I'm In Love...With My Slow Cooker

I've discovered the miracle that is the slow cooker. 

Okay, I'm admittedly late to the party, but, man, what an invention! 

Just throw an assortment of ingredients into the plastic-lined pot, stir, put on the cover, and let it do its thing for approximately four to six hours (and, in my case, pray it doesn't explode!) while patiently waiting for a (hopefully) good result. Once it fills the kitchen with an amazing aroma, you know it's almost ready. It's like magic!

So far I've amazed myself by successfully making southwestern chicken, a meatless super-spicy chili, chunky applesauce, chicken noodle soup, chicken and spinach, and beef and broccoli over brown rice. And the best part is each cooking session produces at least four portions, so dinner for the next few nights is already in the refrigerator and ready after three and a half minutes in the microwave. Not to mention the initial cleanup is extremely minimal (just ladle each entree into a bowl and three or four plastic containers, lift out and throw away the plastic liner, wash the lid, and put the pot back on its storage shelf). That's my kind of cooking!

This is the least painful and most convenient (though by its nature not necessarily the fastest) cooking imaginable. If you're like me and you don't want to cook something different every evening and don't want a lot of fuss or cleanup (and don't mind eating the same thing for a few consecutive nights), I strongly recommend investing in a slow cooker (to the few, if any, who haven't discovered it).

I've read on many women's fitness and healthy-eating blogs that one of the secrets to their success is they prepare their meals in advance (usually on the weekends with their slow cookers' assistance) so they have clean meals and snacks ready to go without resorting to the toxic lure of fast, processed food. This is another slow-cooker benefit. 

 As I learn more about healthy eating, I have a newfound desire to know what ingredients I'm putting in my body. I don't always want to spend hours making my own food from scratch, but I do want to have a healthy body and life. Slow cooking is a step closer to achieving that goal. It's a win-win solution.

Hardship Brings Hope

 "All that I know is I'm breathing,
All I can do is keep breathing,

 All we can do is keep breathing." 

~ Ingrid Michaelson, "Keep Breathing"

Yesterday evening I wept as I finished reading Andrew Solomon's The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression. It was partly the beautifully poignant, inspiring stories of the people (including the author) who have suffered from life-threatening depression but lived to tell their raw, aching true-life tales and partly my own recent general weepiness (another post for another time), but the two parts banded together to break my composure.

 

In the midst of my weepiness, I recognized gratitude. I recognized that I'm blessed.

I've experienced depression in my life and glimpsed it in the lives of loved ones, but the depression endured by the incredible survivors featured in this book is on a different spectrum. I'm thankful that my life and sanity are not (and have never been) dependent on a carefully-prescribed cocktail of antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs, as is the case for the author and many of his contributors. It is truly wonderful (and miraculous at times) to not feel depressed, to feel normal, not emotionally numb, and able to handle daily life, especially after living with depression (whether mild or severe) for any length of time.

In the final chapter (appropriately entitled "Hope"), Solomon concluded that his severe (at times suicidal) depression, though devastatingly painful, has made him a better person. It has made him kinder, more generous, more loving, more loved, and more appreciative of life's beauty and joy. 

That has also been my outcome. And the truth and beauty of his revelation (partly) provoked my tears. 

Nothing has made me appreciate my health more than having it threatened and then restored. And nothing has made me appreciate beauty, peace, contentment, and joy more than pulling myself from the hellish black hole of depression and discovering that life not only goes on, but  it can be richer, deeper, more vibrant, and more enjoyable than I ever imagined.

 You just have to keep breathing, keep fighting, and keep living.

Sailing My Ship

 I'm not totally there yet, but I'm slowly, tentatively starting to embody this statement. 

What about you?

The first part is banishing fear. The best way to reduce fear is to "become comfortable with being uncomfortable" (in the words of personal trainer Chris Powell). Do something every day that scares you...and then marvel at the personal growth you experience as you become more adventurous, less anxious, and more confident.

The second part is learning to trust yourself by believing in your ability to do whatever you need to do and knowing you can handle whatever happens to you. This isn't to be mistaken for arrogance, bravado, or narcissism, but speaks instead of healthy self-confidence and adequate self-esteem. 

And if you struggle with believing in yourself, believe in a higher power. Consider the possibility that there's a positive force at work in your life that is supporting you, strengthening you, guiding you, and loving you every moment of the day. Trust in that. Fortify yourself with the truth...that you are stronger, wiser, and more capable of sailing through storms than you've ever realized. 

You may question your abilities and feel weak and fearful, which is normal. But don't give up on life or yourself. You can endure one storm at a time and, afterwards, look back amazed at the strength, maturity, faith, and wisdom that surfaced just when you needed them. They are your sustenance and they will be your reward.

A Debt of Gratitude

How would my life have been different if I'd been born fifty years earlier than I was?

I've been pondering that question since watching a PBS documentary, "Makers: Women Who Make America," that held me spellbound for three solid hours. (I've been watching a lot of PBS lately, a direct consequence of my infatuation with "Downton Abbey.") The potential answer to this hypothetical question is scary to me. 

As recently as the 1960s, I learned from the documentary, women were denied apartment rentals and credit cards unless their husbands (if they were married) signed for them. And even Oprah Winfrey (Queen Oprah!), of all people, was denied a salary equal to her male co-star's ($22,000 vs. $50,000) when she started out on a Chicago-area TV news program back in the 1980s (when I was born). Her boss's explanation for the inequality, according to an interview with her, was she didn't have a family to support or a mortgage to pay, as her male co-worker did. Really?!

So what opportunities would have been available for me if I had been part of the workforce then as a young, single woman trying to earn a living? (Or would I have had to marry immediately after high school or college and have children, as many women (even the college graduates) born during the 1930s and 1940s explained was their expected life path?) Would I have had the opportunity to earn a college degree? Would I have had the freedom to rent my own apartment (or buy my own house) and financially support myself? 

 http://video.pbs.org/video/2330963851

I can't imagine not having that freedom, which is so integral to my daily life. The freedom to make my own choices and live independently means everything to me. Every woman deserves the opportunity to chart her own course. How else can we build self-confidence and self-esteem? How can any woman happily and healthily exist without that power? 

All of these thoughts and questions have been rattling through my mind since I saw the documentary. So what answer(s), if any, have I determined?

If I had been born in the 1930s, I suppose my life would have been very similar to my grandmother's life. She was a hard-working wife of a dairy farmer and mother of two children who married a 30-year-old man when she was 18 and spent her life taking care of him, their children, and assisting with the farm. My mom, who is 30 years older than I am, followed a similar pattern (minus the dairy farm), marrying at 21 and raising three children as a stay-at-home wife and mom at a time when most of my classmates' moms were in the workforce. (In fact, I remember finding out by a show of hands in an elementary-school classroom that I had the only stay-at-home mom of anyone in my class at that time.)

Honestly, I can't imagine having my grandmother's life or my mom's life, for that matter. (To my great sorrow, I'm relationally challenged, so there's little to no chance that I ever will.) I have no desire to spend my days cooking, cleaning, and raising children, although I believe there is no tougher or more admirable work if it's done well. My point is that I'm thankful I have options that weren't always available to women born earlier than I was.

The trailblazing Gloria Steinem in 1972 (photo courtesy of PBS).

I didn't realize until seeing "Makers" how much I owe to women like Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, and so many other pioneers before and after them, who've courageously fought for the opportunities that I've taken for granted as my birthright. I wouldn't have the emotional, physical, and financial independence and freedom that I have if not for their work. I wouldn't have the power to choose my work (and to some extent my salary) if not for them.

I'm beyond thankful for the power to choose.

The (Never-Ending) Jodi Arias Horror Picture Show

It didn't seem possible a few weeks ago, but I do believe I'm (finally) losing interest in the Jodi Arias trial. I can only imagine how the judge, lawyers, and jurors feel. (I would imagine they lost interest long ago.) Will it ever end? And, if so, will it end with the correct verdict? (And, thirdly, is this the craziest, most out-of-control murder trial in the history of U.S. courts...or second possibly to the O.J. Simpson circus?)

She was on the stand for weeks (which felt more like months). Based on the jurors' questions for her, it seems they (thankfully) have disregarded the defense's far-fetched self-defense/domestic violence angle. I would imagine they're as tired of her lies and manipulation (not to mention this trial) as everyone else (except the HLN talking heads) seems to be. 

Even her attorneys, who come across as bumbling law-school students* compared to the smooth, confident, forceful prosecutor, seem like they'd rather be anywhere else. Maybe it's just me, but I get the same vibe from the judge. Who knows how the jurors are feeling (although their questions provided fascinating insight into their thoughts)? Have they checked out, too?

Again, I think everyone can agree this has dragged on far too long. (I can't imagine how torturous this must be for Travis Alexander's friends and family, particularly for his sisters who, from the coverage I've seen, have attended every day of the proceedings.) I mean, really, the murder took place nearly five years ago. Arias has been locked up awaiting trial (and apparently meeting with her PTSD-diagnosing psychologist and changing her story accordingly during her ample free time) for nearly that entire time span. It's time to end this with a swift (no-brainer) guilty verdict. 

And though this was once an entertaining yet horrifying soap opera for me, I have to admit this too-long held-over production has worn out its welcome.

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*No offense intended toward law-school students. My point is that Jodi Arias's attorneys seem inexperienced, unprepared, and utterly bored (in a nutshell) with the proceedings.

The Lost (Liberal) Arts

Last week I found a Time magazine article on the dwindling number of college students majoring in humanities (http://nation.time.com/2013/03/07/who-needs-philosophy-colleges-defend-the-humanities-despite-high-costs-dim-job-prospects/?iid=us-main-lead%3Fxid%3Drss-topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+time%2Ftopstories+%28TIME%3A+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo). 

Obviously, as the holder of a bachelor's degree in English, this article caught my attention. And reading the article, and seeing the comments that it sparked in an online forum that I frequent, caused me to reflect on my own post-college journey.

Choosing a college major was easy for me. English was always by far my best subject, starting in elementary school and stretching through an AP class during my senior year of high school. There was never anything I enjoyed more than reading, and I read everything that fell into my hands, from cereal boxes to dictionaries to encyclopedias to classic novels to Sweet Valley High to biographies of Hollywood stars. (I distinctly recall reading Doctor Zhivago and a Judy Garland biography at the age of 12. Yeah, I was an unusual child...) And I always dreamed of being a writer (though I dreamed more than I wrote), and was occasionally praised by my teachers for the school essays I wrote.

So studying English at college (going to college was expected of me rather than a choice I made) was a no-brainer. Unfortunately, my post-college game plan was not as clear. I don't know how it is for other liberal-arts majors, but, for me, I think I had the delusion (common to graduating college students, I suppose) that my bachelor's degree (any bachelor's degree, really) would have employers falling over themselves to hire me.

 

But the key to successful application of a humanities degree, I believe, is knowing how to apply it. The critical thinking and critical analysis skills you learn (not to mention learning to express yourself clearly and articulately in writing and speech) in earning that degree can benefit you in any job, but you need a master plan to make it work for you.

My immediate post-college life was a mixed bag. I got a job (which appeared to be my dream job) at a small local weekly newspaper a month after graduating. At first, life was great! I had the kind of job that I was (mistakenly) certain would launch me to speedy fame and success as a writer. (Could I have been more naive? I doubt it.) Alas, the dream job became a nightmare. My boss, who had initially been impressed (yes, really!) by my bachelor's degree and portfolio of college newspaper clippings, soon morphed into a bitchy mean girl who sprinkled my work days with a generous splattering of verbal abuse and severely damaged my already-fragile self-esteem. 

That in itself could have been enough to propel me out of there, but there were times when I really enjoyed the work that I did. On the one hand, I loved writing and copy editing for a living. I loved having my name on the front-page bylines of a published newspaper. But I didn't love interviewing and snapping photos of every Tom, Dick, and Harry in town (an uncomfortable stretch for this uber-introvert). At that point, I strongly wished I'd had a Plan B in place before I graduated with my bachelor's degree. 

I didn't, so, to sustain what was left of my emotional well-being, I created the best semblance of one I could muster.

I went back to school, to a two-year college, earned an administrative-assistant degree, got various secretarial jobs along the way, and am now settled into my current job, which I love (and which doesn't constantly threaten my mental health), practicing the secretarial arts. 

If I had a choice to go back and change the past, would I still have gotten my English degree? Yes. The four-year college experience stretched and challenged me every day, as did the the required reading and writing assignments. It broadened my mind, it gave me confidence that I could set a goal and achieve it, and it has enriched my life. (Plus I have no college loans to speak of, which heavily influences my opinion, of course. I can understand why someone up to his teeth in college-loan debt might regret an unused (or underused) college degree.)

According to the article, only 8% of college students today major in humanities. I think that's unfortunate, but it makes sense. If I were a parent, I might suggest a major with a better potential rate of return in the job market/economy. But four-year colleges are not trade schools and should not be looked at as such. Not all of us are cut out to be engineers or nurses. But we can all benefit from what the humanities offer us. 

So what is the best pre-graduation prep for humanities majors (the few, the proud, the brave, the naive...)? 

• Required college career center appointments (treat college career counselors as the college equivalent of high school guidance counselors) for every student each semester.
• Have a plan to transfer your degree out into the real world. 
• Have a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, and, if you're the better-safe-than-sorry type, a Plan D. 
• And do your homework (all of it!) before you graduate from college.

Cleaning It Up

Although cleaning up my diet is (and has been) challenging, time consuming, and expensive, I'm committed to making it happen (and maintaining it).

In the past, I was ignorant of healthy food choices, and ate what I liked and had always eaten. More often than not, that was whatever was cheap, easy to prepare, and on sale. Unfortunately, the least expensive, most convenient food is often the most toxic.

In addition to researching clean eating and trying healthier products, I'm learning to listen to my body (recommended by Geneen Roth in Women, Food, and God) by analyzing how I feel after I eat something. I'm learning to ask myself: Do I feel bloated and lethargic? Do I feel energized? Do I feel full, or am I hungry an hour or two later?  

This mindful approach can guide me in what to eat and what to avoid. For example, I don't think I've ever felt great after eating fast food (which is no wonder, considering the processed Frankenfood on the menu). So why continue eating it? Because it's cheap and readily available? It's not worth it if it makes me obese, diabetic, and cancerous.

I need to stop looking at price and convenience and start looking only at food labels. As Jillian Michaels (I absolutely love her!) writes in Master Your Metabolism: "Think of it this way: Every time you spend a few extra bucks to buy organic, you're saving thousands of dollars in co-pays for chemotherapy or diabetes drugs."

I'm so thankful that I haven't sustained major health damage from years of unhealthy eating (not to mention lack of significant exercise for most of my life). Now I've come too far to backslide. I can no longer claim ignorance because now I have the tools to change my diet, my body, my health, and my life. 

Small changes can cause major differences. And sometimes the extra expense is worth paying. This is one of those times!

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 I strongly recommend Women, Food, and God for women prone to emotional eating (and really, what woman isn't?) and Master Your Metabolism for anyone needing a comprehensive clean-eating primer.

A Worthwhile Battle

I often feel like I'm fighting a losing battle at the grocery store. 

I've made gradual changes in cleaning up my diet, but it's difficult to do that on a (small) budget. And the more research I do, the more challenging it seems to be to find truly healthy unprocessed food versus comparatively healthier less-processed food. 

During 2012, as just one example, I switched from skim milk (before I realized how unhealthy dairy products can be) to soy milk (before I realized how hormone-ridden soy is) to almond milk (which I currently drink since I, so far, have found it to be the healthiest, best-tasting option).

I'm willing to pay more for a better product, but that first step has taken time to enforce. I use coupons, which, more often than not, are for processed pre-packaged foods with no nutritional value that once made up the bulk of my diet (ramen noodles, frozen pizzas, and sugary GMO-infested cereals). At one time, in addition to using coupons, I only bought items that were on sale. Unfortunately, organic products (which seem to be the best, healthiest bet all the way around) tend to be very expensive and rarely on sale. 

 The other problem? Organic food can be scarce at local supermarkets in my rural area. I have my choice of TOPS, Walmart, ALDI, and Save-A-Lot. Wegmans, which offers the most diverse selection of organic items, is a long drive away (35-40 minutes out of my way). Trader Joe's is even farther away. 

So grocery shopping, which has never been my favorite task, usually requires a trip to more than one store, since one might offer cheaper produce but not have my staples of non-fat plain Greek yogurt, 100% whole-wheat bread, and hummus. 

I'm willing to do that for my health, though. The extra time and money invested are worth it, especially if that extra time and money spent now prevent obesity, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease later. 

Each time I buy the more expensive organic product (even organic cosmetics and cleaning products can make a health difference) and cringe at my grocery bill, I need to be mindful of the greater cost of not choosing the healthier item(s).