It was school vacation last week and everyone seemed lighter in spirit. I certainly was more at ease, having freed myself from obligations and responsibilities. I had more of a spring in my step. I found myself wondering why don’t we feel this way everyday? Is this a conscious choice? Are we choosing to make things harder than they need to be?
Sometimes the easy choices aren’t clear. For example, after a love affair with wine for several decades, I developed an allergy to it a few years back, with symptoms of horrendous congestion and headaches for the 24 hours following any wine consumption. Dismayed at the development, I chose to take Claritan before having wine, since it minimized my symptoms (yes, it does say not to drink alcohol when you are taking it RIGHT THERE ON THE BOX!). While speaking to someone about my predicament they commented, “Wow, you must be really allergic. You should probably not drink wine anymore.” And there it was. The sudden and surprising truth that I had been avoiding. Why had I been choosing to make life difficult for myself?
In our everyday lives we shoulder burdens and sometimes make them heavier than they need to be. We allow ourselves to grind through the day, and ignore the easy path. Maybe the easy choices are truly the better ones and we don’t need to be carrying all that mental and emotional luggage. Maybe, just maybe, it can feel like vacation everyday.
Vacation Slaw Recipe
Here’s a recipe I made during the vacation week, a twist on a recipe from “Paleo Cooking from Elena’s Pantry:” Jicama, Beet & Carrot Slaw. All of us, including the teenagers, loved it! It’s a great addition to your repertoire as we enter into the full swing of spring.
In a Cuisinart fitted with the grating blade, grate:
1/2 jicama root
5-6 carrots
2 beets
Put this slaw in a mixing bowl and add 1/2 cup of orange juice, 3 T olive oil, and 1/4 cup brown rice vinegar.
Enjoy!