I’ve never been very good about keeping New Year’s resolutions. Life gets in the way, and promises that I’ve made to myself can no longer be kept for a variety of reasons. So, this year I’ve made “End of the Year Intentions” (leaving out the word “resolution”), with the vague starting point of around mid-December. This way, I can hit January 1, 2017 running. Why not make this holiday season the healthiest and happiest ever? The library has some good resources to help you along that path.
In my extended family, we have at least one vegan, two vegetarians, two pesco-pollo vegetarians and many red meat eaters of various degrees. My saint-like parents, both in their early 70s and still incredibly vigorous, host a phalanx of in-laws, kids, grandchildren and others during Christmastime, and they cook as best they can to suit all their guests’ needs. This holiday, keep the cooking simple, healthy and easy, and follow some of the fantastic recipes in Isa Moskowitz’s “Superfun Times Vegan Holiday Cookbook.” I’ve suggested this delicious cookbook as a resource for the common family denominator and to support healthy eating habits.
In his wildly popular book “Younger Next Year,” Chris Crowley lays down some strategies to turn back the inevitable ticking of the biological clock (his very best bit of advice? “cuddle or perish”). In developing these healthy living strategies even further, just this year he published the book “Younger Next Year: The Exercise Program.” Speaking about weight lifting, Crowley states that “the real reward isn’t instantaneous, it can take months — but it’s a big deal.” Stick with a solid exercise program, he says, and you will see real results and a slowdown of the aging process. The book also includes many sound tips on nutrition, which is one part of the equation for any exercise program.
A lot of people indulge their artistic impulses during the holidays, whether that be through making presents for family and friends, or using that bit of extra free time to create something while sitting by the fireplace. Pick up a pencil and start drawing; the newly revised classic “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” by Betty Edwards is a great place to start. In the lead-up to my early undergraduate years as an art student, I used the book extensively, and this classic was re-issued and updated in 2012. Perfect for both beginning and expert artists.
Finally, I have realized over the last few years that having mindfulness in all aspects of life is a great way to live — whether while working, exercising or even in choosing the foods we eat. The book “Eat with Intention: Recipes and Meditations for A Life That Lights You Up” has some excellent ideas about how healthy living and eating are intertwined. The holiday frenzy can be a time when it is very easy to put on some weight, or otherwise get out of shape, and much of it relates to nutrition. As Cassandra Bodzak says, “When we clean up our diet, we clear out our minds.” While there are many healthy and tasty recipes in the book, be sure to check out her killer Creamy Tomato Soup.
Take the time this holiday season to slow down and savor your food and all the good things in your life. Live in the moment, and bring that joy into 2017.
