How often do you use the word busy to describe your life? Do the words “Gosh, I’ve been busy” readily spill out of your mouth when someone asks how you’re doing?
The word busy holds the connotation of high stress, having a crazy long to-do list, and days on the verge of being chaotic. While some days do indeed feel that way, the truth is we all choose what goes on our calendar…in one way or another.
For years, I wore my busy-ness as a badge of honor…a sign that I was strong and capable of taking on more than my share of tasks, responsibilities, and activities. It served me well at the time, or so I thought, and resulted in an array of memorable experiences, growth-inducing challenges, and accomplishments I’m happy to claim.
But of late, I’ve shifted the way I refer to my life. Instead of saying my days are busy, I describe them as rich and full. This small wording change didn’t seem significant at first. But after a while, I realized I was seeing other aspects of my life in a more positive light, too. That doesn’t mean I walk around wearing rose-colored glasses. Yes, life is good, but not every aspect of life is pleasant. The big takeaway is that these new descriptors help me stay grounded in my life as it truly is…rich and full!
What better way to reduce stress than with a shift in how you view life? Every day is filled with choices. Some of those choices seem imposed, but the reality is we have the ability to take action for or against anything that comes our way.
My guess is your life is rich and full, too. Perhaps you have little time for self-care, including preparing healthful meals. We all know the time it takes to plan, shop for and prepare meals. The process can get especially tiresome after a long day of work or even a long day of play!
To help inspire your meal-time cooking, here’s a link to 24 dump meals that are perfect for crockpot cooking. “Dump” in fresh vegetables, your preferred protein, a blend of herbs and spices, and let the slow cooker work its magic. No fussing or adjusting of temperature. Delicious, home-cooked meals with minimal time spent in the kitchen.
My crockpot is on order and should arrive soon. When it does, I’ll start testing myriad recipes from this list. I hope you will, too.
Here’s to your health and vitality!
