We got back from our wonderful summer vacation to the East Coast…not really rested, but very rejuvenated! It was just the break we needed! We had a great time, and are sad to be back to our full-time jobs. One of my favorite things about our trip was how much time I got to spend with my hubby. All day, every day, we were together…exploring our surroundings, taking pictures, laughing together. A far cry from our daily lives which seem to be eaten almost entirely by our jobs. In the few evening hours between job and bedtime, we squeeze in together-time, cooking, reading, computer time, pursuing hobbies, housecleaning, laundry, dishes, visiting family, gardening, etc! Time together — with those you love most — is so precious. Being on vacation reminded me how precious it is, and how much I miss having more of that quality time as part of our daily life. Something to work on, indeed!!
Category: Thoughts + Inspiration (Page 18 of 18)
I was recently watching a Julia Child episode on DVD, when she launched into this little sermon about peoples’ irrational fear of failure while learning to cook. I liked it so much that I recorded it and posted it so you could see it, too:
Julia Child – “Don’t be afraid of failure in the kitchen” from The Herbangardener on Vimeo.
We must not be deterred if our cooking flops, because that’s how we best learn the quirks of the ingredients we cook with, and how to combine things for the best results. I sometimes get pretty frustrated when my cooking doesn’t work out, especially when I waste good ingredients (and precious time!). But I also know that mistakes can be very good teachers…
I don’t know what sorts of celestial events are going on this week, but it’s been one “off” day after another in my household, which is pretty rare. Oh but wait — we did just have the peak of the Perseids meteor shower. Maybe that’s why. Whatever it is, I’ve been feeling completely out of whack this week, and haven’t had any time to properly remediate the situation with my usual sources of good medicine.
When I’m having a yucky day, I find that immersing myself in an old, happy memory really helps to lighten my frame of mind. It’s a quick, sentimental journey that I can take any time I want.
In the course of my reading, I’ve come across a wonderful Native American concept called good medicine. Good medicine is whatever nourishes your heart and spirit. It’s whatever calms you… brings you joy… whatever can lift you out of a funk. I know when something’s good medicine for me if it makes me feel light, refreshed, alive, renewed, happy, and relaxed.
Good medicine is very individual, so your good medicine may not be someone else’s good medicine. Since it is so individual, it’s our own responsibility to care for ourselves with regular “doses.” Maybe it’s taking a long walk in a beautiful neighborhood, laughing at a funny movie with your best friend, sitting on your porch in the early morning with a mug of tea, being at the beach with your husband, reading a trashy celebrity gossip magazine, watching old I Love Lucy episodes, taking a solo weekend getaway, delighting in your pet’s antics…anything that you love.
I’ve really come to appreciate the importance of making time for my own good medicine. I know it’s time for a dose when I feel overwhelmed, drained, and depressed. Luckily, I have a whole “pharmacy” to choose from when I need a dose, but puttering around in my garden is one of my very favorite remedies. This means that for my health and well being, I have to hang out in my garden — admiring it, pulling a few weeds, sprucing up, clipping, harvesting. It’s so essential for keeping me in balance that I no longer consider it “just a hobby” — it really is my medicine! 🙂
What’s your good medicine?
Welcome to The Herbangardener! Thanks for stopping by!
This site is dedicated to nourishing the body + spirit through backyard organic gardening, traditional foodways, and homesteading in the heart of the city.
I wish I could describe my own homestead as “four lovely acres in the country, with a fruit orchard, vast gardens of veggies & flowers, a flock of chickens, and a cow.” That would be my dream!
My current living situation, though, is slightly less picturesque — I live in a drafty, one-bedroom attic apartment in the middle of the city. It’s not quite my dream, but in spite of all the asphalt and traffic, it’s still my homestead.
You can create a homestead no matter where you live! I’ve discovered that it’s as much a mindset as it is a physical setting — maybe even more so.
It’s time to revolutionize our gardens, reclaim our kitchens, and re-establish simple, balanced living.
You can do this wherever you are — even if your garden is just a pot of parsley in the kitchen window!
Growing and cooking our own food no longer holds the stigma it once did. In fact, not only is it in vogue now — it’s also a wonderful way to nourish both body and spirit, especially when we’re not able to achieve the part about simple, balanced living.
At my little urban homestead (which I share with my dear & wonderful hubby), I love playing with new ideas and learning new things, which I write about on this site. I also love gardening! For years, I’ve had an organic veggie garden in my parents’ backyard (five 4’x8’ raised beds). The neat thing is, my garden gives more than just vegetables — it provides satisfaction and enjoyment, and a deep sense of peacefulness when I’m near it. I feel so proud when I’m able to nourish my family with foods that I’ve lovingly grown and prepared with my own hands!
And so I warmly invite you to join me here at The Herbangardener, as we strive to create our own homestead-sanctuaries no matter what our present living situation may be!