Positive Signs

Hey Everyone,

I wanted to write a post on being positive. I post on this topic often because I feel people become confused by this concept. People ask "how can you just be happy all the time." Or..."thinking happy thoughts won't help all the people starving in the world." These people are absolutely right. However, being positive is not about forcing ourselves to be happy.

No one is happy all the time...the disturbing images coming out of Haiti are enough to sink even the most hardened person's heart. Holding hands and visualizing sunshine and butterflies while reading fairy tales will not pull desperate people out of the rubble. This type of catastrophe does call for people to be positive.

My brand of positivism is best displayed with an addition symbol +. When we add to something we are making a positive contribution. I was not a stellar math student but I did grasp this concept. Whenever we add or move forward me are making positive progress. I understand people will object, stating "if we put more guns on the street we are adding something but it results in tragedy." Once again this person would be correct. However, I am sure if we write out the rest of the equation we will end up with less than we started. People will lose their lives either to violence or to jail. True positivity occurs when our actions, our thoughts, our words add to the totality of human existence. There is no one on Earth who can finish out the whole equation, so we move forward in faith.

Even the smallest gesture can add to the sum. I contributed $15 to the Red Cross Haiti Relief Effort. This was matched by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and I am sure many of my fellow classmates followed suit. In contributed with hope that my positive action would add to the efforts in the embattled country. If I simply turned off the television listened to some John Tesh music and thought about skipping through a magical forest, my gesture would at best be labeled null. I guess I would be one more supporter of John Tesh's lovely piano music....but in my estimation would have done very little.

Being positive is about progress. Each of us can either help one another evolve and in turn evolve ourselves...or we can live survival of the fittest in which each of us takes and takes until nothing is left. I believe human beings got to this advanced state of development through their positive intentions. Call me delusional but I believe it to be so. I would encourage each of you to remember that every action carries with it this potential. When I close my emails with "stay positive", I do not mean "think happy thoughts", I mean continue to evolve, to grow and to contribute to the world around you.

Stay Positive,

Matthew

To contribute to the Haiti Relief Effort see links below

Red Cross

https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?idb=1457186616&df_id=4437&4437.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=iziao0c2t1.app196a

Bill Clinton and George Bush Effort

http://www.clintonbushhaitifund.org

International Rescue Committee

http://www.theirc.org

Updated! Celery Root Soup Recipe

I just made this today and made a couple alterations to the recipe. I only tasted it...I am saving it for monday night dinner...creamy and delicous.


Ingredients

Sea Salt
4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil(the original recipe called for three :) love olive oil)
4 Stalks of Celery Chopped
1 Celery Root (I was able to find this at the local grocery store...peel an cut into cubes)1 Large Onion
2 quarts of vegetable broth
1 bay leaf
1 Cup Almond milk
1/4 Cup Plain Yogurt (added this to increase creamy texture and tangy taste)
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
1 Granny Smith Apple diced
Chives or Green Onions or Scallions (they may all be the same thing...not sure)

Place a large stockpot over medium heat. Sprinkle bottom with a pinch of salt and heat for a minute (this is new). Add oil and heat for another 30 seconds. Add the Celery and onion and saute for 6 to 10 minutes, stirring often until soft but not brown. Add the broth and the bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 30 minutes. Add Cashew cream or almond milk and let it simmer for ten minutes.

Give it a try and impress your friends!

Stay Positive,

Matthew

Celery Root Soup with Granny Smith Apples

Hello Positive Eaters,

picture above from http://jewelsfromtherovingstove.blogspot.com (cool blog actually!)

My friend Oprah Winfrey sent me a recipe today from celebrity chef Tal Ronnen. I would not call myself an elitist...but if Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama both like the soup, it's worth knowing how to make in case they pop by one day.

I did not make it yet...so if any of you beat me to it let me know how it turns out. I made some modifications from the original recipe just to make it easier for me to make. I will update you guys after I make it.

Ingredients

Sea Salt
4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil(the original recipe called for three :) love olive oil)
2 Stalks of Celery including roots chopped into 1 inch cubes
1 Large Onion
2 quarts of vegetable broth
1 bay leaf
1 cup Cashew Cream? (I am just going to use Almond Milk)
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
1 Granny Smith Apple diced
Chives or Green Onions or Scallions (they may all be the same thing...not sure)

Place a large stockpot over medium heat. Sprinkle bottom with a pinch of salt and heat for a minute (this is new). Add oil and heat for another 30 seconds. Add the Celery and onion and saute for 6 to 10 minutes, stirring often until soft but not brown. Add the broth and the bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 30 minutes. Add Cashew cream or almond milk and let it simmer for ten minutes.

Allow this to cool and then blend ingredients in blender. Add diced apple and scallions when serving...place a spoonful in the center of the bowl.

Now you are prepared in case the leader of the free world comes over. You can also just make it for your family and friends and pretend you are leaders of the world. I bet you guys would think up some pretty good answers for some of the challenges we are facing.

Stay Positive,

Matthew

Washing my hair with dirt!!!!

Hello!

I truly hope you all enjoyed your holidays and were warmed by both primary and secondary food experiences.

I wanted to tell you about a gift I received from my sister Alison. On the show "Dirty Jobs" they were highlighting a company that makes self care products out of dirt! Using dirt to get clean....interesting paradox. She realized the company was based only a short drive from her home and picked me up a bottle of "Sultry Spice" shampoo. We all got a good laugh, as I read out the ingredients.

Pure Earth Hair Wash —

Organic Sultry Spice

Ingredients: Organic aloe vera juice°, clay minerals: aka dirt, organic extracts° of organic linden flower°, organic nettle°, organic chamomile°, organic shavegrass° and organic vanilla°, essential oils of organic sweet orange°, organic patchouli°, organic true lavender°, organic petitgrain°, organic atlas cedar°, organic cinnamon leaf° and organic pine needle°.

°USDA Certified Organic

I decided to give this a try after my run the next morning. I followed the directions and applied it to my hair. This felt quite strange because the shampoo does not lather at all. I felt like I was putting mud directly into my hair. I applied three teaspoons and rinsed and repeated three times. The water turned all ruddy and brown on the shower floor. I was actually getting dirty in the shower for once!

The rest of the day my hair felt incredible. As a guy, I always laughed at how much money women spend on hair products. I will now admit that your whole day brightens up when you step out with clean flowing locks. However...the shampoo companies are in trouble if word gets out that you can receive the same effect with mud!

The company is called Terresentials and they make skin, hair and body wash as well as deodorant. If you are wary about putting dirt in your hair...you can always buy it for someone else as a joke gift :)

Stay Positive,

Matthew