feeding my soul.

other than waking up to etta licking and attacking my face, this morning was pretty peaceful.  i'll definitely have a scar across my nose but hey, it's the smile that counts right?

lately i've been flooding myself with healthy living blogs, family, yoga, and tasty fall drinks...

i also made this recipe for my family for our monday night dinners.  we served it with soup toppers, corn bread, and wine.

Vegan Sweet Potato and Lentil Stew.

 Ingredients.

1. - 1 cup lentils, rinsed
2. - 4 cups vegetable stock
3. - 1 cup water
4. - 3 medium sweet potatoes, chopped
5. - 1 can diced tomatoes
6. - 1 cup chopped carrots (baby or regular)
7. - 1 can white beans
8. - 1 zucchini, sliced
9. - 1/2 jalapenejo pepper, finely diced (optional)
10. - 2T chili powder
11. - 1t onion powder
12. - 1t cayenne power
13. - 1t garlic powder

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients into your crock pot and cook on high for about 4 hours or until sweet potatoes are soft enough to pierce with a fork.

i used today for a little reflection and a little job searching and a little exploring for the words that are so desperately trying to make there way into this post.  sometimes i'm not even sure where to start so i try to simplify it by starting at the beginning.  

i wake up each morning and my dream is to be able to touch the heart's of the many people in this chaotic world.  i want to reach them in a delicate and uplifting way and while i know this is extremely unlikely to do for the millions of souls on this earth, it continues to find itself into my prayers each morning.  sometimes i'm completely touched and feel as if i have the ability to do powerful things while others times i'm left with the feeling that i have nothing to give but empty hands.  what i always find,however, is that each day comes with struggles and joys and i am truly passionate about reaching out to people on both of these things.  reaching out to those who i am both extremely close to and to those who i haven't met yet and maybe never will.  i want my words to touch one thousand hearts and i just can't get it out of my head.  and because this dream of mine is rather large, the only way i can feed my soul is to imagine that if i continue to speak and sing and write positive, healthy, and uplifting thoughts, over time they may touch one heart.  then two.  then three. 

and so these words i write this morning, they are for you.  they are for those who are hurting.  for those who fear their future and maybe even tomorrow's test, interview, results, appointment, meeting, or very first step towards change.  for those who are struggling to find their calling, whose dream's have been bound so tight that their meaning continues to crumble deeper than their toes.  and for those who are in search of healing and have began to give up on what your mind is openly capable of.  my heart just has the desire to tell you something.

you're going to make it.

whatever it is you're facing, there is a promise for the ones who continue to hold on.  i want you to take a minute and breathe.  breathe in slowly for five seconds and let it out for six.  do it again. 

with your eyes closed create a picture of one extraordinary thing in your life.  hold on to that vision and without asking how, let yourself sink into stillness. just for now, lay down the weight you so patiently bear upon your shoulders and be boundless, free with energy and let it sink into your feet like weights so that it will never disappear.  today I want you to remember that yes, there is always hard times in life.  there is no comparison scale of my hard to your hard or your friend's hard to another's.  there is just hard.  I also want you to remember, however, that this universe is filled with peace and joy and love and light, the things that often escape our minds into the worry and movement of busy days.  find yourself back to who you were five seconds ago, breathing in and out, knowing that everything is exactly what it's supposed to be and that yes, you are going to make it.  

hold on to friendships.

hold on to your faith.

hold on to gratitude.

hold on to the smile that you received this morning.

hold on to acceptance.

hold on to who you were, who you are, and what you will become.

and above everything else, hold on to your dreams.  whether it's reaching one thousand hearts or making it through one day without any tears.  go for it.

you're going to make it.