Reading Between the Lines

Before I explain what the heck the title of my post means, I’ll talk food first. Yeah!

My ultimate breakfast only fit for a foodie…

• 1/2 c. dry oats
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 Naner
• 2 TBSP Authentic Peanut Butter
• Sprinkle ‘o Cinnamon

….and 2 cups of Newman’s Own Organic Vanilla Caramel Coffee.

I knew I had to get a hefty breakfast in me to fuel up for my spanish test this morning. I’m feelin’ really good about the test! My spanish teacher is so nice and always smiling, so that could be a little decieving when it comes to figuring out if I actually did well or not! The reason you only see 1 TBSP PB in my actual breakfast at the moment of the picture is because I have picked up Kath’s tip of leaving it on the spoon and cannot fit 2 TBSP on my spoon at once, so I eat until the first TBSP is gone and then open up another packet of those portable Peanut Butters and continue to eat. They are so good! All my friends tease me about it, and take some for the cafeteria and give them to me at random times during the week. Hahaha. The secret’s out!

My roomate is on the track team and had a recruit stay over last night, and we all decided to go to 10 o’clock mass. It was my first time going to the chapel for this late night mass since the first week of school. Despite religious views, it was a really nice way to wrap up the weekend and get my week started on the right note.

I am definitley getting better and training my stomach and brain to honor my hunger smarter, meaning my body is starting to adapt to larger meals, and eating more regular snacks (1-2 in between meals as opposed to 3-4). Our bodies are so smart it makes me smile!

This morning after hanging around after class, I made myself a yummy protein-packed snack:

This combo:

• 1/2 cup Breakstone’s cottage cheese
• 1/2 mashed naner
• 1/2 TBSP PB
• small handful Kashi Go Lean Crunch!

Make sure to mash up the banana really quick with the cottage cheese. Then mix in the peanut butter, too. Whip it around fast! then add your choice of crunch, which happened to be Kashi Go Lean Crunch for me today. Sprinkle cinnamon if you wish, nutmeg, or pumpkin spice!

…Hmmmmm! So good! This should definitely hold me over until lunch. We’ll have to see!

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Cherokee Wisdom

This is a story one of my mother’s best friends sent me for inspiration, and I want to share it with you guys! It is an old tale of ethics, outlooks, and simple inspiration!

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

I really liked this story because of the moral it teaches! I really like the “deeper meaning” of it when I read between the lines. For me, it symbolizes the two voices. One wants to constantly bring me down, back into old negative thinking patterns which spark negative behaviors and actions.

The other wolf is looking out for me, it has that positive and encouraging voice that always pushes me to do my best. It motivates me to continue living my life the way I want to, in a spiritual manner viewing everyone as beings of light, love, and energy. This is really important to me. When I hear the good wolf in my ear, I can see life through a clear lens. I have a positive outlook and am determined to make the most out of life.

It takes practice to fade away the bad wolf, and many different things can trigger it. I have learned that everyone has a bad wolf, caused my anything from stress, anxiety, a triggering event, etc. But we can all overcome it. Like the story says, if you feed the bad voice with self-defeating thoughts and behaviors, it will dominate you. But if you feed the good wolf with positive affirmations, it will forever prosper.

Look at your strengths, experiences, values, goals, struggles, victories, triumphs, personal energy and your overall aura. I have heard many people say writing an affirmation really helps them think positively throughout the day. Give, love, be kind, have an open heart and mind, and most of all respect yourself and others. Keep in mind that everyone is on their own journey, and in order for us to understand this, we must be aware and have deference.

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I’ve got class at 11 and then have plans for lunch with my friends. I’m meeting with my adviser around 1:30 to discuss my schedule for next semester. Yay! Wish me luck! Have an excellent Monday!