one love.

After returning from an active, adventurous, and generally healthful 12-day surf vacation (with a few boozy nights mixed in) and then realizing this injury to my rib cage (see post below) was going to sideline me for a while... I quickly fell down the slippery slope of "eating everything/anything according to my moment-to-moment cravings and emotional moods because I'm injured and sad and don't know what to do with myself." Because that makes sense. If I can't really move or work out at all or practice yoga, then eating lots of sugar and fat will make it better and heal me, body and soul, right?

The great Pema Chodron might tell me otherwise:

"Practicing loving-kindness toward ourselves seems as good a way as any to start illuminating the darkness of difficult times.

Being preoccupied with our self-image is like being deaf and blind. It's like standing in the middle of a vast field of wildflowers with a black hood over our heads. It's like coming upon a tree of singing birds while wearing earplugs.

There's so much resentment and so much resistance to life... At this point it might be wise to wonder about these things and begin to get the knack of loving-kindness."

-When Things Fall Apart

So, after causing myself some harm via unrestrained gluttony justified by an empty, bored, and lonely I-don't-wanna-be-stuck-to-the-moment-ness... I got myself in gear and started cooking healthy, nourishing meals that I love. Here's one to share.

Bowl of Loving-Kindness

-brown rice (cook a big pot in advance! use all week!)

-a good tablespoon or two of olive oil, heated up in a big pan

-half or whole yellow onion, chopped

-handful of mushrooms, sliced

-big head of broccoli, chopped into small florets

-orange bell pepper, chopped

-grape tomatoes

-pinto beans

*Start at the top of the list, add items in that order. Let onions and mushroom brown and burn a bit. Don't overstir them. Then go for the brocc. I like to throw the top of the pan on for a couple minutes to let it steam up a little bit. Then remove it and throw in the rest of ingredients. Keep giving it some good stir power as you throw in...

-whatever spices you're feelin'... I love cayenne, paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper

-add on top: chunks of avocado and/or massive amounts of hot sauce!

*optional bonus ingredient: reggae music

feel. the. love.