Chop, Cook, Love

I had some free time today (ha ha ha) so i sat down with some home made guacamole and blue chips and watched one of those infomercials that promises to cut time and eliminate 15 cooking devices while all along making claims to keep the nutrients in the that boiling vegetables removes, well, yes they do if you boil them to the point where they are left a mushy grey mess, as the "show" illustrated then enthusiastically exclaim how the meal is soooooooooo good leaving us, the viewer, to only take their word for it.  Did you ever notice not one of them uses herbs or spices?  While watching this infomerical I was reminded of the guacamole that i had just made.  I cut the avocado and squished it, chopped the garlic, squeezed the lemon, put salt & pepper  and added a few other spices that made it that much more yummy.

While i sat watching this butchery of a cooking show I began to think of myself why is it so bad to spend the extra 10-20 minutes to make what ultimately is going to sustain you?  I'm all for saving time and space in my small kitchen but there is something to be said for taking the time to chop the onions (no matter how much they make you cry), peel the ginger, boil the water, and stand and watch your culinary concoction come to fruition.  Using spices like cumin, turmeric, and ginger not only make the food that much more medicinal but helps your digestion.

When you take the time to chop the ingredients and prep the meal not only are you ensured that what is going into your meal is healthy but there's one ingredient that is so important that is never mentioned in any recipe.  That is love.  The intention of love in your meal is not only soul boosting but it makes that meal so much better than any infomerical could describe.  That intention of nourishing not only in your body but the bodies of your loved ones is an ingredient that never gets stale, never goes rancid, nor never reaches an expiration date.

So this Whimpy Pallav is left with the thought...yes, everyone wants to save time in this world of instant gratification and wanting things faster and more efficient but there really is no substitute for having the peace of mind that what you are putting in your body is coming from a place of love.

Going Down the Rabbit Hole

I had the best weekend in such a long time.  I got out of the house, away from what is stressing me, and got myself rejuvenated, renewed, and refocused.  This past weekend brought me even more clarity about what and where I want to go in life. Some of the highlights include:

-Met some great new people
-Reconnected with some old classmates
-Got some new connections
-Got some new great ideas, techniques, and skills
-Got some neat new tools (wiggle wand anyone?)
-did an impromptu session on a complete stranger
-ate great food
-drank great wine (and a cosmopolitan or two three)
-oh, and i even channeled Elaine from Seinfield at the dinner (in-case you are lost here's a little clip to explain)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY_DF2Af3LM&feature=email


You know you are in the right spot when you walk down the hall and see someone lying on the floor with someone else sitting over them and whispering yet you don't even give it a second glance.  I, being the floor whore that I am, secretly wished I was on the floor too!

This was my second time at this conference and hope to go to many more.  I go with my fellow hypnogeek, Miss Pam.  She cracks me up.  We've started a tradition of taking the annual coca cola bottle picture. Last year it was on the window sill this year we took it at one of the tables in a class room and yes, that is a bed.  Not sure how or why it was there but in our line of work anything goes!

The hotel where the conference was held was in beautiful downtown Pasadena, CA.   They had some lovely sculptures in the lobby.  Here's one that i constantly felt drawn to.  It's such a pretty shade of blue.

So what did I learn this weekend?  1) You STILL can't fix stupid (even if it comes in the form of a speaker insulting key members of the conference) 2) These are my people!  Kind, loving, and not only interested in their own growth but are open to share what they know to help you with yours & 3) I'm going to start planting the seeds to open my own office.  Got any name suggestions?

This Whimpy Pallav is on her way!