Well, by now you’ve probably spent the first few days of January torturing yourself with a crazy fad diet and a flashy, but impossible to maintain workout schedule. Once the rush and will power wear off, your might find yourself back to square one. No progress, but now you also feel like a failure. Instead of kicking yourself, why don’t you stop and reconsider what you are actually trying to accomplish and why.
If these fad crash diets and insane workouts ACTAULLY worked, don’t you think we would have found the right “one” by now? A better way to achieve your goals is to begin with the end in mind. If your goal is to “lose weight and look good”, what exactly will achieving this give you? If you really think about it, it might be self confidence that you crave.
Just like it “takes money to make money”, start by being the best version of yourself right now. When you value something, you take better care of it-so start with yourself. If your clothes don’t fit, get some new ones that do. Go get your hair done (ask for Madison Morgan at Allure Beauty Salon 803-286-1102) and if you don’t know how to do your makeup -with current techniques- watch some YouTube videos or book a makeup lesson at Ulta. Guys, this goes for you too! Trim and shape your beard (and those nose hairs if you got ‘em!), get some new shoes if yours are busted and wash and wax your car. When you start from a place of power, you make better decisions. Start from a place of power when you think about your 2022 goals and you might surprise yourself when you think about changes you want to make!
Now that you got “your head right”, pick a word or phrase that you want your life to reflect in 2022. For me, I want this year to be a “Delicious Feast”. I have spent so many years living in lack and scarcity, that I carry that with me even now when my life is abundant. To change this, I’m going to use my phrase of “Delicious Feast” to set a vision for my life in 2022. How? Well darling, I thought you’d never ask!
What first comes to mind for me with this phrase is food of course! When I think of a “Delicious Feast”, it is not a free-for-all-of-fast-food-binging. For me, I envision my year full of meals that are tasty and good for me. In order to live this out, I’ll need to pre-plan my week so I’m not stuck eating junk. I will also need to ensure I pick savory recipes that include plenty of vegetables. Would you rather eat a hot bowl of chunky vegetable soup- OR- measure out 2 cups of cold sliced vegetables? I’ll take the hot soup any day! Even though they are the same thing, I prefer the savory soup hands down! It’s all about the story in your head. If you can nail that, you’ll knock this year out of the park!
This vision I have for 2022 will also be brought to life as a “Delicious Feast” for the Senses. I’ve already booked a massage Black Stone Massage (https://www.blackstonemassagestudio.com/) to kick the year off right. For me, this is a luxurious treat. It’ll remind me to take care of myself this year and be kind to my body since it’s the only one I’ve got. I’ve also started walking again every day during lunch rain or shine. It a nice way to ensure I get out of the house and spend 30 mins enjoying fresh air and the great outdoors. I mean, someone has to walk around and say “hi” to the neighborhood dogs! To stay on track with my “Ultimate Outsider” goal from last year to visit all 47 State Parks, I’ve asked for trips to parks instead of presents this year. It’s a “two birds one stone deal”, I get to check a park off my list AND I get to spend MORE time outside enjoying the beauty of this great state. I can hopefully fit in a few short hikes to some thundering waterfalls too. I’m also going to keep seasonal flowers on my porch so I can enjoy their myriad of colors and tantalizing fragrances; I just need to remember to water them…
To ensure I enjoy a “Delicious Feast” for the Soul, I’ve got a couple of things lined up. My goal is to live into the wisdom of Luke 12:48 NIV “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” For me, I want to invest in the arts and education, so I will contribute by renewing my membership to the Lancaster County Council of the Arts (https://www.artslancaster.com). It’s an easy way to support the arts and ensure our children have an opportunity to explore creative endeavors. Selfishly I love their annual Art & Soul Gala and their annual Ladies Tea where I have a legitimate excuse to dress up. To fill my soul with live entertainment, I’ll renew my membership to the Lancaster Playhouse (https://www.lancasterplayhouse.com/). Each level of membership comes with a set number of tickets, so not only does your membership support the theatre, but you also score tickets to their amazing productions! I’ll also continue to donate to the Lancaster Children’s Home (https://www.lancasterchildrenshome.com/) and Safe Passage- a Domestic Peace Program (https://safepassagesc.org). Both of these organizations meet the needs of our community and are both 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. They need our support now more than ever as their fundraising has been limited since COVID. By giving to these arts and humanitarian organizations, I know that I am making a difference in our local community, and that feeds my soul and makes me smile.
Do you get the idea now? By choosing a word of phrase to guide your vision for 2022, it becomes your measuring stick. Weigh your opportunities and decisions against it and you will stay on track. IF you are still having trouble picking a word, here are some of mine from previous years: fierce, glory, hope, beast. Happy New Year!
Chunky Vegetable Soup by Melanie Knight (serves 6)
Great way to use all those vegetables you bought for that fad diet!
Ingredients
- 1 -28oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 -15oz can tomato sauce
- 1 -15.5oz dark red kidney beans (drained & rinsed)
- 1 -15.5oz cannellini beans (white kidney beans) drained & rinsed
- 1 small sweet onion- diced
- 4 stalks celery, sliced on an angle
- 2 cups frozen veg-all
- 1 cup baby carrots
- ½ bag shredded cabbage (1/2 of a 10oz bag)
- 4 cups water
- 2 Bay leaves
- ½ tsp powdered garlic
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
In an instapot or crock pot, cook for 2-4 hours on high. There is no added salt, but you can top it with any of these options: Everything Bagel seasoning, croutons, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, Goldfish crackers, oyster crackers, crumbled cornbread. This is a delicious meal for lunch by itself, or as a side with a sandwich. Enjoy!
Berries & Nice-Cream! By Melanie Knight, serves 1
Ice-cream in the winter? Yes Ma’am! I once stood in line 30 minutes at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show in the dead of winter while wearing a full length wool coat just to get a milkshake! So worth it! The recipe below is healthier version!
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana, sliced and frozen (in layers in a ziplock)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup almond milk (can substitute regular milk)
- 1 strawberry sliced
- ¼ cup blueberries
Directions, with a blender (I used my Bullet), pulse the banana, vanilla and almond milk. You will need to stop and shake it, then blend again. Ready to serve when smooth, top with the strawberries and blueberries!
