Greens with Fried Tortellini and Prosciutto

Guest Blog by Shirley Miller from  the blog of fellow Retreat Coach Jo Hatcher 

I’m writing this to encourage you to take a long look and ask yourself when was the last time you took quality time and space for just you? I’m sure there are a lot of you who are much smarter than I’ve been. But for those of you who are driving yourself hard, focused to get the job done now matter how hard it is on you, and on those few vacation times you find yourself pushing hard just to meet all the demands and commitments to fulfill those time offs, please read my article and give it some contemplation.

Shirley Miller: A Woman who will inspire you

In the process of being a good provider and supporting my family, I neglected to take quality time out for me for a lifetime and today I’m home bound fighting cancer for my seventh year.

Cancer forced me into an earlier retirement than I could afford so there wasn’t an abundance of time to figure out how to survive the process. Now when I look back I clearly realize that it isn’t all about money.

With the cancer battle came a blessing of awakening in greater awareness. The past six years have gone by quickly, but have been well spent. I don’t harbor regrets and if onlys, but want to share with you how easy life can fly by leaving you behind. I truly believe that we need to take a lesson from Europeans who understand the meaning and worth of long holidays in order to really restore oneself. We all know and share the importance of money in our lives, and how important it is to be responsible and accountable to earn one’s living. In our American culture too much emphasis is placed on making money, and too many of us have totally missed out on quality vacations and holidays of peace, relaxation and fun.

The day before Christmas eve I had planned to meet my friend Jo Hatcher at our local Austrian bakery for coffee and when I arrived at that bakery there was this big CLOSED sign on their window. I was very unhappy they closed because after all it was not even Christmas eve yet and I wanted my coffee there. Then as I waited for my friend to arrive I relaxed back in my car realizing that the old me was still there and stuck in attitude. The owners of this bakery were so smart to take an extra day and have a longer holiday to enjoy. Good for them. I laughed at myself realizing how structured and focused I have been for a lifetime. That’s a hard pattern to change. Jo and I ended up having an unplanned delightful breakfast at another local restaurant, which might not have been so much fun if we had just had coffee at this bakery. From six years of battling cancer that tenaciously wants to come back along with countless side effects, I’ve become stronger in my convictions to not just do the battle of work and the fight for life, but to step back allowing rest and fun to enter the process. In all of this I consider myself a true beginner at living life to it’s fullest.

Here are My Beginner’s Secrets that I’ve learned to date. As I share these thoughts with you, remember what Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.”

» Meditate daily. As you become still you truly connect with who you are; you become detached from the chaos of the world around you, and begin to recognize your ego that separates you from yourself. This begins the opening of one’s higher consciousness.

» Every day Give thanks for the blessings of life (your creation, the breath of life, the strong heart beat, your beautiful body, your healthy mind and magnificent soul). Sing on praises of thanks for all that you appreciate and all those you cloak/protect in light.

» Always Focus on the the NOW! Never give up; remembering for every down moment there’s more positive moments to be learned and experienced~~all you have to do is ask and call it to you. Giving up is not an option until we’re told it’s time from that higher power.

» Don’t waste time worrying; it’s draining and unproductive.

» Let your child come back inside you; give her or him opportunity to share their point of view. It will surprise you how wise your stuffed away inner child is, and how much they want to be incorporated into your adult life.

» Continue to Be curious by studying to learn more about this beautiful world and all it offers because learning is fun.

» When faced with only one answer or none at all, Remind yourself that there’s always other ways to think outside the box and call to your universe for ideas asking to give you honesty on every level of your life, and to be wise and discerning as you receive this information and invoke the positive. If this fails, check out Auntie Mame DVD starring Rosalind Russell — this will get you going. My favorite line she says is, “Life’s a banquet and most poor suckers don’t know how to come to the table.”

» Continue to LOVE no matter how ugly it becomes at times. Shine love in light from within you sending it outward to all around you like a shining star. Another analogy I prefer is the blasting of laser beam light around you. Funny thing about this step is that you need your inner child’s purity of heart to do this. Ask nor expect nothing in return; let all be as it’s meant to be; try not to interfere, remembering that we are all one and connected to each other and our life journies are each unique and all important.

» Release negative energy or happenings tossed at you that don’t belong with you. Be quick to forgive others for hurting you, and quicker to forgive yourself for having the consciousness to be hurt. Release…release…release.

» Celebrate every moment you’ve accomplished something (no matter how small or huge the experience) because you’ve done it! Hug yourself and dance, laugh and sing. Life is yummy and should be celebrated.

Why not go to Italy?

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Wild Rice Salad 

1 Cup wild rice (rinsed well)

1 small can mild green chilies

½ Cup scallions or red onion finely chopped

1 Cup raisins (or combination dried cranberries/apricots/cherries)

1 small can mandarin orange segments (save some of juice for dressing) Or

1 Apple diced (I leave the skin on)

1 small can black olives sliced (optional)

1 small can water chestnuts sliced (optional)

¾ Cup toasted almonds

¼ cup fresh parsley chopped

¼ Cup fresh mint chopped

Dressing

½ cup olive oil

¼ cup vinegar (any light vinegar- red wine or apple cider)

2-3 cloves garlic minced

1 Tbs Dijon mustard

2-3 Tbs mandarin orange juice (optional)

 Wisk together all ingredients for dressing- set aside

Cook wild rice until firm only!  Do not overcook as rice will become mushy.  I cook it by rule of thumb standards of 1 cup rice/2 cups liquid so, when liquid is absorbed it is al dente.  (Standard for wild rice is 3 cups liquid to 1 cup rice)  I sometimes cook it in chicken broth.   Cool rice completely before adding rest of ingredients.  Add all ingredients except almonds, parsley, mint and oranges or apples.  Add dressing.  Its best if you can let it sit overnight otherwise refrigerate until ready to serve.  Add fresh fruit, parsley & almonds right before serving.

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