Anti-Social Media

Something good, every day.

Practicing Meditation

For ten minutes every morning I sit cross-legged on a cushion on my living room floor. If I’m cold I wrap a cozy blanket around my shoulders. I put on my headphones and launch my meditation app.

Sometimes I play the daily guided meditation, some days I choose a theme, and every once in a while I just set the timer.

Inhale deeply, eyes closed, straight back, shoulders relaxed, hands resting on knees, exhale. Be present. Focus on the breath. Notice when thoughts arise (they always do), let them go, and gently redirect focus back on the breath. It’s very simple, but it isn’t easy.

I started meditating when Bee and I were in Paphos, Cyprus for three months in 2015. It was the perfect opportunity to try new things; I had the luxury of time and could choose to do whatever I wanted with each day.

I had started to notice a lot of buzz about the benefits of meditation. Curious, I decided to dig deeper and learn more. I downloaded a few of the apps available and started to follow along.

It was…fine. I couldn’t tell if it was having any impact on me but I had the time, and it certainly wasn’t hurting, so I decided to stick with it for awhile. To keep practicing.

That was three years ago. And while I have a daily practice now, I haven’t always. I would be consistent for a few months and then something would derail me and I’d get out of the habit. But I keep getting pulled back in.

The rewards are internal, small and subtle, but I’ve learned enough from my own experimentation and experience to know that the positive effects of this ten-minute habit are significant.

Better Sleep

I fall asleep more easily, sleep more soundly and wake feeling rested and ready to face the day. If I do have trouble quieting my mind at night, I play music or a bedtime story from my meditation app (I use Calm). That usually does the trick.

Improved Self-Esteem

I have a kinder and gentler relationship with myself. I’m not so quick to judge, censor or berate myself for my actions, thoughts and feelings. I am aware of things I’d like to change, but I’m less likely to unconsciously punish myself for falling short of my expectations.

Less Stress and Anxiety

I am better at letting go of things that don’t matter and I don’t worry so much about things that are beyond my control. I am less likely to panic or freak out when faced with something new or challenging. When I do experience stressful emotions I am better at recognizing and coping with them. Socializing isn’t quite so scary. I have far fewer of those days when I don’t feel like I can get out of bed and face the world.

Increased Awareness

I am more mindful, more grateful and more compassionate. I believe these are qualities I have always had, but now I am actively cultivating them and allowing them to blossom.

Decreasing Bad Habits

I’ve always had my “crutches,” the bad habits I turn to when all of the above problems (lack of sleep, low self-esteem, stress, anxiety, depression) begin to overwhelm. They seem to help, pushing me through to the other side. But I’m very aware that they don’t. Yes, they provide temporary relief, numbing the pain, but they’re not making my life better. And that’s what I’m really here to do. Make positive change.

There’s a reason it’s called “Practice”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that meditation is a cure-all or a quick fix. It won’t transform your stressful and complicated life into a zen garden of peace, joy and love. But I do believe it helps me to be a kinder, calmer and more open human being. Most of the time.

It’s a process. I’m still susceptible to negative thoughts. I still freak out for no reason sometimes. And on occasion, I will eat an entire bag of potato chips and drink a whole bottle of wine. I’m not proud of it, but I’m also not perfect. If I do these things, I pay attention to the triggers, notice how my actions make me feel and make an effort to do better next time.

Some days my practice feels amazing, as if all of my senses are heightened and I can notice and appreciate everything around me. Some days l feel annoyed and disappointed in myself for being unable to let go of the distracting thoughts bouncing around my brain. Most days I feel… nothing special. Isn’t that what practice is like for anything? The key is to keep at it.

What is your experience with meditation?

DIY Toothpaste Alternative

I stopped using toothpaste over a year ago.

  WHAT?!

Hold on, I didn’t say I stopped brushing my teeth, I just stopped using toothpaste.

  WHY?!

Good question, pretend person, thank you for asking!

Why I stopped buying toothpaste and started making my own toothpowder:

1. Less Waste

Those toothpaste tubes (that usually come inside a cardboard box) are junk destined for the dump. I am always looking for ways to reduce my contribution to the landfill.

2. Ingredient Control

I know exactly what’s going into my mouth when I brush my teeth. I understand the purpose of each ingredient and I feel good about them.

3. Frugality

Commercial toothpaste might not be terribly expensive, but this alternative is still cheaper in the long run.

4. I love DIY

I happen to think it’s super fun to find ways to make things myself and avoid purchasing commercial products.

The Ingredients:

Baking Soda

You probably already have this in your kitchen cupboard. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that can help whiten teeth and freshen breath.

It’s also a great natural product for household cleaning and deodorizing. You can buy this at any grocery store, or even better, bring a refillable jar to the bulk store!

Bentonite Clay

Unless you’re already into making your own natural products it’s unlikely that you have this on hand. It might seem strange to brush your teeth with dirt, but I love it! It is supposed to absorb toxins and bacteria and remineralize your teeth. It’s silky smooth and complements the abrasiveness of the baking soda.

Clay is also great in a bath, on your face as a mask or in your hair to absorb oil. You can buy Bentonite clay (also known as Montmorillonite) at natural and health food stores, or online.

Note: keep metal (e.g. bowl, spoon, whisk etc.) away from Bentonite Clay; it can reduce its effectiveness.

Xylitol

This is a natural sweetener that doesn’t cause tooth decay, and may even help prevent it. It’s optional in the recipe, but really makes the toothpowder taste great. You can find it in the natural food section of your grocery or bulk store, or online.

Sea Salt

Added for its antiseptic and remineralization properties. Like baking soda, you may already have this on hand, otherwise you can find it at grocery and bulk stores.

Essential Oil/plant powder

Completely optional, but I enjoy the taste. I prefer classic mint, so I add peppermint oil. I’ve also used cinnamon and clove for a change now and then.

Use essential oils sparingly, as they are highly concentrated. If you don’t have any, or you want to try something different, you can also use small measurements of finely ground mint leaves, cinnamon or cloves. Buy essential oils from a natural health food store or online.

I love that this toothpowder is super quick to mix up. You don’t need much on your toothbrush for an effective brush. It’s great for travelling. Most of all I love how it makes my mouth feel.

Toothpowder can be stored in any clean glass or plastic container with a lid. A repurposed pill bottle or little jam jar works great! Since your toothbrush isn’t super sanitary, each member of your household should have their own to avoid spreading mouth germs. You can easily double (or more) the recipe for multiple family members.

The biggest challenge is getting used to brushing without the foaming action you get with commercial toothpaste, but the above reasons along with my clean teeth (approved by my dentist) are reward enough for this all-natural smile regimen.

How to make your own toothpowder:

Use this tooth powder with a toothbrush as a natural alternative to commercial toothpaste!

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp Baking Soda
  • 1 Tbsp Bentonite Clay
  • 1 tsp Xylitol
  • ½ tsp Fine Sea Salt
  • 5-10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Instructions

To make:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a small container.*
  2. Add a lid and shake it all up to combine.

*Do not use a metal bowl or spoon as this can decrease the effectiveness of the Bentonite Clay.

To use:

  1. Get your toothbrush wet and shake off excess water.
  2. Dip the bristles of your toothbrush into the powder. You don’t need a lot.
  3. Brush your teeth!
toothpowder on toothbrush
Brush!

Disclaimer: I am neither a dentist nor health care provider of any kind. This is just the kind of shit I do for fun. My recipes and experiments are supported by curiosity, a desire to improve my life and copious amounts of time spent looking things up on the internet.

Speaking of looking things up on the internet…

Credits: There are many recipes for toothpowder available online. I visited and read many sites before settling on my own version, including WellnessMama, Going Zero Waste, mommypotamus, and DIYNatural.

What do you think, would you be willing to change up your oral routine and try toothpowder?

Dis / Courage

This year I promised myself I would write. No matter how painful it is, I am going to write and post here at least once a week. And here I am, on the final day of the first week of the year with nothing written.

One of the things that keeps me from writing and posting is that I’m afraid that what I have to contribute isn’t valuable. I constantly feel that my ideas, everything I think and say and write, has already been thought and said and written better by someone else, so what’s the point?

I don’t know what to do with that fear. Because in spite of feeling like my words are not unique or original, I still want to share what’s in my heart and my mind.

If the fear and feelings are untrue, then I’m just sabotaging myself, holding myself back. I need to get out of my own way and just write and hit publish.

And if they are true, if I don’t have anything of value to contribute, then maybe I need to find a way to get over it and just write and hit publish anyway. So what if I’m not unique? Who cares if my ideas don’t matter? I won’t be the first person flinging words into the void of the internet and I certainly won’t be the last.

I suspect the solution is to just go for it. Write something. Anything. Make an effort. Be myself. Stop overthinking everything! Oh wait, that is me. This whole angsty and annoying post is so me. Fuck it. I’m posting it anyway.

Practice. This is my practice. I’m not asking for anyone’s attention. No one is paying me for this. I am only accountable to myself. Yes, I want to do a good job. I want to do my best. But doing nothing because my best isn’t perfect, or even all that original, isn’t helping anyone, certainly not me. That attitude has never gotten me anywhere except stuck.

So, here’s to a new year and getting unstuck.

Courage, my word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter
Courage, it couldn’t come at a worse time

The Tragically Hip – “Courage”

Who knows what the future holds?

A year ago today, Bee and I boarded a plane in Edmonton, Alberta, with a carry-on bag each and four 50-lb boxes in the cargo hold: the sum total of all of our worldly possessions.

In the days and weeks previous we gave some of our stuff to friends and family, sold a few items on kijiji and donated a lot to Goodwill. It wasn’t the first time either of us had downsized, and I’m sure it won’t be the last, although it might be a while before we go that small again.

Most people thought we were crazy, stupid or brave. I suppose we were a bit of each. We knew we needed a change, we wanted something different, and we hoped for a fresh start.

And here we are, one year later, settling in to Sackville, New Brunswick, a town I knew nothing about a year ago. The many stops in between were all part of the adventure. It wasn’t perfect, but I can honestly say that I’m glad we made the move.

We had big plans, but they were big, vague plans. We thought we knew what we wanted, but we discovered we were wrong about a lot of it. Our intentions were good though, and I think that’s how we’ve managed to end up here, unexpected, but awesome.

We have a place that feels like home. From the cozy little rental house we chanced upon, in the community that has plenty for us to discover, to the beautiful surrounding area, we are home again.

I am so grateful for the love we have and the life that we continue to create together on a daily basis, year after year. I am so thankful for our friends and family who have supported us through this enormous change.

To all the ups and downs of this past year, thank you. Thank you for getting me here, today. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Cranberry Apple Chutney

I’ve been putting off making veggie sausages and mashed potatoes with gravy since we used up the last of my mom’s homemade chutney. Seriously, chutney is the best condiment to have with vegan bangers and mash.

I have also had a bag of frozen cranberries in my freezer for way too long. I was planning to make some cranberry sauce, but then I started to wonder, “can you make chutney with cranberries?” 

The answer should be obvious by now…

All of my food questions undergo extensive (or super lazy) google searching, and the chutney query was no exception. I found a few recipes, but nothing sounded quite like what I was looking for. You know, me, with all of my prior chutney-making experience (fact: I have never made chutney before).

No matter. This is what I do with recipes. I find something that sounds good and customize it for my own taste.

Success! It’s delicious. Bee loves it too. And the best part was that it was really easy to make. Chop a few things, measure some stuff, mix it all together and cook until it’s done. It really is that simple!

I can’t wait to share this with friends and family this winter!

Cranberry Apple Chutney

The ultimate autumn sauce. A sweet-savoury-spicy addition to your fall and winter gatherings. Use in place of cranberry sauce and as a condiment on crackers, sandwiches or savoury dishes.

Ingredients

  • 2 apples, peeled and chopped
  • 1 cup cranberries, fresh or frozen
  • ⅓ cup raisins
  • ½ cup onion, diced
  • 2 Tablespoons celery, chopped fine
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons ginger, freshly grated
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions

  1. Mix everything in a medium saucepan.
  2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  3. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook at a low simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Remove the lid and cook for a few more minutes to reduce any remaining liquid.
  5. Enjoy!

Notes

Chutney can be kept in a sealed jar or container in the refrigerator for at least two weeks. I’ve kept it much longer.

Cranberry Apple Chutney in a bowl close-up
Yummy!

This recipe was adapted from Apple Cranberry Chutney on Simply Recipes.

If you make this, I’d love to know what you think. Did you add or remove anything to suit your taste?

Remember. And Love.

I cannot remember the last time I was at a Remembrance Day ceremony. It must have been in Elementary School?

But today is the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI. And that seems like something worth paying attention to.

Plus, we just moved to the east coast, and out here, this is a big deal.

So we went. And we communed. It was good. And it wasn’t. And now I remember why I don’t attend Remembrance Day ceremonies.

I’ve always been conflicted about this day. I still am. But in this time of rampant Us/Them mentality, I can’t help thinking that it’s important to shine a light on the absolute destruction and devastation this kind of thinking gets us. All of us. The human race “US”. Forget “THEM”. They do not exist. WE are all in this together.

We are one people and we have one planet. We need to find a way to take care of it and each other. We need to work together. All of us.

Love is the way. Love when we hurt. Love when we disagree. Love because we can and because it is the only way through.

How do we love? We listen. We try to understand. We care about others. We help. We think. We communicate. We look deeply into each other’s eyes. Sometimes we turn the other cheek. We mourn. We remember.

May you find love and peace.

Hallowe’en Killjoy

I don’t really have anything against All Hallows’ Eve, I just can’t get into it anymore. Maybe it’s because I’m a crotchety old lady and don’t have kids. Maybe it’s because I have serious issues with the consumption of vast quantities of overly-packaged, mass-produced, poor-quality junk food (i.e. “treats”). Wait, maybe I do have something against Halloween…

It’s fun to dress up, but I don’t really enjoy parties. I hate spending money on plastic junk and things I don’t need like costumes, make-up and decorations.

We live in a house on a quiet street in a nice small town. Most of our neighbours have decorated their yards and houses for the occasion, and I’m pretty sure there will be kids out trick-or-treating on this block tonight.

I even caved last week and bought some candy to hand out in case they do come to the door. But I’m secretly hoping they won’t. I might even hide in the basement with the lights out and eat the candy myself (bad idea). Or maybe I’ll send it to work with Bee tomorrow (much better idea).

I don’t know why I feel bad about not wanting to participate in these so-called traditions, but I do.

UPDATE November 1, 2018

Guess what? I was worried about nothing (no surprise there)! I was ready with candy and loonies, I even dressed all in black (not difficult, considering my wardrobe), and although I didn’t exactly make the place inviting, I did not hide the fact that I was home. And… nothing.

Umm… Marsha? It’s not 1988. Parents don’t send their children out to run the roads and bother strangers, not even on Hallowe’en. You just moved here, you don’t know anyone with children, your house isn’t decorated and your outside lights don’t work. Not appealing to trick-or-treaters. If kids around here even do that anymore. After all, it’s not 1988.

So, once again, a tale of me overthinking something and getting anxious for no reason. Will I ever learn?