“Greens” is like a love word for me. If someone tells me they made a dish with greens (or any specific version of greens, like chard or kale or spinach), I basically swoon.
I love greens.
My theory is that we begin to crave the things we eat a lot. I eat a lot of leafy greens…therefore my taste buds have accomodated me.
Greens. Swoon.
It’s the middle of February. Classically a time of year when folks lose interest in all their healthy intentions. How are you doing with your healthy goals?
One of my ongoing goals is to eat greens in as many meals as possible. To be totally honest, I have realized that this usually means spinach, which is maybe a bit lopsided (or, maybe I am treating my mild anemia naturally with food!) when there are so many delicious kinds of greens in the world. But! I still think it’s a win when I find ways to eat something dark green at every meal of the day—including breakfast.
Sometimes, a thief comes to steal my joy. But he does it reeeeal sneaky-like. It sounds a little bit like this:
“You’re on vacation! Live your life on vacation ‘to the full’! Maybe instead of dessert, you could enjoy another glass of wine.”
In 2017, I started out the year thinking I should spend more time reading than watching TV, and I cautiously hoped to read 30 books in the course of the year.
At the halfway mark, I had already read 22 books (thanks to the help of Audible, which definitely did some of the heavy lifting for me!). By the end of the year, the count was up to 52 books (woo! kicked it up a notch)! Additionally, I started read-alouds with my kiddos in the second half of 2017, and we read 6 chapter books aloud together as well as 2 books of poems. I will always cherish that time cuddling next to them on the couch and sharing the gift of story.
I have always been very fortunate in my life to be surrounded by readers. I have friends who regularly ask me what I’m reading as well as share ideas for a new page-turner. I belong to a book club. My parents’ house is full of bookshelves that are slowly buckling with the weight of all the books they are reading and want to be reading.
I am a firm believer that reading leads to greater happiness than just about any other activity.
So you’re thinking of cutting back on refined sugar. Maybe this is a New Year’s resolution thing, a short-term reset-your-habits thing, or a long-term reclaim-your-health thing, but whatever your reasons, I applaud you! You can do this!
If you’ve been hanging out at Savored Grace for a while, you may know that I cut out refined sugar at the beginning of 2017, and it hasn’t been back. For me, this was a calling from God to depend on Him more than on food. I had to learn that God would be enough for me, and that I didn’t need to be greedy with what I put into my body.
I’m going to say what maybe some of you have also thought: Christmas has been making me a little nervous since last January. Christmas is a season of joy and light and life! And cookies. And parties. And desserts. And indulgence with family and friends.
Friends, it’s time for some bitter truth about Thanksgiving. Hang on to your tri-corner hats.
Thanksgiving is next week.
It’s next week!
How did that happen?
My feelings about Thanksgiving have changed pretty significantly since I was a kid.
I shared a few years ago that I sometimes struggle with gratefulness. I sometimes choose to look at what I don’t have or can’t do, rather than at the hundred other blessings that are right in front of me.
It’s definitely not a new idea that gratefulness takes practice, and that noticing good things in your life leads to greater peace and joy.
So this year, I am writing a gratefulness journal. And I think you should join me! #gratefulNovember