Finding sanctuary in my inner world. That is what writing is to me. A place I feel empowered and feel inspired. From a young age I wanted to be a writer. I remembered this bunny book I made when I was in grade school. I felt so accomplished and loved it. I wrote more "books" but through the years I lost sight of that dream. I started believing other people knew what was best for me. I lost touch of what I wanted. I lost touch of what made my fire inside flicker with orange and red sparks.
Writing did provide comfort for me in hard times. When my mom died my journals rescued me from the world I no longer desired. My journals were haunted with intense feelings and struggling against my reality. I moved through that time with my journals being my therapist. They never judged me or made me feel ashamed. I could write my most daunting thoughts down and my journal would absorb them keeping them secret. It was my sanctuary away from my reality. Time passed and feelings changed. I can thank the act of writing for helping me make sense of my feelings.
My journals would come to rescue me when hard realities hit me like a jolt of lightning. I hadn't given being a writer a second thought since being a kid then a few people started telling me I had a way with words. The idea of writing started fluttering through my thoughts. I remember what solace it provided me before and how it filled me with excitement. That is how I embarked on this adventure of writing my own blog.
I still feel weird calling myself a writer. In my mind I think I'm not a writer I haven't publish anything yet or have a small group of followers right now but I do write. Perhaps I'm a writer? A friend of mine was telling me I'm a writer and I thought I guess I am. That is a great feeling. No matter where you are at in your passion claim the name because you already are there.
Shouldn't we all be lucky enough to do what we love? Yes! Today and any day are the opportunity to pursue what makes your heart sing. Sometimes we get lost in what the world, our parents, our friends tell us to do. We believe they know what we need to do. I know I did. When we listen to what other people envision our life should be it becomes a task. It is like wading through a thick marsh. Every step develops into a struggle and the path ahead looks bleak. You look to the sky and scream with frustration, "is this all there is?"
One day the path becomes solid and you see a better way. Maybe somebody sees your talent when you can't. You take a class that brings your talents to the surface. You could be reflecting on what your childhood dreams were and it dawns on you. This is my life's passion. Let it crack open and flow out. Your passion is your gift to yourself and the world. We can relish in our talents even if it something we do after work, we stay up into the wee hours to do, or only get to do on the weekends. It is something that makes our life path blossom with flowers bringing a rainbow to our world.
Now is the time to bring those passions alive whatever they are. Give yourself permission to relish in your passion and make time for it in your life. If you are still in search of what it is reflect back to when you were a child and you had so many dreams. Listen to when other people give you compliments on. What captivates your attention and makes the world melt away? That could be it. I encourage you to find your passion. You will find giving time to your passion enhances the rest of your life.
Writing did provide comfort for me in hard times. When my mom died my journals rescued me from the world I no longer desired. My journals were haunted with intense feelings and struggling against my reality. I moved through that time with my journals being my therapist. They never judged me or made me feel ashamed. I could write my most daunting thoughts down and my journal would absorb them keeping them secret. It was my sanctuary away from my reality. Time passed and feelings changed. I can thank the act of writing for helping me make sense of my feelings.
My journals would come to rescue me when hard realities hit me like a jolt of lightning. I hadn't given being a writer a second thought since being a kid then a few people started telling me I had a way with words. The idea of writing started fluttering through my thoughts. I remember what solace it provided me before and how it filled me with excitement. That is how I embarked on this adventure of writing my own blog.
I still feel weird calling myself a writer. In my mind I think I'm not a writer I haven't publish anything yet or have a small group of followers right now but I do write. Perhaps I'm a writer? A friend of mine was telling me I'm a writer and I thought I guess I am. That is a great feeling. No matter where you are at in your passion claim the name because you already are there.
Shouldn't we all be lucky enough to do what we love? Yes! Today and any day are the opportunity to pursue what makes your heart sing. Sometimes we get lost in what the world, our parents, our friends tell us to do. We believe they know what we need to do. I know I did. When we listen to what other people envision our life should be it becomes a task. It is like wading through a thick marsh. Every step develops into a struggle and the path ahead looks bleak. You look to the sky and scream with frustration, "is this all there is?"
One day the path becomes solid and you see a better way. Maybe somebody sees your talent when you can't. You take a class that brings your talents to the surface. You could be reflecting on what your childhood dreams were and it dawns on you. This is my life's passion. Let it crack open and flow out. Your passion is your gift to yourself and the world. We can relish in our talents even if it something we do after work, we stay up into the wee hours to do, or only get to do on the weekends. It is something that makes our life path blossom with flowers bringing a rainbow to our world.
Now is the time to bring those passions alive whatever they are. Give yourself permission to relish in your passion and make time for it in your life. If you are still in search of what it is reflect back to when you were a child and you had so many dreams. Listen to when other people give you compliments on. What captivates your attention and makes the world melt away? That could be it. I encourage you to find your passion. You will find giving time to your passion enhances the rest of your life.
"I can thank the act of writing for helping me make sense of my feelings."
Flowery Spring Rolls
These were inspired from a yoga day I went to. The Great Kosmic Kitchen made spring rolls with pansies and I thought that is amazing. Also, oh so beautiful.
I used Cookie and Kate's recipe for the peanut sauce! I ended up using the peanut sauce for a rice noodle dish later since I had some left over. It is great if you have some left over too. Thanks for the inspiration both of you guys!
These are so fun and easy to make. The presentation is dazzling with colors! Eating and making beautiful food is one of my passions! (I love combining my passions together.) These are definitely something to impress your guests with.
Ingredients:
A package of spring roll wrappers/rice pancakes
1 cup of frondosa mushrooms or whatever you like, chopped
1 cup of cremini mushrooms, chopped
1 cucumber, cut into spears
3-4 carrots depending on size, cut into spears
2 cups of sunflower sprouts
1-2 avocados
1 cup of pansies
1/4 minced cilantro
1/4-1/2 cup of rice vinegar
1-2 teaspoons of tamari
1 tablespoon of sesame oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon of grated ginger
*You'll also need a bowl of warm water and damp tea towel
Instructions:
1. I like to cut up the carrots and cucumber first then put in long shallow dish so that they are all laid flat. Then pour over the rice vinegar (suggest starting with the 1/4 cup and add enough to cover them). These should marinate while you make the mushrooms and get the rest of the ingredients ready.
2. Chop mushrooms. Put sesame oil in a pan and turn heat to medium. Add mushrooms. Cook till most of the water is gone 4-5 minutes. Then add 1 teaspoon of tamari (more if you like), garlic and ginger. Mix and cook for 2 minutes. Set aside to cool.
3. Assembly time! You want to have your ingredients close by so you can easily put them in the wraps. Get a bowl large enough to fit a rice paper in and add warm water. Dampen a tea towel and put it over your cutting board or counter. Place a piece of rice paper in the water till soft and pliable about 15-20 seconds. Remove and gently lay on the tea towel. Lay 3 pansies face down on the rice paper. Then add a couple slices of cucumber, carrots, a tablespoon of mushrooms (or more), slice or two of avocado and sprouts on top of pansies. Sprinkle cilantro over top. Remember to not over fill it as it because it makes it hard to roll up. (I've done this many times.) Fold bottoms in like a burrito and roll up. Repeat. Serve immediately. This should make 10-12 spring rolls.
Peanut Sauce
Ingredients:
3/4 cup of creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup of water
1/3 cup reduced sodium tamari or reduced sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 medium garlic cloves, pressed or minced
1/2-1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, depending on preference
1 tablespoon of chopped roasted peanuts for garnish
Instructions:
In a medium size bowl mix all the ingredients together except the peanuts. If the sauce is too thick add additional water to thin it out.
Serve with flowery spring rolls. There will most likely be some peanut sauce left over so use it as a dipping sauce for vegetables, make more spring rolls, or throw over rice noodles.
I love this in the summer time because it is cool, refreshing and visually appealing meal. Experiment with different ingredients in the rolls. I would love to hear what you think or all the variations you experimented with!
I used Cookie and Kate's recipe for the peanut sauce! I ended up using the peanut sauce for a rice noodle dish later since I had some left over. It is great if you have some left over too. Thanks for the inspiration both of you guys!
These are so fun and easy to make. The presentation is dazzling with colors! Eating and making beautiful food is one of my passions! (I love combining my passions together.) These are definitely something to impress your guests with.
Ingredients:
A package of spring roll wrappers/rice pancakes
1 cup of frondosa mushrooms or whatever you like, chopped
1 cup of cremini mushrooms, chopped
1 cucumber, cut into spears
3-4 carrots depending on size, cut into spears
2 cups of sunflower sprouts
1-2 avocados
1 cup of pansies
1/4 minced cilantro
1/4-1/2 cup of rice vinegar
1-2 teaspoons of tamari
1 tablespoon of sesame oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon of grated ginger
*You'll also need a bowl of warm water and damp tea towel
Instructions:
1. I like to cut up the carrots and cucumber first then put in long shallow dish so that they are all laid flat. Then pour over the rice vinegar (suggest starting with the 1/4 cup and add enough to cover them). These should marinate while you make the mushrooms and get the rest of the ingredients ready.
2. Chop mushrooms. Put sesame oil in a pan and turn heat to medium. Add mushrooms. Cook till most of the water is gone 4-5 minutes. Then add 1 teaspoon of tamari (more if you like), garlic and ginger. Mix and cook for 2 minutes. Set aside to cool.
3. Assembly time! You want to have your ingredients close by so you can easily put them in the wraps. Get a bowl large enough to fit a rice paper in and add warm water. Dampen a tea towel and put it over your cutting board or counter. Place a piece of rice paper in the water till soft and pliable about 15-20 seconds. Remove and gently lay on the tea towel. Lay 3 pansies face down on the rice paper. Then add a couple slices of cucumber, carrots, a tablespoon of mushrooms (or more), slice or two of avocado and sprouts on top of pansies. Sprinkle cilantro over top. Remember to not over fill it as it because it makes it hard to roll up. (I've done this many times.) Fold bottoms in like a burrito and roll up. Repeat. Serve immediately. This should make 10-12 spring rolls.
Peanut Sauce
Ingredients:
3/4 cup of creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup of water
1/3 cup reduced sodium tamari or reduced sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 medium garlic cloves, pressed or minced
1/2-1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, depending on preference
1 tablespoon of chopped roasted peanuts for garnish
Instructions:
In a medium size bowl mix all the ingredients together except the peanuts. If the sauce is too thick add additional water to thin it out.
Serve with flowery spring rolls. There will most likely be some peanut sauce left over so use it as a dipping sauce for vegetables, make more spring rolls, or throw over rice noodles.
I love this in the summer time because it is cool, refreshing and visually appealing meal. Experiment with different ingredients in the rolls. I would love to hear what you think or all the variations you experimented with!
"It is something that makes our life path blossom with flowers bringing a rainbow to our world."
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