Sunday
It’s currently the end of May, and where we live in North America, it’s been rainy some days and blazing hot the next, which is indicative of Springtime going into Summertime in my experience.
As the days get longer and the temperature rises, I’ve noticed the need to slow down, be a bit more mindful, and pay closer attention to the things within my realm of existence. I’ve been wanting to drink more juice, eat a little lighter, take more walks, read more books, and sit outside.
I had a craving for the earthiness of Beets, so my partner and I went to our local Whole Foods Market to buy a couple of bunches to make juice.
When I juice Beets, I throw the root, stems, and the leaves in the juicer. I enjoy Beet juice by itself, but this plant doesn’t produce a lot of juice, and the juice that it does produce tends to be very potent.
I typically mix Beets with other root vegetables such as Carrots and Ginger. For sweetness, I like to juice whatever fruits that I have on hand; we typically have Oranges, Apples, Lemons, or Limes in the crisper.
For this juice, I used Beets, Carrots, Ginger, Lemon, and Apple; this batch of produce produced approximately 5 cups of fresh juice!
I like to store my fresh-pressed juices in glass vessels if I have them available, because plastic is very porous and beets love to absorb into these items and leave stains! I have a lot of glass jars around the house, so I found the largest one that we had and popped it in the fridge.
I know they may not be everyone’s favorite root, but my partner and I both have an affinity for the taste of Beets. They’re chock full of essential vitamins and minerals, plus they boast a long list of health benefits, so we do our best to incorporate raw and/or pickled beets, and beet juice into our diet each week.
Monday
I arose at approximately 7:45AM and decided to pull out my journal whilst listening to some positive affirmations. I’m creating a habit of listening to affirmations and practicing Yoga each day after rising.
I used to do both of these things with a fervor towards the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018, and these practices healed me in so many ways, some that I couldn’t even see. Lately, I’ve been feeling less than spectacular, and I realized that I am not moving like I used to at that point in my life. Since I’ve made that connection, I’ve also made a commitment to make a change!
On Friday, I had a conversation with a SiSTAR friend and we were discussing things that we “used to do” that brought us joy, and we discussed why we no longer did those things. I shared with her that I used to write in my journal first thing each day and each night before retiring for bed, and it was something that I truly enjoyed.
I couldn’t recall when this ritual had become less prominent in my life.
So, instead of beating myself up about this, before I allowed the noise of the world to drown out my voice, my thoughts, my feelings, ME – I took a bit of time for Self. I decided to jot down my thoughts, after pouring myself some of the delicious Beet juice that I made the day prior.
It was gray outside and raining, so I sat by a window in my bedroom that overlooks a courtyard and some beautiful trees, and got to work. I was able to get quite a bit down before deciding to move on to my next activity.
All in all, I am extremely grateful for being patient with Self, taking the time that I need, and for those introspective days!
What are some things that you’re grateful for with the changing of the seasons? Comment below and let me know!