If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand, Rejoice, for your soul is alive. ~Eleanora Duse

My Vision Collage!

“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” – Colin Powell

This 7th cycle of healing has been marked by quite a Sankofa journey — looking back while moving forward, trying to understand how I sourced my own emotional pain as well as the early wounds that fueled self-sabotaging behaviors, both in my relationships and… dare i say, food.

I was in the kitchen today with my Kenyan Sisters, who taught me about the tools needed in an African kitchen, and how to prepare egg plant, cauliflower with curry and turmeric and a Chinese potato dish. I thought of Granny; she would have loved to be with us, and I felt that she was in Spirit. Edna Lewis reminds me a lot of Granny and Mama who were also “In Pursuit of Flavor”.

Everything I need is in my house to be comfortable, nourished and focused on healing. Yesterday I felt tired and sad, and thought how nice it would have been to have a hug from someone I often think about, yet is not available, and then God sent His Angels — with three hugs!!!

I love the way God shows up in others.

Here’s to a fabulous and flavorful life, right now!

Romans 12:1-2 (King James Version)

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

I had the honor of serving on the World Health Week Committee last week with the amazing Dr. Hiba! We had so much fun together, and it got me thinking a lot about what we consume on a daily basis and how we can better take care of our bodies.

Making peace with food and our bodies is more about what we say “yes” to, rather than all the “no’s” or “I can’t have that’s”. It’s a process that calls for intentional mind, body and soul care practices. Process has nothing to do with perfection – process is an attempt to manage stressors in life with greater ease, acknowledge discomfort and make decisions to do something different in a moment. Total balance is impossible to sustain, yet being in the pursuit of balancing all of the pulls, purposes and passions within our lives can propel us towards sound minds, healthy bodies and spirit filled lifestyles.