So I have been thinking about two things lately. The first is sense of self and the second is mindfulness. These are two terms that are sort of abstract and easily chalked up to "psychobabble", but actually I am starting to believe that they are the keys to happiness (along with good coffee, a nice glass of wine once in a while, a good run, a good hair day, warm sun with the hint of spring, a rainstorm with lots of thunder and lightening that has that good rain smell, and good friends that really "get you") Talking about sense of self first; sense of self is defined as those roles, attributes, behaviors, and associations that we consider most important about ourselves. In my opinion, when one does not have a strong sense of self, we let others form our sense of self by the way the react to us or their opinions about us. When we are weak in our own self-esteem, which usually starts being formed when we are very young, then we take in others sense of how we are perceived and form this into our sense of self. What it has taken me about 45 1/2 years to learn is that unless your happiness comes from within and you know what truly makes you happy, you wallow through life depending on others opinions of you, therefore living your life to gain others approval. Your sense of self when you live this way is actually a reflected sense of self, you seeing yourself how others see you, when the truth is that they may not know you at all. When you look inside and think about what things truly make you happy, things that are important to you and that don't depend on others, then you have the beginning of the early stages of happiness. I'm not sure if this will make sense to everyone, but it has truly awakened me.
Next, speaking of mindfulness, here I am talking about being present in the moment. Still a huge work in progress for me. My mind always seems to be running 2 steps ahead of what I am actually doing. This is very exhausting. So for example, if I am weeding in the garden, instead of thinking about the cool soil on my hands, the sound of the birds, the smell of the outside-I am usually thinking whats for dinner, do I have time to go to the store? A good way I am finding of practicing this skill is when people are talking to me I am really trying to listen, to take in their story and consider their feelings, rather then letting my mind wander. It is a difficult skill but one that I think can be refined with practice until it becomes a part of ones life skills. The one time I think I am truly mindful is when I am running and that is perhaps because you cant really ignore what your body is telling you when you are really exerting yourself and often with me and running, it is one tenth of a mile at a time.
I do have to say that lately I am the happiest I have been in a really long time and this is good!
Recipe of the Week
This was the hands down winner over the last week and very very easy.
Mashed Potato Enchialdas
Ingredients:
Mashed potatoes (and to be perfectly honest, I used ore ida frozen steamer mashed potatoes, I used the redskin skin ones, they microwave in the bag and then you mash them your self)
One clove garlic (minced)
2 cans Enchilada Sauce, you can use red or green
Shredded Sharp Cheddar cheese.
Flour tortillas
Saute the minced clove of garlic in a little bit of olive oil until just softened, dont let it get brown. Add it to the mashed potatoes and mix it up, season the mashed potatoes as you like them with some salt and pepper.
In a glass baking dish line the bottom of the pan with enchilada sauce , take the rest of that can and pour in a large bowl. Take your flour tortillas and dip them in the bowl of enchilada sauce until coated on both sides, fill the tortilla with the mashed potato mix and fold as you would a burrito. Place in glass pan. Continue the process until your pan is full of lined up enchiladas, take the second can of sauce and top the enchiladas with the sauce. Top with shredded cheese and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes.
The kids loved it, I served it with Spanish Rice and sour cream.
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