A Teaspoon of Turmeric

Happy 2011 to you! I know it’s a little late to be well wishing for 2011 but usually for me, January is about collecting my thoughts, tying loose ends (especially taxes!), planning the year ahead and reflecting on the past. Every year I find I need a couple of weeks after the holidays to think, reflect and get my ducks in a row to start the year off on a good note.

This time, there was a whole decade to reflect upon!

No more blue Mondays this winter! Just add turmeric.

Already with two weeks into the new decade, I’m sure you’ve heard it all on resolutions, how to change your life in 30 days, diet fixers and so much more. Come every January we’re bombarded with new workout plans, the latest and greatest tips to lose weight and advice on how to become a happier person.

And why not? As we age, isn’t every year to be improved from the last as we grow wiser, learn and reflect on past experiences and let go of what we thought was important to focus on the real things that truly make us happy? Of course it is.

Life is learning and each day that passes moving us one calendar year forward, we reflect on our achievements and strive to live the life we’ve always dreamt of.

But if you’re like me, I have the same New Year’s resolutions year after year—to go to bed earlier, to fine tune my diet, to do good things in the world…and there are a few more on the list. But without clearly defined goals and figuring out all of the baby steps in between, sometimes those “routine resolutions” end up being half-baked achievements.

So why do we have to wait for January to improve ourselves anyway? If life is everyday learning, then shouldn’t this reflection occur more than once per year?

This year I’m entering 2011 with one simple resolution and all the other things I’m striving for like optimal health, bounds of energy and a balanced life will flow from there. That resolution is to act, live and think in the present.

Energy gets consumed on looking back in the past and worrying or trying to predict the future. For this year my goal is much simpler but clearly defined ~ to live in the present, take in small moments and make every day count. 2010 flew by like a blink of an eye, so with the new decade I take the advice of great yogis who say to be conscious of every breath—feel the inhalation and exhalation of every breath. Maybe you can call it “take time to stop and smell the roses year” for me.

With the simple goal of having a sense of consciousness of every day all else should follow. So far this seems to be working!

I’m committing to a blog post per week and I’ll also share monthly goals with you as I feel this is a far more better way to approach resolutions than to attack it all at the start of the year. Hopefully you’ll join in on the dialogue and we can learn from each other.

Yesterday’s Blue Monday didn’t feel blue at all. With bright, sunny skies and the crisp, frigid cold I missed the whole ‘Blue Monday’ feeling altogether. Maybe it’s because I’ve been slipping in some turmeric into my breakfast hot chocolate!

Many studies have shown turmeric (namely curcumin, the active ingredient that gives the turmeric root its bright orangey-yellow colour) is a proven natural antidepressant, which aids in increasing serotonin (the “happy hormones”) levels.

Curry powder is a good source of turmeric. All of Arvinda's masalas now contain turmeric!

Try adding turmeric, Curry Powder, Curry Masala to your winter menus. Along with all of it’s other amazing medicinal benefits, it may end up helping with the winter blues.

I’ll leave you with one of my favourite quotes:

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.”
~ Anonymous

What is your take on resolutions? Do they work?

A teaspoon of: Leigh Nash. Listening to: Blue.