Just today I learned that pineapple is excellent for the throat...for both healing and preventing laryngitis. I can't think of a more delicious remedy than fresh pineapple juice. Photo courtesy of stock.xchng.
Hey guys. I hope you all have had a great weekend. Mine has been a mixed bag. See, I had a cold last week. First legit cold in nearly a year, but a cold nonetheless.My immune system, fortunately, is pretty strong, and I thought the cold and I were done. That we’d kicked one another to the curb in record time. But then it was like “Not so fast, suckah!” and promptly boomeranged back to me early Friday morning. . .in the form of pure evil, I mean, laryngitis.
Holy throat chakra, Batman! I haven’t lost my voice in over two years. I thought was on a roll in that department.
Long story short, I’ve been on vocal rest since Friday, only talking when absolutely required. I’ve missed some work, and had to miss Khat’s birthday celebration. Which really sucked. But I would have have been bad, bizarre company with my squeaky vocal range and weird hand gestures.
So alas, not being able to talk has given me time to listen. To myself and others.This has been oddly refreshing, rejuvenating, even. I could get used to this.
And one of the things that dawned on me while giving the ol’ gift of gab a break is that I really ought to post on here more often. And I quickly realized that I’ve been letting arbitrary rules I’d “set” for myself determine what my posts had to be.
Spending time in quiet, and in meditation, is helping re-balance my chakras. (Dear Lord, did I just type that...it sounds so hokey. But it's TRUE!) Photo courtesy of stock.xchng.
The advice I often give my students and clients about letting go of the all or nothing mentality? I SOOOO wasn’t following my own advice in terms of this blog.
I’d backed myself into the corner of thinking that most of my posts needed to be full-on recipes, photographed by me, and with some sort of a little story to go along. I was “shoulding” myself to death!
That corner and all that “shoulding”? Very limiting. Why stay stuck in a corner when you have a whole world to explore?
I’ve decided to come out of the corner and toss my own rulebook. So from now on, there might be more posts, but maybe not every single post will be a recipe. I live in NYC, and this place can be absurd and inspiring, sometimes all at once. Would you guys mind if I posted random, funny and/or poignant tidbits and photos from my day to day life?
Peacock pose. Central Park, NYC. I totally look Photoshopped in, right? But it's for reals. Photo by Marisa Train.
I love Yoga, fitness, meditation, travel, nature, and Downton Abbey. You won’t mind, will you, if some posts delve into those topics? My friends are some of the most interesting and talented people I’ve ever met. You won’t mind, will you, if I periodically post a “day in the life” of some of them….such as my friend Alena who is currently a Broadway performer in the musical “Sister Act”?
And yes, Persian food, food in general are near and dear to my heart, always, and will be talked about on here. Some of you send me events and info about community events and film screenings of Iranian and other Middle Eastern films. I love that stuff. Keep that info coming. I’ll do my best to include it here. (And apologies for the information I might not always post. I’m not the most organized gal, admittedly.)
I could go on, but for now, I’ll simply say:
Here’s to letting go of the “All or Nothing Mentality.”
Now, I must ask…
In what areas do you have a tendency to think (and maybe act) in an “all or nothing” fashion?
Are you game to change that tendency and see what happens? Or maybe you’ve made such changes already…how’d that go? Any tips for the rest of us?
Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. Would love to read about others’ “all or nothing” tendencies. I can’t be the only one who thinks this way, right?
Hi Bria,
First of all sorry about your voice and hope you get better soon! I loved reading this blog. I hear you about creating ‘arbitary rules’ for your blog, as I’ve done the same in the past and have often felt stuck when writing a post. I think though the more you write the easier it gets.
I love your idea about writing about different areas of your life, and I would LOVE to read your posts on NYC! My husband and I visited there for the first time last September and had the best time! We were only there 5 days but it was the best holiday and I definitely want to visit again so I would love to read more about NYC! And Broadway…even better
Btw that pic of you in central park is FANTASTIC!
Thanks, Naz. What a kind and thoughtful comment. You’re so sweet. Let me know next time you come back to NY. We’ll meet for tea.
Oh thanks
That would be great, will def let you know!
Awesome!
hope you’re feeling better…it sucks being sick but it does allow time for going inward…i personally love the idea of throwing out all the rules…who wrote those rules anyway? i am so in love with downton abbey!! btw did you see a separation? great iranian film..anyway hope you are better!!
Yes, def feeling better. Thanks! Unfortunately, I made those silly rules. Ha! Baby steps towards change
And “A Separation” is on my list. I’m SO psyched the film won the Oscar.
hope you are better as well! I am a champion in limiting myself with this all or none attitude. Blogging is the least of my problems. I do it all the time in ‘real life’. The worst area for me has been my professional life. And yet… I can’t do otherwise, or at least, changing is really hard.
Thanks for your well wish. I’m indeed better. I figure if we can start with something relatively small, like blogging, then the mindset and improvements can carry over to other areas of life.
Hope you’re feeling better! We missed you at my party and please keep the blogs going.
xoxo
-Khat
Missed you guys too, hon. Hope you somehow managed to have fun without me
Xoxo.
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Bria, I hope you feel better soon!
I love that you’re willing to take a look around and see what you can improve, even in a radical way, and I think your ideas are awesome. I’ve been doing a bit of that myself lately, especially trying to confront my “overdue library book syndrome” — situations where a problem has festered and grown so much that it hurts to deal with it. And it’s improved my quality of life.
Post request: Could you write up some recommendations about how best to celebrate Nowruz in NYC, especially for those of us who aren’t as plugged in to the Persian community as we wish we were, and don’t hear about things through word of mouth? Thanks!!
Heeeeyyyyy, Nadia! Great to hear from you. Thanks for your support. Your Nowruz idea is a great one. My Nowruz celebrations are typically very quiet, but you’re right, there have to be other ways to connect to this awesome holiday in NYC. Let me look around and see what I can find. Btw, love “overdue library book syndrome.” What a perfect description. We’ve all been there and done that
And you’re right…it takes real awareness, openness, and willingness to deal with it, even in a small way. But small steps beat no steps.
Bria,
I forgot to ask you, this Downtown Abbey I’ve been hearing about it everywhere! is it really that good?
OMG, YES, it really is. And I’m pretty picky when it comes to TV watching. Usually I’d rather watch good movies or read a book. Downton is kind of like doing both of these at the same time, if that makes any sense.
Nice! Well I must get onto it then