It Begins
The story behind the blog.
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A Year of Change
There has been a handful of years in my life that were full of change and growth. This past year is a year that will compete with those other transitional time periods. This post is written for me, but perhaps others will enjoy hearing about my life.
Career
Although I am still in the same position as the previous year, this year I have experienced growth in a new way. With the adoption of an ELA curriculum, I feel more connected and purposeful with classroom teachers and students than I have have ever felt. I am supporting learning and my ultimate goal, an urge to want to know more and instill a love of learning. I feel like I really know my place in my role and how I fit into the education puzzle.
Another way I have grown is by attempting to find a better work/life balance. I am spending less time working at home on projects and really trying to make the most out of the time I have at school. I felt guilt about this initially, but I am seeing how it makes me a better LRC Director and allows me to be there for my students because I can take care of myself.
Health
It may not feel like it right now since I’ve been sick for about a month and a half, but this is the healthiest I have ever been. Although I’ve lost 25 pounds this year, that is not what in contributing the most to my overall health growth, but rather an after effect to choices I have made. I will talk about some of these pieces in more depth below, but by going vegan with a whole-food, plant-based focus, getting rid of alcohol, and adopting spiritual habits, I am truly changing my physical being, as well as my mental wiring. I am seeing life in a new way and I am very excited to dig deeper into this next year.
As I write this, I am in a bit of a rut. Feeling sick plays with me mentally, but even so, I have hope and know that joy and fulfillment are near.
Diet
I started the year as a vegetarian, and began my vegan journey in May. I learned quickly that just getting rid of animal products was not enough. It is very easy to be a junk food addict while still being vegan. In the summer, I made the shift to a more whole-food, plant-based diet. I am not 100% perfect because I still use oil and a few other processed foods, but I would say I am about 95% there. I will occasionally eat an Impossible something or indulge with rich coconut milk in my meals, but overall I eat very healthy. My main focus is a diversity of plants. I follow Dr. B and believe in building a healthy gut microbiome. I have found a new love of cooking and eating since making these changes and I can’t imagine ever going back.
Spirituality
I have always believed in a higher power and a transcendent way of thinking. This year I started trying to figure out what I actually believe in. I am listening to the Bible as an audiobook (it is a bit lengthy) and I am adopting a meditative practice. Although Buddhism interests me, I would say that the meditation I am doing is less religious and more a mindfulness practice. I have read several books and listened to many podcasts to try to figure out which form of meditation I want to adopt. At the moment, I am attempting to do 10 minutes of meditation a day with focus on the breath. I have tried meditation with a mantra, but I have found I am less able to concentrate. My goal is to increase my morning meditation to 20 minutes and introduce an after-work meditation. The idea is that by meditating before the evening, I am able to be more present for time with family.
Meditation has really helped me as I have gotten rid of alcohol. Although alcohol served multiple purposes for me, one was trying to escape. Meditation has taught me that I don’t need to escape, but rather let go. I am able to confront my thoughts with more confidence and then release them.
Family
The year started with a time that was very scary and I felt insecure. Right before the new year I took both of my parents into the hospital. My dad hurt his back lifting mom and my mom had both a UTI and C Diff. The month that followed that was really hard. There was a lot of unknown and there were many fears I had to face. It was hard, but I did it. I not only learned what I can be capable of, but also that I am not alone. I thought this year was going to be filled with that type of experience, but things turned around. Best of all, my loved ones are here and I am so thankful for that.
Intellect
I feel like I did not read as much this year, but that was because I fell in love with podcasts. I took a bit of a break from children’s literature to work on some personal growth. My favorite podcasts focused on whole-food, plant-based eating and happiness. I highly recommend the PlantStrong Podcast as well as the Rich Roll Podcast if you are interested in those topics. I will share a bibliography below of resources I’d recommend for intellectual growth :).
Finances
I have never been good with money. I often spent money I didn’t have and did not create a budget. That has changed thanks to Dave Ramsey. For the first time, I feel educated on how to manage money and have a plan to turn around our financial well-being.
As I reflect on this, I can’t help but think how cool it is that certain people enter our lives and can make such a profound difference. Our financial growth journey all began with a brief conversation in the teacher’s lounge with a co-worker. I’m thankful that I am a person who is vulnerable and I am surrounded by people who are willing to be vulnerable with me. Through that, I feel so connected and life keeps proving that solutions are out there if you are willing to face your problems and open up about them.
Home
We have kind of been through a lot with our home and this year was no exception. In the spring we found out that our sewer line had a bow in it and that they’d have to dig through our foundation to replace it. Of course when they went in, they found more damage than expected and thousands of dollars later we have a new section of sewer line, an uneven concrete foundation, and a floor that has a dip in it. It is what it is, but we are really hoping we can have a break from all of these home-owner hardships.
I think the hard part is not feeling like we are in the clear or that we are safe. Michael and I are constantly on edge that something bad is going to happen.
Another dilemma that came from our house issues was me making the mistake of filing too many claims with our insurance. I had no idea that you can’t put in a claim for everything that could be covered by insurance because they will drop you. That is exactly what happened. Now we are on the insurance naughty list and get to pay more than double for our home-owners insurance. Lesson learned-the hard way.
Daily Choices
I’ve done a lot of learning this year, and one of those topics is about climate change. I’m scared. I’m worried about what our world will be like for my son and future generations. I think too many people don’t understand the repercussions of an increased temperature for our planet. It doesn’t just mean warmer days ahead or just stronger storms. It means drought, famine, refugee crisis, war, chaos. I’m one person, and I may not be able to fix this, but I can make changes in my life and try to share the message. So, here are some changes I’ve made to try to slow down climate change:
- Stopped eating animal products-animal agriculture is a leading cause of climate change (methane gas is much more harmful than carbon dioxide)
- Compost food scrapes to prevent landfill waste which actually takes longer to decompose and produces more gases
- Reducing plastic use-no water bottles, utensils, grocery bags, etc.
- Trying to use more green products like laundry detergent, soaps, cleaners, etc.
- Reducing textiles in landfills and fast fashion by shopping at Goodwill
In Summary
This year has resulted in so much change and when I think about why all of this has happened in such a short time, I realize that Edwin is the reason for so much of my positive growth. He constantly makes me want to be a better person. I want to be a role model for him and be here.
2024 Hopes and Dreams
This past year has brought so much change and I am curious what next year will look like. Here are some things I hope might happen for myself:
- Continue to try to be more sustainable
- Improve vegetable gardening skills
- Become more financially fit
- Travel – for real
- Meditation becomes a habit
- More time outside
- Improve physical strength and flexibility
- Try out many more recipes
- Find ways to improve my community/the world
- Create
- Help others
- Learn more
Bibliography (just some of my favorites)
Podcasts
- Build the Life You Want on Rich Roll -Happiness
- Meditation Masterclass on Rich Roll -Meditation
- Dr. B on Plantstrong – Gut Microbiome
- Adam Sud on Blonde Files -addiction
Books
Documentaries
- What the Health
- Forks Over Knives
- Cowspiracy
- Before the Flood
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Combating Illness
The past month and a half has been rough for our household. So many bugs going around and we can’t quite seem to shake the cold/virus/whatever this is.
Today I made a soup that will hopefully build up some immunity and its anti-inflammatory properties will kick some symptoms out of here. In the past I have not been a fan of cauliflower, but it is one of my favorite ingredients now. This soup does not have a strong cauliflower taste, so it might be a good one to try out if you are hesitant about this cruciferous vegetable. It is very comforting and rich with flavor.
Recipe modified from Simplyquinoa.com
Ingredients:
- 1 medium head of cauliflower chopped (leaves too)
- 1 medium shallot quartered
- 4 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 cup red lentils
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 1/2 cups unsweetened oat milk divided
- Garnishes: fresh herbs cracked pepper, lemon, olive oil, etc.
- Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
- Add the cauliflower, shallots and garlic to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and spices and toss to combine. Roast for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through. I use a casserole pan or dutch oven to make this a one-pot dish.
- Once roasted, put on the stove and add lentils, broth, and 2 cups of milk, and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and reduce to simmer for 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and blend until smooth. Stir in remaining milk.
- Serve immediately and top with desired garnishes. I like lemon juice, cracked pepper, and the roasted cauliflower leaves.
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I Am No Longer Alcohol’s Prisoner
Alcohol, specifically wine, has been a big part of my life for quite some time. My love for drinking began at a time when I was very shy and desperately wanting to fit in. Drinking allowed me to relax and open up-to help me be social.
Beyond giving me a false confidence in myself, it also created a romanticized way of living. After college, travel became my ultimate passion. My travels have always been filled with bountiful pours of wine and spirits “from the culture”. One month, I lived in an apartment in Paris and the amount of wine I drank in those four weeks had me in a drunken bliss for most of my time there.
As my travels have slowed down, I attempt to feel like I can have my little escape by drinking wine daily; about half a bottle a day lately.
This is not the way I want to live. This is not the person I want to be. I’ve known for the past couple of years that I have a dependency on alcohol, and I’ve battled with how to tackle it. I’ve tried moderation, not drinking on the weekdays, and keep coming back to what I am now realizing is my truth-I need to let it go.
I’ve read several books now and follow many people who have taken the sober route, and I keep noticing a common theme: they are so much happier. I’ve feared quitting completely because I worry about relationships changing. This is my choice, and I would never judge someone if their choice is to drink, but I worry people will not like the person I am without alcohol. I’m worried they will feel uncomfortable drinking around me or think I can’t participate in the same activities. I’ve reached a point where I can’t let that hold me back anymore.
I’ve had a half a bottle of petite syrah sitting on my countertop this past week, and yesterday I decided to pour it down the sink. My parents and Michael were here and offered nothing but complete support and love. As I watched the wine empty from the bottle, I cried. I felt like I was losing part of myself down the drain, but down deep I know that I am about to truly find myself.
I titled this article “I Am No Longer Alcohol’s Prisoner” because that is exactly how I have felt the past two years. It is controlling my life and I am tired of it. This is why I can’t just do moderation. Wine consumes my thoughts when I can’t have it, and I look for excuses on why it is okay to stop and pick some up at the store. I’m done.
I’m sharing this because maybe I’m not alone in feeling this way. I’m not here to preach or convince anyone about what they should do. I’m also sharing to help hold myself accountable. I don’t want to look back.
Hello, my name is Melissa, and I am choosing a sober, present life.
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A Vegan Experiment
Ever since becoming whole-food, plant-based, I have wanted to spread the love. I’ve learned so many things and tried so many dishes that I feel, if people only knew, they’d want to jump on the bandwagon.
My dad has been one of my biggest supporters as I’ve aligned my values with my choices for food. Our morning conversations are often about what new things I’m learning, or new food I have tried. Although he used to be king of the Atkin’s diet (which is just about as far away from my diet as you can get), he is curious. I heard opportunity knocking.
With my dad’s 75th birthday approaching, I decided that one of the gifts I wanted to give him was a week full of my way of life. I was going to wait till his birthday, but I could tell he was eager to try it out, so we started a little sooner. I curated a 5 day menu with three meals each day. I tried to incorporate different flavors, diverse foods, and possible substitutions for some of his favorites. I then prepared these meals and organized three bags for him to pick up.
I was so excited about his anticipation for starting. I tested his taste buds a bit, but he was willing to go on the adventure. Here is a look at his menu as well as diverse foods he had in his meal plan. That is over 60 different plant-based foods in case you were wondering :).
So, how did it go? Well, I can’t say I’ve totally converted him, but I’ve got him thinking about what he eats and introduced some new favorites for him. Let’s see what he had to say…
About the overnight oats, “this will be one of my every breakfast meals.”
Toasted everything bagel with guacamole- “Fan favorite.”
Roasted vegetables with garlic noodles- “excellent.”
Grilled cabbage wrap- “excellent.”
Vegan sloppy joe’s with baked potato- “excellent.”
Unfortunately, he only completed 4 days of the challenge due to some added on stress, but overall I’m happy he has some take-aways that he wants to apply to his own cooking and everyday life. Perhaps he doesn’t need cream cheese anymore. Ground beef? Those Gardein meatless crumbles are pretty awesome. Chorizo and eggs for breakfast? How about oatmeal instead?
There was a little piece of me that was hoping that I could completely convert him, but I think I need to take a step back. I, myself, did not covert overnight. I began as a pescatarian in July of 2022, then vegetarian, and finally a vegan in May of 2023. Even the journey from vegan to whole-food, plant-based didn’t happen overnight. In the end, I’m so thankful to have people in my life who embrace my choices and are willing to try out pieces along the ride. Whether they want me to make them something, want to hear my thoughts, advocate for me, or are kind enough to make a special dish just for me – my loved ones are the coolest.
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