place in the nutrition community.

Sincerely,

Kelly A Rulle, MS, DTR

They Wrote Back!

Hi Kelly,

We don’t always respond to letters to the editor, but we want to let you know that OF COURSE you have a place in the nutrition community – and you always have a seat at our F&N family table!

Best,

F&N editors

Roasted Walnut and Cauliflower “Meat”