Life works in strange and wonderful ways that are far beyond humans’ capacity for comprehension. What we want is of little significance to the Universe, and what we get is often far more than we had imagined we wanted.
You might call me crazy, but I gain a sense of groundedness when I find signs in the world around me...signs that I believe the Universe has purposefully placed there for me. While this might sound off-the-wall at first, consider that people of all faiths have been seeing signs for years; many people believe that every time they hear, say, a chickadee whistling, it is their grandmother saying hello, or that a beautiful, sunny day is God’s way of saying “enjoy this day.” Many people, like myself, also believe that certain animals carry signs. Whenever I see a chicken or a walrus, I believe that there is a message I need to understand (don't ask me why it is a chicken and a walrus). Whether that sign was placed there by a divine being (a god) or the Universe, seeing a chicken or a walrus lets me know that I need to take a step back from my feelings and desires and chaotic life to understand my greater purpose in the larger picture. Two months ago, I received an email that notified me it was my “last chance to sign up for a Robertson Scholars Leadership Program semi-finalist interview.” I was taken aback. When was my first chance? I had not received the initial email, and I checked my spam folder to no avail. I emailed the team back, saying, Yes! I would love to schedule an interview, but I never received the initial invitation. What is even crazier is that their records showed that the email had been sent to me! So, anyways, I scheduled a semi-finalist interview for the next week, conducted it over Skype, and was delighted to later hear that I had advanced to the final round: Finalist Weekend. Between 70 and 80 potential Scholars attended the weekend from all over the country, and we knew that only 36 of us would ultimately become Robertson Scholars (and some of those spots were already taken by international students who did not attend the weekend). Finalist Weekend was a three-day event that introduced us to the Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill campuses (the Robertson program encompasses both universities), developed our understanding of different leadership styles, and challenged us to vie for our spots in the next class of Robertson Scholars. Saturday morning, I had a nail appointment and a hair appointment, but my nail appointment took so long that I could not even make my hair appointment across the street. I called my mom in tears, feeling that bad luck had set in, but she chose to look at the situation differently, saying, “Now you just have the bad juju out of the way.” I had a smoothie bowl from Village Juice Co. and everything began turning for the better. By the time I arrived at Duke, I was in good spirits and feeling confident. While I missed my high school prom that night, I had the wonderful opportunity to eat with a Duke professor and watch the first game of the Final Four with other Duke and UNC fans. And the very first restaurant at which I ate had the insignia of none other than a chicken. I took this to mean that no matter what happened, I would end up where I am meant to be and that I can thrive in any environment. Sunday was full of leadership activities and more good food, and Monday was interview day. My interviews went moderately well (in my opinion). I messed up a few times and froze, but who doesn’t? To celebrate the end of our interviews, a few friends I had made over the weekend and I hit up the West Union cafe to eat sushi and relax. There was a painting of a walrus in the last food court at which I ate. I left the weekend trusting the Universe to place me wherever I was needed most and wherever I would be happiest. The next week during school, I received a phone call from the director of the Robertson Program telling me I had been wait-listed. Mid-April, I was promised to be waiting for several more days, if not weeks, to know where I would be attending college (but, of course, I was honored and grateful to have even been wait-listed). I waited. I waited. I waited some more. Every day, I woke up knowing that I might get the phone call and have closure on my college decision process. I researched my second choice, NYU, extensively and became extremely excited about all of the internships, studies abroad, and mindfulness and food clubs of which I would take advantage. Wednesday morning, I took a phone call just before leaving to explore Disneyland. I had gotten off the wait list and received the scholarship. The lessons in this experience were many: I learned to be patient, to let go of my need to control everything in my life, to be confident in my abilities, to trust the Universe, to allow the Universe to talk to me through signs. When I initially applied for the Robertson, it was a “Hail Mary” shot. Whereas I had been very diligent about turning in my other applications early and reviewing my essays relentlessly, I was somewhat more relaxed with my Robertson application and even turned it in on the same day as the deadline. Whereas I stressed over my Morehead-Cain interviews and attempted wholeheartedly to control my fate and pigeonhole myself into that scholarship experience (I thought I KNEW it was my best choice, but in reality, I knew very little), I acknowledged that the Robertson Scholars were very intelligent and talented and it would be very difficult for me to gain a position in their ranks. I approached each interview with humility and faith that the Universe would place me where I needed to be. When I was wait-listed, I purposefully redirected my thoughts to focus on what I could control (my exercise, my diet, my meditation) and chose not to dwell on the college question. This is certainly not to say I was perfect. I did my fair share of overanalyzing. One night, I researched past recipients of the scholarship to find out that very few North Carolinians receive it (sometimes zero North Carolinians receive it!). This fact stayed with me through Finalist Weekend when I met another very talented North Carolinian Finalist who I convinced myself would beat me out for the position. I recognized my fault, my attempt to control my fate and my refusal to let it be, and I redirected my thoughts. So, now is my time to be thankful. I am thankful for my parents and family who have helped me grow into who I am, for taking us around the world, and for sharing love each and every day. I am thankful for my teachers for teaching me to be unapologetically thirsty for knowledge and different ways I can pursue my academic interests (and proofing 1000 essays and writing even more recommendations). I am thankful for my friends who inspire me to be a better human and humanitarian, a better student and activist. I thank myself for my perseverance and faith in the Universe, and I thank my counselor for teaching me how to be faithful. I thank the Robertson team for recognizing and supporting my potential. I thank the earth for existing and the Universe for being an unpredictable, limitless power. This August, I will move into my dorm room at Duke University, and my mom will officially disown me (not really, but check out that picture). I cannot wait to see what is in store for me, and I will be sure to meet my fate with faith...not expectations.
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10 days. Where have I been? Sorry, guys...life has been crazy lately. Since I last posted, I went to the beach for four days over spring break, implemented a make-up prom with my boyfriend (I missed the real deal for an interview), and now I am in sunny California. What a life. Anyways, I have had to eat out quite a bit lately, and I am missing home-cooked goodness and fresh, healthy snacks. Times like this have me dreaming about smoothie bowls. Smoothie bowls made their way into mainstream food culture two or three years ago, and they continue to captivate the imaginations and taste buds of foodies all over the world. Why? There are endless possibilities concerning both their ingredients and their presentation. For example, you can choose a green base (including ingredients like spinach, celery, carrot, and beet) or you can choose a fruity base (the bananas, strawberries, and blueberries we traditionally associate with smoothies). As for toppings, you can include sliced fruit, dried fruit, granola, nuts, seeds, powders, and more. And then comes the presentation, which possibly has even more opportunity for variation and creativity. Whether you pour your smoothie into a ceramic bowl or hollowed coconut, or you strew the ingredients in stripes, zigzags, or mounds, it is sure to look beautiful. A modern trend is to put natural ingredients into the base to add vibrancy to the dish; ground turmeric makes yellows pop, chlorophyll and matcha powder bring out the greens, and freeze-dried blueberry powder adds some purple flare. After you craft and add your artistic flare to your smoothie bowl, it comes time to eat it...which may be the very best part. Try one of the combinations below next time you crave a delicious and nutritious treat; smoothie bowls are perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack. Fruit Explosion Base: any fruit you have, 1-2 tbsp of nut butter (almond butter works especially well), and a dash of juice or almond milk (the amount of liquid depends on how thick you like your smoothies) Note: 1-2 fruits should be frozen; reserve ½ of each fruit for topping Toppings: the fruit you saved from the previous step (sliced if needed), handful of granola or muesli, seeds (chia, flax, hemp, sunflower, etc.), unsweetened coconut shreds Plant Power Base: 1 banana, 2 handfuls of berries (strawberries, raspberries, cherries, etc.), 2 handfuls of spinach, 1 small handful arugula, 1-2 tbsp of nut butter, juice or almond milk (adjust amount to desired consistency) Note: 1 fruit should be frozen; reserve ½ of each fruit for topping Toppings: the same as you would in Fruit Explosion (fruit, granola, seeds, coconut, etc.) Aaah, kombucha. You may have heard soccer moms and health nuts enthusing its magical, life-changing properties, but did you know that kombucha is for everyone? It does not matter who you are (athlete, student, young, or old), kombucha will help keep your gut satisfied and your body happy. Here’s how.
Kombucha is a probiotic-rich, fermented green or black tea produced with bacteria and yeast. Before you recoil in disgust, recall that certain strains of bacteria are actually good for us. We foster a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in our guts; our innards provide nice cozy homes for the bacteria, and the bacteria help us break down food and absorb nutrients in return. Kombucha, being a tea, is also a great source of vitamins, especially B Vitamins. Among other health benefits, kombucha is also credited with boosting the immune system, detoxifying the liver, and reducing stress with the amino acid theanine. Kombucha can even be used as a substitute for synthetic recovery beverages like Gatorade and Powerade. When considering which brand of kombucha to purchase, there are a variety of factors to consider. How much added sugar does each serving contain (if any)? Does it have a fruity flavor, or is it more tea-like? How expensive is it? Prevention.com has an excellent article exploring ten different brands of kombucha, and I suggest you check it out here. I like GT’s Synergy Trilogy kombucha, and I even found a huge bottle of it at Weaver Street Market in Chapel Hill, helping me to be a little more cost-efficient. It may come as a surprise that this variety of kombucha (along with many others) has 0.5% alcohol per volume, and while you technically have to be 21 to buy it, I have never been asked to show my ID at the checkout counter. The alcohol level is so minimal that I think most stores simply do not care. One rule for all of these: DO NOT SMELL THEM. Or shake them up (it is carbonated). I have both smelled kombucha and shaken it up, and neither experience was particularly pleasurable. Trust me, kombucha actually tastes really, really good. It reminds me of soda and fruit juice, but it is SO much healthier than either one. Good luck with your kombucha adventures! When I trained for my first marathon three years ago, I listened to audiobooks to make the long training runs more enjoyable and (slightly) less painful. I appreciated not being stuck with my own voice inside my head alone, and listening to Tina Fey’s Bossypants had me laughing despite my exhaustion and extended solitude. Last summer, I discovered the joy of listening to podcasts while I run. For those of you who do not know what a podcast is, imagine a talk show without the visual component. Some of my favorites include, “Stuff You Should Know,” and NPR’s “Fresh Air,” two general and informative podcasts. Podcasts are great to listen to while exercising, driving, or falling asleep, and there is a podcast for pretty much any interest you may have, from dissections of terrible movies (“How Did This Get Made?”) to the future of flying (“Layovers”). What’s more- most podcasts are free!
A friend recently recommended the Rich Roll Podcast, and I loved it so much that I decided to share it with all of you. Having been a vegetarian all my life, and being a vegan for the past 1 ½ months, I have been on the receiving end of the question, “But where do you get your protein from?” more often than I care to remember. Indeed, the reason I put off becoming vegan for so long was that I was tricked by this myth that vegans are almost inevitably protein and nutrient deficient. I feared becoming vegan would interfere with my athletic abilities. I was wrong. My friends, if you ever wonder if veganism will hinder your physical capabilities, look no further than Rich Roll. A vegan elite athlete, Rich Roll has finished among the best in the world at multiple endurance races, most notably the Ultraman (a 320-mile, 3 day event) and the Epic5 Challenge (five Ironmans in under seven days). But Rich Roll is more than just a vegan athlete; in his podcast, he interviews everyone from Olympic swimmer Conor Dwyer to renowned minimalist Joshua Fields Millburn to explore the topics of dedication, simplification, mindfulness, fitness, nutrition, activism, and more. There is so much information packed into each of his podcasts (about two hours long apiece), and there is no better way to explain his message, brand, and impact than for you to listen to an episode or two yourself. So, check out his podcast. You can listen to it here online or on your mobile device. My boyfriend said it right: “If you’re going to get a girl flowers for Valentine’s Day, you might as well get her something she can keep alive and grow.” Pictured below is a flower from the orchid plant he gave me in February...and I am proud to have kept it alive for two months now! Granted, all I had to do was place it in moderate sunlight and add three ice cubes to the pot each Sunday, but hey, everyone starts somewhere, right?
In addition to the orchids, I have a little cactus named Alice (which I bought in September and water once each week), two tiny, sweet succulents (bought in February and watered once each week), and a sprawling aloe plant (which I have had since February-ish and watered once every two weeks). Keeping plants in my room has been a source of calmness, and the task of caring for them (as easy as it is) helps me remain mindful of the passage of time. Here are some proven benefits of growing house plants:
You can buy little succulents or flowers at most grocery stores, and you can also shop for them at gardening stores. I bought my succulents at Colony Urban Farm Store in Winston-Salem. Knock yourself out, and happy spring! If I had to eat one meal for the rest of my life, it would be avocado toast. There are so many ways to dress up avocado toast: with pineapple, with strawberry, with tomato, and (as in this recipe) with chickpeas. Avocado toast can be savory or sweet, eaten for breakfast or for lunch, thrown together in five minutes or artfully pieced together in ten. You can eat it cold, eat it hot, mash the avocado, slice the avocado. You can drizzle it with local honey or balsamic vinegar, make it crunchy with hemp seeds and nuts or make it smooth and creamy with local goat cheese. Avocado toast is limited only by your imagination.
First-time toasters and veteran toasters alike will enjoy this recipe; it is easy, healthy, and absolutely delicious. It is best served as a heavy snack or for lunch. The bitterness of the arugula goes well with the spiciness of the seasoned chickpeas and the creaminess of the avocado. Enjoy! Ingredients
Nutrition
A few weeks ago, I wrote a review of So Delicious’s Coconut “Ice Cream,” and today, I bring you a review of its cousin, So Delicious’s “Unsweetened Coconut Milk Yogurt Alternative.”
When I made the goal to become vegan last November, I predicted that the hardest part about the transition would be giving up yogurt. As a vegetarian, I ate yogurt every single day. Plain Chobani unsweetened Greek yogurt was my best friend, and I added it to smoothies, paired it with fruit and granola to make tasty parfaits, and globbed it in my oatmeal to achieve the perfect thickness and creaminess. Yogurt is so healthy; not only is it full of calcium and protein, but it also contains probiotics that aid your digestive tract immensely. In fact, the digestive issues I faced early on in my veganism were likely due in part to the removal of such probiotics from my diet! Now, I take probiotic supplements, drink kombucha, and eat fermented food to keep my gut full of healthy bacteria, so my digestive issues are mostly solved. Surprisingly, I do not crave non-vegan food at all. This is probably because I was vegetarian to begin with, transitioned to veganism over the course of three months, have strong ethical reasons for being vegan, and own an amazing vegan cookbook (Isa Does It). However, when I saw this yogurt substitute in a healthy grocery store in Chapel Hill last weekend, I knew I had to give it a try. Here is what I thought… ------------------- Product: So Delicious’s Unsweetened Coconut Milk Yogurt Alternative Nutrition: Excellent! This product contains organic coconut milk (filtered water and organic coconut cream), rice starch, and 2% or less of calcium phosphate, pectin (a gelling agent), dipotassium phosphate, locust bean gum (another gelling agent), live cultures, Vitamin D2, and Vitamin B12. One serving supplies the average person with 50% of their calcium needs (helping build strong bones and enabling nerve signaling), 45% of their Vitamin D needs (helping absorb calcium and grow bones), and 50% of their Vitamin B12 needs (keeping nerve and blood cells healthy and promoting DNA growth). It is also an excellent source of fiber (3 grams) and healthy fat. While this yogurt substitute contains a considerable amount of saturated fat (7 grams per serving), the particular kind of saturated fat in coconuts is actually thought to be healthy and conducive to beneficial HDL cholesterol levels. Let’s compare the nutrition in So Delicious’s Unsweetened Coconut Milk Yogurt Alternative to that of Dannon’s Plain Nonfat Yogurt.
The consistencies of this yogurt alternative and genuine yogurt are identical. The tastes, however, are very different. This yogurt alternative tastes unmistakably like coconut. Regardless, it is delicious in parfaits and smoothies, and it should work as an appropriate substitute in recipes calling for yogurt. I have yet to try the unsweetened vanilla flavor of this product, but the plain flavor can be doctored up with local honey, agave nectar, maple syrup, and spices like cinnamon. Price: This product is not something I can buy very often because it is so expensive. One three-serving container was upwards of five dollars. It is undeniably a great product, but I cannot justify buying it on a regular basis for that price. My vegan parfaits regularly consist of almond milk, granola, and fruit, and I do not see that changing. ------------------- If you absolutely cannot give up genuine yogurt, I suggest you buy plain yogurt (NOT the sugar-filled kind and NOT the kind with artificial sweeteners) and shop sustainable brands (Stonyfield in particular avoids GMOs, antibiotics, and growth hormones, and requires animal welfare regulations, limits environmental pollution, and is 100% organic). If you still cannot stand plain yogurt, even after sweetening it with honey, agave, maple syrup, or spices, then try mixing ⅓ cup of the sugar-filled kind with ⅔ cup of the plain kind. This should solve the issue of taste for the time being, enabling you to gradually transition off of sugar-filled yogurt. If you are interested in trying So Delicious’s Coconut Milk Yogurt Alternatives, many grocery stores carry them, and I encourage you to pick up a carton for yourself! For Part 1, follow this link to read my blog post concerning environmental education.
Earth Day is about 1 ½ weeks away, and I am so excited! I am volunteering at the annual Piedmont Earth Day Fair, a FREE festival at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds with food, music, fun activities (yoga, arts and crafts, and more!), and exhibitions. If you live in the area, you need to come! It lasts from 10 AM until 5 PM, rain or shine. The 2017 theme is “Every Drop Counts” (water conservation), and it is a zero-waste event, meaning that all food will be served on recyclable containers, and there will be no trash cans! One of my friends even submitted a piece of artwork to their art contest! If you do not live near Winston-Salem, I encourage you to find a similar festival or celebration near you. Many organizations are directing kayaking trips, 5ks, and similar activities in order to celebrate and advocate Mother Earth. Following is a list of suggestions for honoring Earth Day this year. You can easily do all of these, but I urge you to do at least one!
That’s it! Make this Earth Day one to remember because the earth truly deserves our support and appreciation. And if that is not enough, remember that a healthier earth means a more sustainable habitat for a happier you! A few weekends ago, I was talking to a high-achieving high school student my age who lightly admitted that he has been surviving on less than four hours of sleep each night for the past four years. Now, I certainly do not sleep as much as I should in order to be at my best every day, but I was astounded to hear that someone can survive on that little sleep.
7-9 hours is the recommended daily amount of sleep for adults, yet 35% of American adults get less than seven hours of sleep each night. The percentage of adults sleeping less than their recommended seven hours varies by state; in Hawaii, 43.9% of adults sleep less than seven hours each night, but in North Carolina, that percentage is 32.4%. Geographical locations sometimes have very clear connections to sleeping habits; in New York, which includes busy New York City, 38.4% of adults are sleep-deficient, but in South Dakota, a mostly rural state, only 28.4% of adults lack sufficient sleep. Sleep is not commonly viewed as a medicine, but it should be. Adequate sleep makes us less susceptible to depression, sharpens our perceptions and judgments, reduces our likelihood of having high blood pressure, and more. Want proof? Read this article from Harvard about all the negative effects of sleep deprivation. Perhaps the most difficult part about getting enough sleep is forcing ourselves to put up the book, shut down the laptop, and set aside our phones. Once we make these decisions, however, many of us encounter one further barrier. As soon as we shut our eyes, our minds start racing. What am I going to do tomorrow? What do I need to remember in the morning? What will I eat for breakfast? It goes on and on until we start asking ourselves the same questions and second-guessing our answers. If this sounds like you, make sure to read my past article on routines; routines help ground us and make the first and last moments of our days sacred. I also encourage you to meditate before sleeping. You can do so sitting up or lying down, but either way, you should objectively note your thoughts and feelings before letting your thoughts dissipate like clouds in the sky. Guided meditations work wonderfully here. If you enjoy listening to white noise, try the Nature Melody app, which boasts 31 different tracks, like "Crackling Fire" and "Countryside Waterways." You can set the noise to play for a certain amount of time (like fifteen minutes) so that it plays just long enough for you to fall asleep, or you can set an alarm to wake you up with peaceful nature sounds (although I have never risked this myself; I could quite possibly sleep right through it!)! All of this talk about sleep is making me absolutely exhausted myself! I hope you take this post into account and give your mind, body, and spirit the rest they deserve in the coming days! Today’s post is not going to have a lot of words. Over the past few years, I have learned that imagery, touch, and even silence can be just as effective as words in communicating concepts. So please take at least five minutes to view the artwork in this digital gallery, making sure to reflect on the themes of nature, sustainability, and complex connectedness. I recommend reading the description for each piece as well.
Enjoy. |
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