Tag: good medicine (Page 9 of 11)

A Good Day

March 8, 2011 / Lindsey / 6 Comments

I had a really nice day today; how was yours? It’s been crazy energy lately — can you feel it? — and for the past week or two my mood has been sagging a little too frequently into depression. Yuck. I’m prone to those very low feelings from time to time, and I just haven’t been able to shake ’em off all that well lately. But today felt really good. I got up early and put 4 lbs of chicken backs into the big pot to make “bone broth” then went back to bed and let my body sleep as long as it needed to. Oh heaven.

Then later I took a good long walk at a clippin’ pace, ending up at our local herbal apothecary. Walking felt good, I delighted in seeing signs of spring, and ending up at the apothecary was a smart choice. Sometimes getting into a healing atmosphere like that is just what I need! Good medicine, ya know. I browsed the books, the essential oils, all their beautiful things…ahhh. It was fun. Stocked up on some dried nettles and rose petals for tea from their bulk herb section, and then walked home. The sky was cloudy and the air chilly and humid, and I loved it. Living in Colorado, I sometimes get tired of the unrelenting sunshine, and I savor the cloudy days when we get them! It had even been snowing lightly earlier in the morning. I’m sure I’ve said this before, but I just love the cozy feeling of being inside with a cup of tea and a book, looking out at swirling flakes!

Anyway, I arrived home from my walk to find a package waiting by the door — YESS! My new art supplies I’d ordered! But by that time it was 2:30 and I was starving, having not eaten anything yet today. I started right in on making Shrimp Etouffee over soaked brown rice, something I’ve never made before…and oh my…it was divine. I could hardly stop eating it. I love when I’m absolutely starving because food tastes so unbelievably good!

Then I fixed some nettle-peppermint-raspberry leaf tea and tore open the art package. Just like Christmas! See what I got!? Markers and colored pencils!

And by then it was late afternoon and my Honey came home from work…which is actually the biggest treat of all. 🙂 🙂

What did you do today?

Philosophy Friday: Gentle, Soulful Days

February 18, 2011 / Lindsey / 4 Comments

Ohh these gentle, soulful days — the heavenly opposite of my former workdays! I am so enjoying this. I feel like my soul is coming to life again because I’m spending my energy on things that actually matter to me!

Surprisingly, the feeling of lightness wasn’t immediate. Last week was a little unsettled and I felt like I was in limbo, dreaming, afraid I’d wake up and realize that Sike! Fun’s over. You knew that was too good to be true.

I also felt kind of…delinquent — which isn’t quite the word, but it’s close enough. Sort of like, shouldn’t I still be doing the wage-slave thing like everyone else? Hah; so ingrained is our cultural conditioning! Job=Good, No Job=Bad. And don’t forget the ever-popular Money Before Happiness! Sheesh. I’m slowly shaking off that kind of twisted thinking! 🙂

Right now all I want to do is be in a cocoon; lay low, recover, and heal my stress-worn body. Lots of sleeping, reading, preparing good nourishing food, drinking lots of nutrient-rich herbal tea, playing soothing Steven Halpern CDs as I go about my day, and following the sun around the house like a cat! But with each passing day, I’m feeling less groundless and transitional, and more into my new groove with a definite spring in my step!

Here are some random pictures of my days.

What are some of your favorite ways to spend a quiet February day?

Morning sunlight, (c) The Herbangardener

Glorious morning sunshine. I like to eat my breakfast there on the floor!

Nourishing Breakfast, (c) The Herbangardener

Nourishing breakfast of soaked teff porridge w/pumpkin seeds & dried cherries, organic fruit, and Russian Caravan tea

Baking some Almond Thumbprints & Chocolate Orange Macaroons

Trip to our favorite Natural Grocers health food store for some organic delights: Dandelion greens, StingStop for my venom shots, bananas for smoothies, apples for applesauce, grassfed cream, soybeans for making natto, banana chips (treat!), celery, lemons for lemon water & salad dressing, dried alfalfa for tea, and fluoride-free toothpaste.

Afternoon reading nook, (c) The Herbangardener

Sun-filled afternoon reading nook

Day's end

Tropical Greenhouse Afternoon

February 16, 2011 / Lindsey / 6 Comments

The weather was darn near tropical today which was a real treat, and I also spent the afternoon in a truly tropical place — a very warm, humid, and extremely fragrant greenhouse. I absolutely love greenhouses! Next time you’re near one, by all means stop by! They do the body (and soul) much good!

Ready For A Winter Walk?

February 6, 2011 / Lindsey / 0 Comments

We got some beautiful new snow yesterday and then more overnight. Get your heavy coat on…mittens & ear muffs…it’s time for a refreshing wintertime walk!

Colorado Blue Spruce

Never know what you'll find on a walk!

Pinyon Pine

Philosophy Friday: I Followed My Heart & Quit My Job!

February 4, 2011 / Lindsey / 4 Comments

My cubicle at work, where I spent the past 5 years.

If you’ve been around here for a while, you might remember a Philosophy Friday post I wrote back in October: All That Glitters Is Not Gold.

For quite a while now, I’ve been aching deeply for a quieter, more soulful existence; putting my energy into things that feed my soul rather than into my non-fulfilling I.T. job. Yes…the whole ‘life is too short’ thing. There are certain parts of the job that I like — technical writing & documentation, software support, and some system administrator duties — but on the whole it’s not what really feeds my heart. For well over a year I’ve been feeling very torn and unclear about whether to stay or quit. When you’re torn and unclear is not the time to make a major decision.

So I waited.

And in early January of this year, things became clear. I finally felt a calm, deep knowing that it was time to let go of my job and move forward with my life in a way that’s completely aligned with my heart.

This was a good, secure job and although I knew it was definitely time to quit, it still took a surprising amount of courage. I spent 5 years there (7 if you count contract work), though it feels more like forever. I have roots there, I guess. For a good long time I kept talking myself into staying because of the steady paycheck and medical insurance. But it turns out that the energy balance was grossly uneven; I was giving a lot more than I was getting. The price I paid for that paycheck and insurance was quite literally my health and happiness. Yikes.

And so I quit.

Yesterday was my last day and it was actually harder than I anticipated. A heavy day. I realized I was more attached to some of my coworkers than I thought. All those “Good bye, I’ll miss yous” sure tugged at my heartstrings. Cleaning out my cubicle was also harder than I thought. It just felt surreal. I put so much of my energy into that job that it felt weird to suddenly be erasing all traces of myself. When someone from a neighboring department heard I was leaving, she exclaimed “What will they do without you??! You’re their backbone!” That was the nicest compliment and made me feel good.

But after a good night’s sleep last night, I’m feeling much more in my groove today and thinking about all the things I won’t have to do anymore now that I’m not there. Hallelujah! It was most certainly the right decision. I’m so excited!

I’ll still do some contract work from home for the I.T. department now and then, but I’ll most certainly be de-stressing and doing lighthearted things! Then I’ll be getting my own things going — ways to make a livable income without working the rat race. We’ll see what transpires! I think it’ll be a great new adventure. Cheers to that!