Full Capacity Living...

This morning I was sitting nearby while my husband had a virtual appointment about his shoulder pain. I half-listened while doing other things — until I realized he wasn’t just answering questions. He was connecting. He does this so well.

He values deeper conversations not just surface news, weather and sports and for that I very much appreciate him.

At the end of the call, he paused and told the provider how much he appreciated the time he had taken. He said, “I can tell you really love what you do — and you’re really good at it.”

There was a small shift in the energy of the room when he said it. Even through a screen, you could feel it land.

Right now we need this shift...now more than ever in my lifetime I'm feeling this. This post about kindness is not about ignoring what is happening right now but giving ourselves a way to connect when our world seems so disconnected. It's in the small gestures.

His conversation made me think about how often we notice something kind, skillful, beautiful, or steady in someone — and never say it out loud. A warm smile at the grocery store. A teacher who goes the extra mile. A clinician who slows down in a system that doesn’t reward slowing down.

Those words live in our heads… but what if we gave them back more often?

It matters to them, of course. But it also matters to us. When we name what we appreciate, our nervous system softens. Connection deepens. A little oxytocin ripple moves through the day.

Anyway — that’s your gentle nudge this week and mine. I can always be better at this.

And now, because not everything has to be profound… here’s a recipe I’m loving lately. I've made this super seed nut butter for a while and my husband devours it like it's a bowl of soup.

I definitely know that putting healthy, clean, real food in your body perks up your mood and zest for life so maybe it will support our goal of sharing our kind thoughts with others...just maybe.

Courtesy of Bakerita

• 1 cup raw pecans​
• 1 cup raw cashews​
• 1 cup raw almonds
• ½ cup raw sunflower seeds
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 2 tablespoons flax seeds
• ½ teaspoon sea salt or more to taste
• Optional: cinnamon vanilla extract. - not optional in my mind they really make this recipe stand up. I use quite a bit of cinnamon and real organic vanilla beans are a bonus.

1. Combine the pecans, cashews, almonds, and sunflower seeds and flax in your food processor or high-powered blender. Process for about 3-6 minutes, scraping down as necessary. Your time might be shorter if you’re using a high-powered blender – it will take a little bit longer in the food processor and require more scraping down.
2. When the nuts have broken down into a smooth, creamy butter, add the chia seeds, salt, and cinnamon and/or vanilla extract, if you’re using. Process to incorporate, and taste. Adjust add-ins as desired. If it’s not blending up as smoothly or thinly as you want, add a little bit of coconut oil here or try to blend a bit longer as it does take time.
3. Transfer to a glass jar or two (like a mason or Weck jar) and store. (once you taste this it won't last long believe me)
4. A healthy and supportive serving size is 1-2 Tb ideally unless your my husband then 1/2 a jar will do.

Enjoy! Share this post with friends...

Together we can make the world a happier, healthier place.

Here for the little things and in gratitude,

Karen