Happy and Alive

· Blog

How often do we find ourselves in routines that keep our lives moving along smoothly and efficiently, but not necessarily with a sense of happiness or aliveness?

To get out of an old routine with breakfast lately, we've decided to do a new and different recipe on Sunday mornings, and we're loving it. Not only does it give us a break in our morning routine, but we get to experience new tastes, textures and sometimes discover new ways to make things.

Join us to hear more.

We were talking this morning about how we often go to the comfort of a routine, not just because it's efficient, but also because it feels safe. Feeling safe by stepping into a familiar situation is very comforting, but not always where the juice of life is found. Not always where we find the happiness and aliveness e're looking for.

Particularly when life looks hard or confusing, we often want to figure out how to fit the situation into a neat little formula that feels safe, fit it into a box of "how life works" and put a nice bow on it.

As much as we like the comfort of feeling safe by getting our ducks to line up and fit a picture of how we want life to work, it isn't always what we're really looking for. We're often looking for a deeper joy or happiness in life. And where we find the joy is in the present moment, without a preconceived notion of what that looks like. If you want to see this in action, watch little children.

What we were seeing this morning is that, if we're confused, the place to look is for clarity, not just an answer that fits the perceived problem. When I'm looking for an answer with a preconceived notion, it can be like looking for a blue pen in a room. I end up overlooking so much that's in the room because I have an idea of what I want to find. What the answer looks like. But, if I go into the room to see what's in there, I see so much more, and from there, can evaluate what might help most.

If I let my mind settle and get present, it's like the clarity that comes by putting a snow globe down. It doesn't necessarily mean I'll have the answer in an instant, but I lose the feeling of confusion when I'm present. In that clarity and presence. I see I don't know the answer yet, but I have the broader perspective and comfort that I'm okay and safe in that moment. I no longer experience the urgency to resolve the problem and can sense my connection to the wisdom of nature, where most good solutions come from.

I have yet to not find my way out of confusion, whatever the situation was. The difference was whether I suffered my way through with feelings of confusion and lack of clarity or an ease and patience in the clarity of being present.

The recipe this week is a plant based "omelet". It was a great way to break our breakfast routine!

To your Amazing Health,
Connie and Bill

broken image

Mung Bean “Egg” Omelet (Makes 4 servings)

“Eggs”:

  • 1 cup of split mung beans
  • 1 cup non-dairy, unsweetened milk
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ¼ tsp ground turmeric
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy or red pepper flakes

Filling:

  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 red sweet pepper
  • 6-8 mushrooms, diced
  • 2 cups spinach, large slice

Rinse mung beans well then soak overnight in 3 Cups water or cover with boiled water and let soak for 1 or 2 hours.

In non-stick pan, sauté onion, pepper and mushrooms, 3-4 minutes until onion is transparent.

While vegetables are cooking, blend mung beans with the milk and seasonings in a high-speed blender.

Add spinach to the vegetables and cook 1 minute more to wilt it.

Transfer the vegetables to a bowl and cover to keep warm.

Wipe out the fry pan and pour ¼ of the “egg” mixture in and roll the pan to move the mixture to the edges.

Flip the omelet when the underside is browned. Add some of the sautéed veggies and cook the other side for another minute or two, until brown.

Fold over and serve.