Ebb and Flow

Brussels with Toasted Fennel and Lemon Dijon
I have a few versions of this recipe, subject to change.  My husband loves it when we add a little bacon to it.  It can be very rich even without the bacon, so you may want to omit the avocado if going this route.  The distinct flavor of the fennel and lemon really stands out on it's own.  I'm always amazed and pleased when my boys ask for seconds! 

1 lb. Brussels, Washed, and Halved, with Tough Ends Removed
1 Celery Stalk, Washed, and Sliced Thin
2 Tbs. Coconut Oil
3 Tbs. Pepitas, (Green Pumpkin Seed)
1 1/2 tsp Fennel Seed
1 Avocado, Pit Removed, Peeled, and Sliced

Sauce:
2 Tbs. Fresh Lemon Juice
4 Tbs. Grapeseed or Olive Oil
1/4 tsp Redmond Real Salt
1 tsp Dijon Mustard

Steam the brussel sprouts for 7 minutes, adding the celery for the last 2 minutes.  Warm the coconut oil enough to melt it into a medium size wok or skillet over medium heat.  Add the pumpkin and fennel seeds to the oil, and lightly toast them, constantly stirring until they just begin to brown a bit.  Add the steamed vegetables to the seeds and stir to coat with the oil.  Keep an eye on the brussels to make sure they do not overcook.  Give them a stir, or remove them from the heat if needed.  You want them to just lightly toast in the oil after they have been steamed.  While the Brussels are cooking, slice up the avocado, blend together the ingredients to make a lemon dijon sauce, and pour the sauce over the avocado into a bowl.  This is just to keep the avocado from browning.  Remove the brussels from the heat and pour the sauce over the top.  Toss to coat and serve warm. 

Ebb and Flow~

The cold weather is setting in, and the productivity of my garden has slowed down. I feel lucky to still have some vegetables growing, and we savor every last tomato we get.  Now I'm buying more store-bought produce, and starting to really crave those warmer meals.  Although it's sad to see the birds fly south, and the flowers wilting, I always love the colors of the fall leaves. They will make the soil more rich and fertile in the spring after a long winter's nap.  The days are shorter, and evening comes quickly as if to say, "Bundle up now, you should take a nap too."

In yoga practice, we move through vinyasas with intensity and then come back down to recover and restore the body at intervals.  Child's pose is one of my favorite places to come to during practice.  So often it seems like we are told we can come to child's pose anytime to breathe and rest, but then we choose not to, and keep pushing through.  Without the rest in between the work, we ultimately become too exhausted whether we realize it or not.  

Dependency on stimulants has increased rapidly over the last ten years. Everywhere you look there are energy drinks, caffeine pills, a pre-workout formulas that are shutting down our natural ability to recognize when it's time to keep working or playing, and when it's time to rest.  Young babies and children take regular naps--(hopefully, unless the parenting style doesn't allow it.) Then somewhere along the way we are taught to work longer, stay up later, to somehow "get ahead" but it's all an illusion.   

Adrenal fatigue leads to endocrine system problems, depression, anxiety, hormonal imbalance, lower immunity, and eventually the body will surrender to a crash.  So we take our sick days off from work, or finally become so fatigued that the body has forgotten how to sleep.  Then we are taking stimulants in the morning, and sleep aids at night.  The pace of our demands might make us feel like we don't have the choice, but we do. There are healthier ways of tuning into our natural ultradian rest phase during the day, and our circadian rhythms at night.  If we listen to these rhythms, we will be able to take short 10 minute cat naps, or just enough down time in between the things we have to do, that we will experience more energy and productivity in the long run.  

However, if we never challenge ourselves; if there is no resistance?  How dull life would be.  Learning how to discern those moments when we truly deserve a break, and those times we must push ourselves ahead is never ending.  There are times we need to do things we don't want to, even when it's inconvienient.  It's temping to get lazy or complacent in the name of feeling that we deserve a break too often.  Finding ways to enjoy ourselves within the work we do will help us not to feel like we always want to run away and take a vacation.  Flow is a steady increase, not a sudden flood.  We have the power to control the speed of the water that comes out of the tap. 

I tend to need more recovery time than most people. Sometimes I feel guilty for not being as resilient as others, but at least I'm listening to my own body. I'm like the tortoise who moves slow and steady--I'll cross the finish line too, just on my own time. Life is not a race. It's an endless journey in which we will have all the time we need.  If you take care of yourself, your expiration date extends.