Wherever you go, there you are
~Jon Kabat-Zinn

I have been thinking a lot about home these days.  A few months ago, I began a project to renovate my house. Going through this process has been both exciting and challenging and has given me the opportunity to think about what it truly means to be “home.”  While physical space can be important, I have realized that home is about so much more than where you live.

Jon Kabat-Zinn  named his book Wherever You Go, There You Are.  Changing your external environment can make a difference, but shifting your relationship with your internal environment is the real key. Everyone has a running commentary of thoughts that go through their mind. How you relate to this dialogue can truly make a difference in how you experience your life.  What would it be like to be with yourself with less judgment? To be with all of the parts of yourself, even the ones that don’t “look and feel right?”   Moving towards acceptance can allow a shift towards freedom.  Acceptance doesn’t mean that you don’t act, it simply allows more space in your life to determine which direction to travel.

Here is a short exercise that can help shift your mindset. When you notice that you are having a negative thought pattern about yourself, try the following:

• Observe or notice the thought
• Approach your thought with curiosity
• Consider a different way of thinking
• What would it be like to let go of this negative thought and spend a few minutes appreciating something about yourself?
• Writing down the positive thought can be helpful

Even a few minutes a day appreciating your body and how it works for you can create a change.  This shift away from judgment can then free up energy for transformation.  Why not give it a try?

September Recipe

Apple picking season is here!  Check out this quick and creative apple recipe.  Enjoy!

Broccoli and Apple Salad

Ingredients:

• Juice of 1 Lemon
• 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 2 apples, crisp and crunchy varieties are best
• 1 pound broccoli, florets and stem sliced as thin as possible (can be raw or steamed)
• 1/2 cup toasted and chopped walnuts or almonds (optional)

Combine the lemon juice, mustard, and olive oil in a large bowl.  Whisk together.  Cut the apples into thin slices.  Add the apples, broccoli, and nuts to the bowl.  Toss everything together and season with salt and pepper.

~ This recipe is from Edible Pioneer Valley, Fall 201