It's Christmas and the Holiday season and there is much emphasis on what everyone wants. "What do you want for Christmas?". "What is Santa bringing you?". "What do you want for the New Year?". With all this attention to individual needs, it makes you stop and consider....what DO you want?
As I ponder this question, many things come to mind. World peace? Absolutely. Ending hunger? Of course. But what is really within reach? I've made a list, another big topic for the holiday season.
1. Enough money to live comfortably for me and my daughters
2. Less stress
3. Good food
4. Good sex
5. Fun times with friends
6. True love
7. Health and happiness for me and my family
That's about it. When it comes right down to it, all I really need is good food, good sex, good friends and good health. Isn't that what everyone really wants and needs? So why do we make our lives so complicated. Why do we question every relationship, analyze every detail of every text we receive, look for the "butts" and the "what if's"in every conversation...no wonder we are all so stressed out. We are so busy worrying about reading in between the lines that we forget to LIVE. Just breathe. We have forgotten that youthful optimism and hope and desire and replaced those emotions with skepticism, fear, and boredom. I wonder how much better the world would be if every single individual concentrated on being happy rather than the complex goals we all put out there for ourselves.
There is a little book by Richard Bach, Illusions, that I read about once a year. The first time I read it I was going through a painful divorce. It changed my life. The premise of the story is what if God's purpose for each of us is that we make ourselves happy? Knowing that, how would you change the way you go about living each day? It makes you think hard about the choices you are making and the amount of intense pressure you put on yourself to do everything to keep from making yourself happy.
Now I realize that the world doesn't revolve around me, and my happiness isn't the only thing that matters. I'm just saying that if each of us concentrated on being happy we would be richer to our surroundings. Nicer to each other, more kind, more loving, more giving. I could be wrong, but I really think it would change the entire world. Okay, maybe I'm getting carried away, but what would it hurt? How about we start on a small scale and work our way up. For starters, try smiling. When you smile you feel better and you make others feel better. Unless it's an inappropriate, creepy smile and then you just freak everybody out. So be careful of that. Try a normal, small smile positioned on your face rather than a frown as you walk down the hall, in the grocery store, at work, etc. See what happens.
As always I have a treat to share with you today and making this for yourself and or your family is a great start to your weekend. My friend Lisa and I made this for our new years day brunch and we felt full and healthy all day. Give it a try and let me know what you think.
Brunch Casserole
2 tsps smart balance butter
1/2 cup onion, sliced
1/2 cup red pepper, sliced
1/2 cup zucchini, sliced
2 small plum tomatoes, diced
1 tbls fresh basil, chopped
1 pinch black pepper
1/2 cup liquid egg substitue
1/2 cup 1 % fat cottage cheese
1/4 cup fat free evaporated milk
3/4 ounce reduced fat monterey jack cheese
Coat an oven proof skillet with cooking spray. Melt butter and saute' veggies other than tomatoes until lightly browned. Add tomatoes and pepper and cook another 2 to 3 minutes then remove from heat.
Prepare broiler. In a blender, combine egg, cottage cheese and milk until blended and smooth. Pour into skillet over the veggies. Cook on medium low heat until bottom is set and top is lightly soft, about 5 minutes.
Sprinkle cheese on top and broil for 3 to 5 minutes.
As I ponder this question, many things come to mind. World peace? Absolutely. Ending hunger? Of course. But what is really within reach? I've made a list, another big topic for the holiday season.
1. Enough money to live comfortably for me and my daughters
2. Less stress
3. Good food
4. Good sex
5. Fun times with friends
6. True love
7. Health and happiness for me and my family
That's about it. When it comes right down to it, all I really need is good food, good sex, good friends and good health. Isn't that what everyone really wants and needs? So why do we make our lives so complicated. Why do we question every relationship, analyze every detail of every text we receive, look for the "butts" and the "what if's"in every conversation...no wonder we are all so stressed out. We are so busy worrying about reading in between the lines that we forget to LIVE. Just breathe. We have forgotten that youthful optimism and hope and desire and replaced those emotions with skepticism, fear, and boredom. I wonder how much better the world would be if every single individual concentrated on being happy rather than the complex goals we all put out there for ourselves.
There is a little book by Richard Bach, Illusions, that I read about once a year. The first time I read it I was going through a painful divorce. It changed my life. The premise of the story is what if God's purpose for each of us is that we make ourselves happy? Knowing that, how would you change the way you go about living each day? It makes you think hard about the choices you are making and the amount of intense pressure you put on yourself to do everything to keep from making yourself happy.
Now I realize that the world doesn't revolve around me, and my happiness isn't the only thing that matters. I'm just saying that if each of us concentrated on being happy we would be richer to our surroundings. Nicer to each other, more kind, more loving, more giving. I could be wrong, but I really think it would change the entire world. Okay, maybe I'm getting carried away, but what would it hurt? How about we start on a small scale and work our way up. For starters, try smiling. When you smile you feel better and you make others feel better. Unless it's an inappropriate, creepy smile and then you just freak everybody out. So be careful of that. Try a normal, small smile positioned on your face rather than a frown as you walk down the hall, in the grocery store, at work, etc. See what happens.
Next, think of one thing every day that you can do just for you. It can be a really small thing like make yourself a really yummy cup of coffee or pack your favorite lunch. Or a bigger thing like once a month treat yourself to a massage or facial or get your nails done. The point is to remember to carve out a little time and a little of your energy for YOU. As working parents it can be very hard to do this, I remember those days. I also remember putting on 80 pounds and being unhappy in work, relationships, etc because I wasn't giving myself any time or attention. You are worth it!
Next think of something, just one little thing, you can do every day to make someone else feel good. Buy a coworker a cup of coffee, you'll be shocked how this small treat makes both of you feel, let someone get in front of you in line, or give an encouraging word or hug to someone who is having a rough day. The little things are wthat matters most. It's rough out there in this world and little random acts of kindness can make a very large impact.
Brunch Casserole
2 tsps smart balance butter
1/2 cup onion, sliced
1/2 cup red pepper, sliced
1/2 cup zucchini, sliced
2 small plum tomatoes, diced
1 tbls fresh basil, chopped
1 pinch black pepper
1/2 cup liquid egg substitue
1/2 cup 1 % fat cottage cheese
1/4 cup fat free evaporated milk
3/4 ounce reduced fat monterey jack cheese
Coat an oven proof skillet with cooking spray. Melt butter and saute' veggies other than tomatoes until lightly browned. Add tomatoes and pepper and cook another 2 to 3 minutes then remove from heat.
Prepare broiler. In a blender, combine egg, cottage cheese and milk until blended and smooth. Pour into skillet over the veggies. Cook on medium low heat until bottom is set and top is lightly soft, about 5 minutes.
Sprinkle cheese on top and broil for 3 to 5 minutes.
