I was raised by a sassy mom and a sedate dad. As a child, I behaved more like my father, but now, as a mother of five, I behave much like my snarky mom. My grandmother exposed me to British comedies...nice and dry. I adore sarcasm. More than one past relationship disintegrated due to my partner's lack of ability to handle constant sarcasm and cynicism. Unfortunately, I am getting flooded by negativity as an adult and "sarcasm" is not the life raft I expected. My attitude MUST change!
I read a great article by Mary Vance. The article has 5 steps toward having a happier outlook. Although these methods are nothing new, it is always good to be reminded about how your attitude can damage (or strengthen) your wellness. I regularly perform the first suggestion in the article - the gratitude list. I write down three things that I am thankful for.
Today I am thankful for:
- My great-aunt who is in town to help my grandmother after surgery!
- My backyard which is fenced in and large enough for an above ground pool, BIG garden, shed, trees and play space for 5 kids and 2 dogs.
- My seed collection - The last time I planned a garden curriculum for my students, they were in first grade and totally uninterested. Now they are in fourth grade and ready to handle more gardening responsibility on their own. I'll be planning a spring curriculum around the garden again!
I am thankful for much, much more. People don't usually realize how much they have to be thankful for. You can go basic...air, water, shelter. You can go specific...my recliner, The Biggest Loser, tortillas. The point is, look at all these things you have to be happy about...cheer up! Look at what you've got, not what you don't have!
Sustaining and foraging.
Growing up, I spent four years living in Central Florida in a yard landscaped with exotic plants; supposedly, the previous owners landscaped for Disneyworld. Looking back, we could have eaten much more from our yard - our internet connection was fairly slow in 1990...we couldn't just Google "edible plants". We ate the young bamboo shoots. We ate the ripe loquats from the tree in the backyard. At one point we even tore apart a fruit from one of our palm trees (Queen Palm perhaps) to get to the seed just to smash it open and eat the edible nut inside.
Now, in my own yard, I eat the hibiscus blooms and leaves. We have a small herb garden on the back porch with rosemary, basil, mint and cilantro. Strawberries come back every year. We grow gardens in the summer. And every other year, our two pecan trees provide a harvest, if you can compete with the critters. Next spring I hope to use our copious amounts of wild onion in place of chives (one less thing to grow). And I look forward to dandelion greens next year - must continue research on dandelion's detoxifying effects on the liver.
My father has a spectacular garden every year. He's been growing these amazing, long "Chinese Beans" since I was in elementary school. Squash, tomatoes, cucumbers (he's been pickling!). His jalapeno peppers are an amazing gift each summer. He can be so generous! I remember, just a few years ago, watching him snack on pine nuts from his yard. I'm glad those tall, scary pine trees have something to offer. There is yucca and wild passion fruit in their yard, which they are less exited about than I am. I'll try anything.
After writing out last Wednesday's Pat on the Back post, I started brainstorming other things I should be grateful for. Progress is progress. Success is success. I'd like to keep this up. This week I'm happy about two food groups that I enjoy eating.
Whole Grains. I LOVE whole grains! I prefer brown rice to white rice. I wish I could afford more wild rice...really adore that stuff! I enjoy whole wheat noodles and bread. Ezekiel bread with the sprouted grains - I love that too! It makes no sense to refine a grain. None.
Veggies. I am not a picky eater. I enjoy those odd veggies people have horror stories about. I enjoy Brussels sprouts, Lima beans, and okra in any form. In fact, since my last pregnancy I eat all the "A's" that I once could not fathom eating with joy. That's right. Artichoke, avocado, and asparagus are now welcome on my menu. I've been known to turn up my nose at cooked greens (mustard, collard and turnip), but I can eat ANY greens raw and still savor them.
