Lately, I’ve been thinking about nourishment. I’m trying to intentionally nourish myself in all aspects of my life: spiritually, physically, nutritionally and mentally. You see, I have a tendency to commit myself to too many things and an inability to sit still. Honestly, I feel guilty taking time for myself. It’s hard for me to understand how someone can sit and read a book or watch a TV show when there are dishes to be done and rugs to be vacuumed.
But, for my sanity and overall happiness (not to mention the happiness of my boyfriend and kittens!) I’ve been trying to slowwwww down and give myself permission to do things that I enjoy — even if that means my “responsibilities” have to wait a little longer.
So, in the spirit of nourishment, here are some things I’ve been into lately:
- Yoga. I’ve been doing yoga more than ever, and I’ve really grown to love it. It makes me feel fit and graceful, balanced and calm. I feel leaner and clearer and spiritually connected. Plus, I’ve gotten quite good at a few balancing poses — and even the dreaded Pigeon (thought I still don’t understand how anyone can actually get into Bird of Paradise.)
- Juicing. My parents gave me a juicer for Christmas, and I love it! You guys, so many things can be juiced, and they’re all so delicious! Kale! Grapefruit! Carrots! Fresh, spicy ginger! I’ve gotten into a routine of making juice at night so I can grab it to drink at work in the morning. Even Bryan’s started to become a fan! The funny thing is, adding more fruits and vegetables into my diet is actually making me crave more fruits and vegetables. And lucky for me, there are a plethora of fruits and vegetables that pair very well with the food group I love the most: cheese.
- Homemade salad dressing. Ok, this is pretty straightforward. But I’ve made some tasty, healthy salad dressings in the past couple of weeks that were shockingly easy. And they totally make eating salads way more fun! I’ve also been getting creative with salads. So long, boring iceberg lettuce and bag of romaine hearts. Hello, colorful array of roasted veggies, pear and gorgonzola with balsamic drizzle, and shaved brussels sprouts with parmesan and dried cranberries! Yummo!
- Meditation. So, this is a newer practice for me, but I’m liking it so far. It’s provided a fresh way for me to spend some quiet time with God. It also calms my usually-anxious mind and allows me to center my mind. I mean, it’s literally just sitting still and breathing. Anyone can do that!
- Essential Oils. I bought a starter kit of Young Living essential oils in hopes of striking a homeopathic goldmine. Did you know you can use oils to eliminate headaches, calm anxiety, reduce fever, promote positivity and build confidence? Bryan’s been sick the last few days, so I’ve been diffusing purifying oils throughout the house. And, he even seemed excited about the oil concoction I rubbed on the soles of his feet to make his illness fade faster! So far, it’s going well. At the very least, my house smells amazing!
What about you, friendly reader? What do you do to nourish your soul?
Jillian Wyatt 