Togetherness.

“I feel beautiful
knowing
that something of
me,
is shared
in
you.”
— Tyler Knott Gregson

We meet different parts of ourselves in our different friends. The quirky, humorous parts of my personality are turned on in the presence of one friend, while the more introspective and philosophical parts come out in the company of another friend. It's beautiful to notice this- the diverse and unique little pieces of our personalities that are illuminated only in the magical presence of another. So be curious about other people who are not like you, who do not look like you, who may not believe what you believe. You may uncover parts of yourself through the fusion of their personalities with yours, and together, you'll discover a sense of shared delight.

Keep Expanding.

“We are so afraid to change careers, to end relationships, to outgrow people or places- and that’s just growth. To me, choosing to go toward the cracking in order to keep expanding is the only way. The only way to get out of pain is to go through it. Pain is information.”
— Sophia Bush

In her book, "The Crossroads of Should and Must," Elle Luna describes the snake as being the ancient sacred symbol for transformation. The snake must shed its skin in order to mature and grow. It's a painful process, but its very survival depends on this act. The snake's insides are literally outgrowing its outsides, and it must shed the outermost layer or risk becoming malnourished and possibly blind.

Perhaps you're in this process of shedding your skin. It's painful. It's hard. But we must trust the process, and the transformation that is magically taking place from the inside out.

Little Bites of (Strawberry and Cashew) Love.

A simple, delicious (and nutritious) treat for you and your loved ones.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 12 pitted medjool dates
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 oz freeze-dried strawberries
  • pinch of sea salt

Directions:

  1. Pulse the cashews in a food processor until finely chopped.
  2. Add the dates, vanilla extract, and salt. 
  3. Mix together in the food processor until the dates are minced and the mixture is thoroughly combined.
  4. Add the freeze-dried strawberries and pulse a few times to blend everything together.
  5. Roll into 1-inch balls. 
  6. Enjoy! 

You can store these in an air-tight container, or alternatively store in the freezer for a firmer texture (my absolute favorite). 

Your Place.

Coastal Trail, Marin Headlands

“You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.”
— Mary Oliver, Wild Geese

The Secret to Happiness and Longevity Lives in Your Gut

Enjoyed my time recording in the studio as a guest on the radio show "Aging By The Bay"

Please enjoy this fun conversation I had about nutrition, the gut microbiome, mindfulness, movement, and stress management....pretty much all of my favorite things.

Our guest is Julianne Kanzaki, Registered Dietitian talking about how healthy eating habits and your gut are keys to happiness and longevity. She will also share how she helps others experience more well-being in all areas: body, mind and spirit. Guests: Julianne Kanzaki, MPH, RDN --- Follow us on Twitter: @AgingByTheBay Catch the latest episodes and subscribe to “Aging By The Bay” on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn. For more information about “Aging By The Bay” visit us at http://www.agingbythebay.com/about-us.html Related episodes can be found at http://www.agingbythebay.com/shows.html. Music Credit: Contact: info@AgingByTheBay.com Web: www.agingbythebay.com Sponsor: ComForCare

One Thing.

Mirror Lake, Yosemite National Park

“You must learn one thing:
the world was made to be free in.

Give up all other worlds
except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness
to learn

anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive
is too small for you.

”
— David Whyte

Warning: If you understand the depth of Whyte's words and incorporate them into your heart, expect massive shifts to happen in your life. I write from experience.

The Importance of Being.

I'm your typical Type-A person. I derive a huge amount of joy from creating to-do lists, clearly knowing what I'm supposed to accomplish in a day, and adhering carefully to that schedule. 

I was thinking about this today as I went on my evening walk. How easy it is to get consumed in what we do. What we do in a day, in a lifetime. I've recently made it a habit to start looking UP more. When I look up, I'm forced to take my attention away from what is in front of me. I have to be completely still and present.

Redwood Regional Park, Oakland. 

As the sun was setting tonight, this question settled into my mind- "Am I a human doing or a human being?"

It was a humble reminder that at the end of our lives, no one really cares what we did. They care instead, about who we were. How present we were when we listened. How generous we were with our time and our resources. How we gave the best hugs and allowed people to feel loved.

I want to be a human being (and I think you may as well).

Being present.

Being generous.

Being loving.

A Delicious and Easy Buddha Bowl for the Time-Crunched and Busy.

I heard an analogy yesterday that shifted my thinking. Arianna Huffington, the President and Editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post, made the observation that we treat our smartphones with more respect than our own bodies. Wow. Think about that. It's true! We make it a point to have our phones fully charged, and when we travel we make sure we have a back-up charger or battery so they don't die. We buy special cases for them and make sure they're updated with the latest apps.

It's easy for most people to skimp on sleep or eat unhealthy food because they're so busy and don't have the time.  But continuing this pattern sets them up to live in a way where they're running on empty and never fully charged.

Here's an easy solution. Put on some of your favorite music. Chop all of your favorite veggies (sweet potatoes, red onions, beets, cauliflower, bell peppers, squash, broccoli, or whatever sparks joy for you), drizzle some olive oil to lightly coat them, and roast in the oven at 400 degrees F. Stir every 20 minutes or so, until they are done (usually 45 minutes). While those are roasting, prepare 1 cup of dry quinoa with 2 cups of water on the stovetop. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low until the quinoa is fluffy. You can add your favorite dressing, or try this one:

Cashew Miso Ginger Dressing:

  1. In a small bowl, add enough hot water to cover 3/4 cup of cashews. Let this sit/soak until the cashews are softened.
  2. Pour the water and cashews into a blender and blend until smooth.
  3. Add 1 tsp miso paste, 1/2 juice of a lemon, 1 tsp grated ginger, 1 tsp soy sauce
  4. Blend together, and add water to thin out the consistency as desired.

Arrange your roasted vegetables, tofu, beans, or other colorful whole foods on top of the bed of quinoa, and drizzle with your dressing of choice. This meal is vibrant, full of life-giving energy, and delicious. When you nourish your body with nutritious food, it's like plugging into the power outlet. You're recharging yourself so you can be more present, more focused, and more loving to your friends and family. Enjoy!