Macro-Bliss Bowl

I work near a macrobiotic restaurant where a quiet Japanese chef prepares a lovely array of balanced food. Typically, I go there with my 70 year old nurse friend. She introduced me to this way of cooking and eating. She looks like she's in her forties. She learned about macrobiotics while living in Vermont. When we have too many difficult shifts at the psychiatric hospital and burnout is creeping into our bodies, we have a soothing ladies lunch at the little macro-eatery. We leave feeling satisfied, stress-free and energetic.
  

I return to macrobiotics when I feel unbalanced. It nourishes and calms me. After a long night in the hospital's crisis center, I wake up the next morning and forgo my usual black tea for Japanese green tea. For breakfast, I have a dark barley miso soup, deepened with toasted sesame oil, and a side of whole grain toast with sliced avocado. I prepare a macro-lunch and eat it in my PJ's. I get dressed in comfy clothes and take a long walk on the beach with my husband and dog.

We pray, giving thanks to God for good food and simple pleasures. Winter is the off season here. It's wonderful. We walk in silence, listening to the sounds of the ocean. Our hearts are directed far from the hubbub of humans and the frenzied activity of the world. Our frivolous worries get carried out to sea. God's quiet presence is felt. God never competes with the noise of the world. He speaks in whispers. You find Him in solitude. When our minds are frazzled and our cells are buzzing with stress, this peaceful path refreshes and restores our souls.

Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpeas With Za'atar-Tahini Drizzle & Toasted Sesame Seeds

Little girl kneeling by The Blessed Virgin Mary 

Christmas isn't a day, it's a sacred season. We spend it in pure peace. Instead of hustling around everywhere, our focus is on a few essential activities. While festive Christmas parties are in full swing and malls are crowded with frazzled shoppers, we walk on clear beaches. We enjoy heartwarming concerts where Polish children sing lullabies to the baby Jesus. There are many cozy dinners in our PJs with sea salt chocolate for dessert. There's tea and ginger cookies. We pray more and count our blessings more. We watch old movies, Christmas flicks and read good books. We put presents under the annual parish Giving Tree. We exchange thoughtful gifts and eat peppermint sticks. We sit in candlelit churches. It's a time of calm celebration, cherished spirituality and tranquil motion. 

Moroccan Roasted Vegetables With Toasted Sesame & Herbed Couscous Pilaf

It's a quiet time to reflect on God and spirituality. We stand still, exhaling into splendid solitude. I don't typically shout about religion from the rooftops like I do my cross stitch patterns or recipes. Vanity, my potty-mouth and an unparalleled addiction to red lipstick have followed me to operating rooms and they'll chase me to my grave. In my spiritual life, I've chosen a single path: a Good Guidebook.