Welcome to a new decade my friends and welcome to self care January.
…or so I thought. Here we are, on the first day of February, and I just now began to practice some much needed self care!
I just came back from a long walk with the puppy. We paused on the path to take in the winter sky, full of grey and peach clouds, the occasional sprinkle dappling our noses. I drew in a large breath and slowly exhaled all the responsibility of the day. Then, from the tree top, a bird began to sing. I looked up, stretched my arms back, paused and welcomed in that moment. My next inclination was to turn and continue home to accomplish more work before the end of the day. But this time, I consciously stopped myself and listened, letting the song fill my mind with a bit of wonder for the changing winter landscape. I breathed in the fading sunlight, allowing it to fill my spirit and slowly exhaled the damp, wet air. I listened intently to the music filling the trees.
That is self care.
Self care means that you chose yourself first, even for just one more moment. It is taking time to nourish your body, mind and spirit. You are choosing a reset button that allows your world to fall into calm perspective. And I will be the first to admit that self care can feel like a guilty pleasure.
I'm trying to shift that perception, the idea that self care is somehow self indulgent when it's an essential part of wellness, not a luxury, but rather an integral part of healing both for us as individuals, and for our society as a whole. When we feel overwhelmed or stressed, we turn to self care as a last resort to restore and heal. I'd like to share a few suggestions for you to integrate into your life as ways to experience more self care.
Tips for self care throughout the year
1. Design a sacred space in your home
It can be a small kitchen window or an entire room dedicated to creating a space that nourishes your mind, body and spirit. I dedicated a portion of my book Sacred Elements Guidebook to helping you identify your sacred element(s) and lead you through a step by step journey to create a personalized space.
I am a living example of how creating a space in your home with the intention of connecting with the natural world can help with anxiety and contribute to your overall happiness. This practice feeds your spirit, calms and inspires your mind and de stresses your body. If you've already created a sacred space for yourself, nice work! I encourage you to visit it daily to soak up all the benefits it has to offer you.
2. Get Outside
Even for just a few minutes a day, walk outside with the intention of absorbing the elements of the natural world. Wind, rain, sun, trees, birds, flowers, rocks, moss, insects, clouds, whatever is surrounding you. Let it give you a free lesson in slowing down to simply notice and be present in the moment. Forest bathing, eco therapy aka natural world therapy is a powerful medicine! A highly effective way to rejuvenate and calm the senses. The simplest self care practice accessible to us all.
3. Eat with awareness and intention
What we put into our bodies affects the way we feel and our impact on our precious planet and choosing food that nourishes our bodies is an essential self care practice too.
We're fortunate to live in a time where plant based options and readily available recipes are everywhere! I encourage you to give more of them a try if you haven’t already made that shift.
Personally, the more my family learns how our choices in the grocery store affect our environment (especially my oldest who comes home with reports from his Environmental Studies class with horror stories of US Agriculture practices) the more we move towards a plant based diet and support small farmers who raise animals with sustainable, humane practices.
I’d like to share a favorite recipe for the vegetable that gets featured quite regularly on my Instagram feed for its stunning spirals and fractal forms--- Romanesco Broccoli
Also known as Roman Cauliflower, this nutritious brassica is a cousin to kale, broccoli and cauliflower. It's believed to have originated in the 15th century near...you guessed it, Rome! It offers a slightly nutty flavor with a more delicate taste than broccoli and cauliflower. Romanesco comes into season during the late fall and winter months here in Portland, Oregon as it is a cool season crop. This makes it a delicious and aesthetic addition to any holiday meal or a hearty side dish at the dinner table.
Here's our best tips for growing brassicas in your garden!
My favorite way to prepare Romanesco Broccoli
-Rinse the crown and gently towel dry, keeping those magnificent spirals intact and picture perfect (not necessary, but I do it out of respect for the aesthetic)
-Cut into sections, or florets and toss into a large bowl
-Sprinkle generously with olive oil, salt, black pepper, red chili flakes and garlic powder.
-Mix well with your hands to coat all the surfaces
-Spread on a baking dish, I use a glass pan and sprinkle with either parmesan or romano cheese, nutritional yeast, bread crumbs or all of the above!
-Bake for 20 mins at 425 degrees fahrenheit
-Serve hot with your meal or throw it in the fridge to serve cold on a salad the next day, yum!
Buon appetito amici!
Much love,
Karina