New Year and New Begining

 Here it is, a new year. New months, new years or new moons are considered markers of time. They mark a beginning point and  inspire us to introduce change. One of the most popular focuses for change is in the lifestyles that lead to changes in health. Frustrating limits lead many people to consider committing to a detox program. These programs can offer greater mobility or help shed a few extra pounds. Excess weight, low vitality and joint pain are often the result of a sluggish system. However, this commitment can seem rather like the squirrel caught in a trap. It would rather chew off its leg than be restricted. Rather than opening the door to frustration (which may lead to defeat) consider giving yourself with a trimmer, healthier new you through a detoxing cleanse.

The main difference in a cleanse and a diet is that you don’t have to starve to cleanse. Adding nutrient dense foods, coupled with removing the most common dietary toxins, such as sugar, soft drinks, yeast, corn and excess animal protein will bring about a natural cleansing and building of your body systems. Eating fiber-rich vegetables improves bowel function, and drinking plenty of water  allows toxins to be flushed from the body. It only stands to reason that offering your body the cleanest and highest nutrition will lay a foundation for homeostasis…perfect balance. A body in perfect balance finds its perfect form. 

Feast, don’t fast, with naturally detoxifying foods. Try including plenty of naturally detoxifying foods, like cabbage, leafy green vegetables, curry, bitter greens, garlic, parsley, lemon, ginger, celery, green tea, cayenne pepper, grapefruit, and sea vegetables.  I include Honduran Chimol as a relish or side to slaws, beans and other foods. As a side to meals, chimol guarantees fiber, balances pH and supplies the 5 colored vegetables suggested by nutritionist. I’ve given you the recipe below. You can also find more about detoxing by reading my January 10, 2013 entry titled Detoxing is Releasing. I welcome your comments.  Here’s to a healthy you in the new year.

Honduran Style Chimol (or chismol) is a condiment usually served with grilled meats, but also goes well with other dishes including beans and rice.  My favorite is to put it on top of coleslaw. Alone, it could be used for a delicious salsa.The raw mix of five colors along with the addition of lemon or lime juice and apple cider vinegar makes this dish a fountain of health in my estimation.

Ingredients

1 medium red or white onion

2 Roma tomatoes

2 medium bell pepper halves (ideally 1yellow, 1 orange)

3 Stalks of celery

sprigs of cilantro (or culantro) to taste

Juice of 2 lemons or limes

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

Salt or garlic salt to taste

(additional vegetable options include carrot, green pepper, or green beans)

Directions

1. Finely chop all vegetables and cilantro.
2. Mix together in large bowl.
3. Add lemon juice, vinegar, optional salt, and mix until all vegetables have been coated. The more you stir the more liquid created.
4. Cover and refrigerate. Best when chilled 4 hours or more.

Makes approximately 2½  cups.   Keeps well for about a week.

My Gift to the World

Every one of us has a dark and a light side. This fact is a basic principle of nature: all creation comes from darkness. No matter how good we try to appear the element of darkness, our shadow side, exists. Trying to hide the fact only causes it to build and erupt when under pressure. Peace and happiness prevail from accepting this Universal Principle and learning to balance these two aspects of our character.

A new venture or experience demands present moment attention. A bit like sailing uncharted waters, awareness becomes essential because you really don’t know what to expect. This state of NOW creates a level of awareness that allows an interesting study of the many facets of  your personal make-up. This is a lesson that was strongly impressed upon me when I began the bead necklace project that led to writing The Threaded Gem Adventure.

From sending the first invitations, to waiting for responses and on to the stranding and tying of each bead, I felt like an impartial witness to my moments of nervousness, anxiety, frustration and aggravation. Rejection issues, guised as the fear of not enough people responding, raised their distorted faces.  There was also resentment as I struggled to make beautiful charms fit a design intended for beads. I found myself being amazed that these negatives were appearing, threatening to contaminate a project of love and connection.

The issue of rejection was one I had worked on years earlier. As the question of why it was entering this project traveled through my mind, the answer followed. The conditioning of a lifetime cannot simply be erased. Pains of the past mark the soul like a hardened edge scratches fine metal. The mark can be polished until it is almost invisible but a shadow will always be there. When conditions are right the scar will be visible. Recognizing that it is only a scar is the new important and higher lesson here. It is a lesson that brings freedom and satisfaction.

Recognizing my feeling of resentment was the greatest ‘ah-ha’ moment. I had looked forward to the time of connecting all these special tokens yet I found myself frustrated. The resistance of the silk thread in sliding across the table, making charms balance in a relationship with beads, and in bringing continuity with the mix of large holes and small left me gritting my teeth. Stepping away from the emotion, the lesson of learning acceptance became recognizable. The beads were as unique as their givers. However, finding the answer for my aggravation took more time.

Doing what I can to bring healing and balance to the planet is the gift I want to give my grandchildren and others. But a person cannot give what they do not have. In learning to love and balance my shadows and light, the effect is the same as a tuning fork surrounded by glasses of water.  The greatest gift I can give the world is to be a balanced happy person.