Recipe for the New Year

I’ve been hearing from friends across the country that 2018 was a rough year. As we all embark on our year-end check-ins, phone calls, and chats, we may find that the dark time of the season can bring to mind the shortcomings, pitfalls, and mishaps along the way. With a chronic lack of sun, it can be easy to forget the happier moments, our successes, or our steps forward.

Whatever may be the cause of the wintertime blues, these friends are asking for ideas and advice for a better 2019. In one particular phone conversation, a friend and I were chuckling at how simple yet difficult daily practice towards wholeness can be. Often, the hardest part is overcoming the inertia of feeling down, even when the opportunities are right in front of us.
“Do you want a prescription for that?” I asked, as our dialogue came to a close.
“Yes please!” was her response.
But in thinking on that conversation now, it’s really less of a prescription than a recipe to follow. You can tweak and substitute as suits your personal situation. So instead of heaping all your expectations onto a singular resolution for January 1st, try keeping this recipe in your pocket throughout the year, and see if it cooks up some happier experiences and memories by this time next year.

Recipe for a year of greater contentment and wholeness:
(serves one but can be scaled accordingly)

One part fresh air
One part whole, local foods
One part vigorous activity
One part meaningful camaraderie
Mix together well. For instance, vigorous activity outdoors with friends can be punctuated by a fresh food meal shared together. Let rise in a warm-hearted environment, free of self-judgement and competition with others.

Then add:
2 cups of outward-focused mindset
1 cup of peaceful intent
2 cups of loving-kindness
Knead well into the rising dough. Life is not just about what we do but the intent that we bring with us. Volunteering our time in service with a grumpy attitude and an eye on the clock is a far cry from a spirit of joyful service. Seek the beauty in every moment, the value in every interaction, the humanity in the people around you. Notice how we are all people with hopes and dreams and fears—rather than adversaries. Learn to practice radiating the spirit which you would love to receive in return. Let the dough rest again in a warm-hearted environment, free from the drafts of greediness and shame.

For the topping:
1 Tbsp. affirmations
A dash of laughter
1 tsp. forgiveness
Adventure embracing to taste
Shape loaves and sprinkle with topping. Bake until set, but not overcooked or burnt. Allow to cool but go ahead and rip off a tasty bite while still steaming.
Experiment with this recipe throughout the year. See what happens when you add a helping of self-care, a dose of reflection, or a sprinkle of hope.
New Years, like new days, give us each a chance to move towards our better selves—to nurture that which yearns to shine. While resolutions are made once, recipes can be made again and again as needed. They can also be handed down, encouraging a culture of wholeness and contentment for years to come.
Wishing you a happy and wholeness-infused New Year!