Health Heroes! 

When I went to silent retreat a few years back there were a few things that really stood out to me that I try to practice and bring into my everyday life. 

Silent Retreat is where you go to be with yourself. To get to know yourself on a deeper level and to see things that you may not otherwise. It’s about taking out the distractions that we have grown so accustomed to in our day to day life and putting ourselves in a new environment that is more natural, quiet, and calm. 

No cellphones, No books, No Journaling, No Talking. Meditation 6-11 hours a day. 

Just you and your mind for 10 days… 

Out of all the hard and crazy things I’ve done in my life… Silent Retreats are near the top of that list. 

I remember being there and observing people and their relationship to their food. I remember seeing people pile food on their plate, grasping onto the only pleasure they could in a place where instant pleasures aren’t abundant. I remember seeing people loading up their spoon with their next bite before they finished chewing the food in their mouth. Seeing habits like these reflected back to me some of my own unconscious behaviors around food. 

What I took away from watching people was how to be more present when it came to eating. 

I would practice putting my spoon or fork down between bites and really enjoy the food that I was putting into my body. I slowed down. I straightened my back and took deep breaths. In return, the food became so much more satiating and more enlivening. I never left the dining hall feeling bogged down or heavy. I felt fueled, refreshed and light. 

This is a lesson I think that all of us could use a little more of in our day to day life. 

Slow down, Breathe, and Enjoy! 

I know I am a happier person when I do the three things above. 

Life is sooooo sweet. We don’t need “sweets” we just need to make life more sweet! 

How do you practice making life more sweet? 

Also… I’m supposed to do a recipe in this post. Haha 

So I am going to share one of my favorites to make. I actually got this from silent retreat. We would have stewed fruits (plus some!) every morning for breakfast. 

Stewed fruits are great for keeping your bowel movements regular and adding some natural sweetness into your life. They are packed full of fiber and there is nothing but water and a cinnamon stick added to them. 

This recipe calls for: 

½ Cup Dried Prunes 

½ Cup Raisens

½ Cup Dates 

1-2 Apples (of your choice) 

1 Cinnamon Stick 

Directions: 

~ Fill put with all the ingredients and purified water (You want the water to be about 2 inches above the dried fruits. 

~Let sit overnight 

~Bring to a light Boil and simmer for about 30-45 min. 

I like to put mine over some Sprouted Oats, Chopped Banana, Sprouted Almond Butter, and some Ground Flax Seed. 

I hope you enjoy this as much as I dooooo! 

~Coach Rebecca Wolf