A Warm and Restful Holiday Season
Tis the season for....stress, anxiety, depression, frustration? I sure hope not. I, for one, want warmth, love and rest. What does the season bring up for you?
In the last few weeks I've sent tips on handling stress around the holidays and I hope they were useful. For many people, though, it's a bit more than stress. It can bring up grief, depression, old feelings of unworthiness and so much more.
Part of what happens is that we feel tired, exhausted sometimes actually. This has to do with society being hard on us, work demands of trying to go on vacation, extra financial burdens - as well as a season change. In times like this, it's so important to practice those activities that bring us comfort, rejuvenation and rest. There may be a 'just get through it' sort of impulse, but when we do this we set ourselves up for increased stress, decreased immunity and a general state of unwellness.
Consider the things you love about the season, maybe the scents, the warmth of a fire, the comforting foods or other aspects. Do more of that and less of the things that bring you down. If that means turning down an invitation to a party or reducing time with people that don't bring you joy or putting on your jammies and staying in them for the day - do that.
Go easy on yourselves as we begin our journey back to light, back to renewal and to goals. Take time - maybe a lot of time - to take care of yourself like you would a loved one in need of comfort.
Cranberry Pecan Brussel Sprouts
Ingredients
5 heaping cups Brussels sprouts
¾ slightly heaping cup pecan nuts , walnuts make a good sub.
1 cup dried cranberries
1 pomegranate , optional
Instructions
Wash the Brussels sprouts, removing any old leaves and the stubby bit of stalk. Shred the Brussels sprouts as finely as you can and put them into a large bowl. I use a food processor to do this as it makes it so quick and easy. Chop the nuts into small pieces and add them too along with the dried cranberries. Blend the dressing ingredients together until completely smooth. If you prefer a slightly thinner dressing just add a few drops of water until you get to the consistency you like. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to distribute evenly. Sprinkle with a few extra cranberries and pecans if you wish and also some optional pomegranate arils too if you have them.
Dressing
1 large orange , zest and juice
1 shallot , or a small chunk of sweet onion
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar , or white wine vinegar
5 pecan nuts , walnuts make a good sub.
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon salt , to taste
black pepper , to taste
This weeks recipe comes from my A Virtual Vegan
