My daughter inspires me to be the healthiest me I can be. As her mother, I know that by example I can teach her to make healthy choices that will promote energy and longevity.  From eating delicious home-grown food, walking labyrinths, and playing together, we construct a joyful family life full of adventure and serendipity.

My Daughter, My Muse

My daughter is my muse.  I write about my little sweetheart often because my days are filled delightfully with her spirit.  We don't watch television, but run outside, play in the field, and water our garden and potted plants in the Spring and Summer.  We skip through fallen leaves all over the place in Autumn.  In the winter, we sled, make snow people, and make snow angels together.  We make our food from scratch quite often (no canned food and very little store-bought frozen food)...and often eat dinner as a family when her Papa arrives home from work.  Fruit smoothies are among our favorite afternoon snacks.

Our Village

My second source of inspiration is that of several of my neighbors here, at the co-housing community we live in, who prepare delicious healthy foods for our common meals and keep beautiful gardens in their yards.  Between the recipes they share and my own cookbooks, the ways in which I can provide healthy meals and snacks for my family are ever fresh.  Because of this, there is often extra to share with friends....and I am often inspired to create my own corner of beauty in my backyard.

The Regenerative Power of Music

Making and dancing to music is as important to me as meditating to it.  I play mandolin, guitar, and flute, and often sing.  My daughter enjoys singing songs with me that we both know, and I have taught her a few along the way.  She attends creative dance lessons, and is inspired to dance to lots of different types of music.  I often join her.  Dancing is great exercise as much as it is an art.  At night, I sing lullabies to my daughter, accompanied by playing the notes on my mandolin.

Benediction

When my daughter is in bed for the night, I often take baths with sea salt.  I sip tea as I write, stitch, or knit.  Each morning, I sit and meditate, clear my mind and energy for the day ahead while I listen to quiet, relaxing music. During this time, all the people in my life for whom I am grateful, and events from which I have grown, flow like honey in a soothing cup of warm tea through my brain cells, through every vessel of my body.  I know that each moment that has led up to this very day has been important, and that I have been truly blessed.  I hope that you have known many moments of blessing as I have, and I wish for you many more from this day forward.

Blessed be!

Text and Photo Copyright © 2010 by Karen Szklany Gault