Tag: Spirituality

My Abundant Life 7-12-26

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July 12th, 2026

How To Cook A Wolf

“There’s a whining at the threshold–

There’s a scratching at the floor–

To work! To work! In Heaven’s name!

The wolf is at the door!

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (American Novelist; July 3rd, 1860 to August 17th, 1935)

“When the wolf arrives, ‘Our texture of belief has great holes in it,’ M. F. K. Fisher recalls. ‘Our pattern lacks pieces.” Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher, who was probably this country’s greatest food writer, knew all about lean times. In fact, one of her early books was How to Cook a Wolf, which she published in 1942 during the worst of the wartime food shortages.”

“Poverty is always experienced in the soul before it is felt in the pocketbook.”

“For those of us who would like to follow in her footsteps, she recommends weeding our desires, leaving only the holy hungers, ‘so that you can live most agreeably in a world full of an increasing number of disagreeable surprises.”

“How did she do it? By not running scared when the wolf arrived, by not giving in to her fears that he would blow her house down. She knew that the twists and turn of fate are usually just hot air. Instead, she learned to outsmart, catch. and cook the wolf. By concentrating on the goal at hand–a good glass of wine, a good tomato, a good loaf of bread. A beautiful sunset, a lively conversation, a loving relationship. She knew that the good life does not depend on extravagant indulgences. The good life does not deprive. It exults. ‘You can still live with grace and wisdom.’ she encourages us–if you rely on ‘your own innate sense of what you must do with the resources you have to keep the wolf from sniffing too hungrily through the keyhole.'”

“My husband and I have agreed to live a created life where everyday is a party. We lean into this and stay present with what is so and create magic in our lives every single moment. We are blessed.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 254 to 255 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 7-8-26

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July 8th, 2026

In Search of Soul Food

“Soul food is just what the name implies. It is soulfully cooked food or richly flavored food, good for your ever-loving soul.”

Sheila Ferguson (American Singer & Songwriter; October 8th, 1947)

“In 1900, a Kentucky mountain woman walked fifty miles to seek a place for her granddaughter at Berea College high school. ‘Hit’s a lot worse to be soul-hungry than to be body-hungry.’ she explained.”

“…a legacy clearly steeped in tradition; a way of life that has been handed down from generation to generation.”

Sheila Ferguson (American Singer & Songwriter; October 8th, 1947)

“And while the expression ‘soul food’ is usually used to describe traditional African-American cooking, this emotionally evocative cuisine is color-blind. Real soul food only knows the borders of the heart. Soul food is universal culinary memories, stories, and recipes.”

“When preparing soul food, we can’t cook by the book but rather by instinct, by using our senses.”

“You taste, rather than measure, the seasoning you treasure; and you use your eyes, not a clock to judge when that cherry pie has bubbled sweet and nice. These skills are hard to teach quickly. They must be felt… and come straight from the heart and soul.”

Sheila Ferguson (American Singer & Songwriter; October 8th, 1947)

“This summer, collect soulful recipes, or have someone you love but don’t see very often cook for you. Better still, try taking a personal cooking lesson. You might think you know to make jam cake with caramel icing, but do you?”

“Cooking is the center of our home…as the sous chef, I am so proud to be a part of my husband’s creations. Pure ART!“

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 248 to 249 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 7-7-26

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July 7th, 2026

Cooking For Comfort

“It seems to me that our three basic needs, for food and security and love, are so entwined that we cannot think of one without the other.”

M. F. K. Fisher (American Food Journalist; July 3rd, 1908 to June 22nd, 1992)

“Comfort food: quirky, quaint, quixotic. Personal patterns of consolation, encoded on our taste buds past all forgetting as unmistakable as greasy fingerprints. When the miseries strike and you’re down in the dumps, food transformed by love and memory become therapy.”

“Pleasure can be bought, but comfort must be given. Even if you give it to yourself.”

“Consider this: certain delicious foods—carbohydrates–make us feel calm and content because they literally change our brain chemistry by increasing the levels of serotonin, the natural feel-good enzyme recently celebrated on the cover of news magazines. In other words, pasta and potatoes are Mother Nature’s Prozac. Are your starting to feel better already?”

“Since we’re forced to nourish ourselves, why not do it with all possible skill… and ever-increasing enjoyment, And when we sit down not only to eat, but to be cheered and comforted, let us do so with grace and gusto and a grateful heart.”

M. F. K. Fisher (American Food Journalist; July 3rd, 1908 to June 22nd, 1992)

“Every meal is a gift of love and an exploration of a possibility. Our meals are a chance to travel the world via our cuisine.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 247 to 248 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 7-5-26

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July 5th, 2026

Cooking Companions

“No one who cooks cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, the wisdom of cookbook writers.”

Laurie Colwin (American Writer; June 14th, 1944 to October 24th, 1992)

“I know that young children will wander away from the table, and that family life will never smooth, and that life itself is full…not only of charm and warmth and comfort but of sorrow and tears. But whether we are happy or sad, we must be fed.”

Laurie Colwin (American Writer; June 14th, 1944 to October 24th, 1992)

“Convincing my husband he is a chef has transformed his cooking to epic levels!

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 243 to 245 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 7-4-26

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July 4th, 2026

Getting Real and Personal in the Pursuit of Happiness

“Expect nothing; live frugally on surprise.”

Alice Walker (American Novelist & Short Story Writer; February 9th, 1944)

“William James was also an eloquent and persuasive champion of a philosophical school of thought known as Pragmatism. He argued that the world already exists when we are born, and we have to accept it as it is. But our ability to create our own inner reality can determine if we view the Universe as friendly or hostile.”

“Be willing to have it so… Acceptance of what has happened is the first step in overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.”

William James (American Philosopher & Psychologist; January 11th, 1842 to August 26th, 1910)

“Being a pragmatist, Dr. James believed that personal happiness hinges on a practicality: if your reality lives up to your expectations, you’re happy. If it doesn’t, you’re depressed.”

“Do we consciously and continually strive for more accomplishments and accumulations? Or do we lower our expectations, live with what we have, and learn to be content?”

“Many of us mistakenly think that lowering our expectations means we must surrender our dreams.”

“Absolutely not. Dreams and expectations are two very different things. Dreams call for a leap of faith, trusting, that Spirit is holding the net, so that you can continue in the re-creation of the world with your energy, soul gifts, and vision. Expectations are the emotional investment the ego makes in a particular outcome: what needs to happen to make that dream come true. The ego’s expectations are never vague: Oscars, magazine covers, the New York Times best-seller list. Your dreams must manifest exactly as the ego imagines or someone isn’t going to be very happy. And guess who that is? The ego! Since none of us can always predict either the future or the best outcome for our authentic path, this kind of thinking is self-destructive. Because if we don’t live up to the ego’s expectations, we’ve failed again. And at some point we really do give up.”

“The passionate pursuit of dreams sets your soul soaring; expectations that measure the dream’s success tie stones around your soul. I don’t think we should just lower our expectations; I believe if we truly want to live a joyous and adventurous life, we should relinquish them.”

“Living your life as a dreamer and not as an ‘expector’ is a personal declaration of independence. You’re able to pursue happiness more directly when you don’t get caught up in the delivery details. Dreaming, not expecting, allows Spirit to step in and surprise you with connection, completion, consummation, celebration. You dream. Show up for work, Then let Spirit deliver your dreams to the world.”

“When once a decision is reached and execution is the order of the day, dismiss absolutely all responsibility and care about the outcome.”

William James (American Philosopher & Psychologist; January 11th, 1842 to August 26th, 1910)

“I don’t think any of our dreams begin to come close to the dreams Spirit has waiting with our names on them. I also believe we’ll only find out once we start investing our emotions in authentic expression, and not in spefici outcomes.”

“I say let the flow carry you on your life journey…PLUG IN!”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 241 to 243 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 6-27-26

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June 27th, 2026

Rosemary for Remembrance: Sowing Herbal Hopes and Wishes

“Balm brings you sympathy and Marjoram joy

Sage is long life…Sweet Woodruff augurs well for health–

A blessing richer far than wealth.

While Lavender means deep devotion, Herb of sweet omen, Rosemary conveys

Affection and remembrance all your days.

May Heaven and Earth and Man combine

To keep these blessings ever thine.”

Rachel Page Elliott (Author; February 27th, 1913 to March 20th, 2009)

“King Charlemagne of France, the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, believed that herbs were ‘the friend of the physician and the pride of cooks’ and ordered the planting of a royal herb garden in the ninth century. Herbs were considered essential for a long, happy, and healthy life.”

“Jeri performs a Native American ritual as she collects herbs. She wears a sacred pouch that carries wheat seeds. As she gathers from the earth, she personally returns an offering by scattering seeds. And even if the seeds don’t sprout, at least she is feeding the earth’s creatures. ‘The Native Americans have a chant that they invoke when they gather.’ Jeri says. ‘The Earth is my Mother, I take care of Her.”

“Today, sow some symbolic seeds, even if you don’t have a garden, as a gesture to ritualize the new life you are creating within. Ask for blessing of Spirit and the nurturing of the Great Mother and know that in due time there will be an abundant harvest for yourself and those you love.”

“In search of my mother’s garden I found my own.”

Alice Walker (American Novelist & Short Story Writer; February 9th, 1944)

“The idea that even in the 9th century, man knew the value of plants to a healthy life. I love the idea of sowing seeds as a gift to Mother Earth. To return to this gifting might yield a a beautiful canvas or sorts. This gives me hope to be an artist after all.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 228 to 229 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 6-21-26

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June 21st, 2026

Bloom Where You’re Planted

“Bloom where you’re planted.”

Mary Engelbreit (Artist; June 5th, 1952)

“Gardening is one of the rewards of middle age, when one is ready for an impersonal passion, a passion that demands patience, acute awareness of a world outside oneself, and the power to keep on growing through the cold snows, towards those moments of pure joy when all failures are forgotten and the plum tree flowers.”

May Sarton (Belgian-American Novelist & Poet; May 3rd, 1912 to July 16th, 1995)

“Being a late bloomer means that you have the time and the opportunity to revise and revamp if you experiment with life and fall short of your dreams. We late bloomers can risk more because at this point nobody really expects anything spectacular from us anymore. We can reinvent ourselves or give birth to our authentic selves we rediscover and reclaim our essence.”

“As I have tried and failed and tried again, I have discovered that if we are to flourish as creative beings, if we are o grow into Wholeness, we must bloom wherever we are planted. Right now, you might not have the perfect career, home, or relationship. Few of us do. But if you have the gift of today, you’ve got another chance to re-create your circumstances and make them as perfect as it’s possible to do with the resources you have. Today, you get another chance to get it as right as you can make it. What more could you desire?”

“The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want. …And if they can’t find them, make them.”

George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright & Critic; July 26th, 1856 to November 2nd, 1950)

“I am so thankful for my experience in professional athletics. I learned these lessons early in my life and was able to reignite them again when I needed as my marriage was predictably failing. I chose to make my circumstances versus waiting for life to happen to me.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 220 to 221 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 6-20-26

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June 20th, 2026

Onward and Upward in the Garden

“Within your heart, keep one still, secret spot where dreams may go.”

Louise Driscoll (Poet; 1875 to July 16th, 1957)

“Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we shall tend. The invisible underbrush holding us back is our own thoughts. When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but on the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure—the wasteland falls away and we experience joy in the real lives we live each day.”

“…don’t forget to tend your interior secret garden, because the seeds that will blossom in outward expression are always first scattered within. Weed out disappointments, frustrations, diminished ambitions, unfulfilled expectations, and anger about what has gone before or what has not yet come. These emotional weeds only choke your creativity. Let an unfettered imagination sow the seeds of possibility in the rich soil of your soul. Then let passion tend the garden with patience and perseverance.”

“When you have a Garden, you have a Future and when you have a Future, you are Alive,”

Frances Hodgson (British-American Novelist & Playwright; November 24th, 1849 to October 29th, 1924)

“The secret garden within each of us needs constant tending and nurturing. It has taken me the first half of my life to understand and implement this…without guilt and as a known truth for my health and happiness.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 218 to 220 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 6-19-26

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June 19th, 2026

Onward and Upward in the Garden

“Gardening is an instrument of grace.”

May Sarton (Belgian-American Novelist & Poet; May 3rd, 1912 to July 16th, 1995)

“To my mind, there are two types of lady gardeners. There are those extraordinary women who not only know every flower, but know every flower by its Latin name. These women look as beautiful as the flora they nurture, gardening in wide-brimmed straw hats and pearls, trailing chiffon, and wearing Ferragamo shoes. They keep meticulous gardening journals, plt plant placements on graph paper, and never break into a sweat when wielding a trowel and a spade. Katherine White belonged to this gardening genius.”

“‘Grunge’ accurately describes the other group. We are always hot, smelly, and sweaty in the garden, boasting not so much a green thumb as dirty fingernails because we forgot where we put our gardening gloves. We speak of ‘that little yellow flower’ and point.”

“Gardening has become an unexpected instrument of grace, for I’ve discovered hours of inner peace on my knees, digging in the dirt. Here is the one place I don’t think about work or worry about whatever it is that I can’t control. The complete absorption, the sacrament of the present moment I experience when planting or weeding brings exquisite contentment. My mind is stilled and my heart expands. Now I know why the Great Creator intended for women to flourish in a garden. So much for second-guessing the wisdom of Spirit.”

“I miss having a garden. It is something that brings me peace and contentment.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 217 to 218 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 5-20-26

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May 20th, 2026

The Art of Puttering

“Puttering is really a time to be alone, to dream and to get in touch with yourself…To putter is to discover.”

Alexandria Stoddard (Author & Interior Designer; November 8th, 1941)

“…puttering is a solitary pursuit, to be appreciated with an unhurried pace for maximum metaphysical benefits. The essence of puttering is rearranging…”

“Part of the pleasure of puttering is free association. Think of puttering as a domestic Rorschach test. Instead of interpreting inkblots, we muse on the hidden meaning of personal possessions until we flow on to dreams, choices, risks, pleasures, authentic preferences.”

“‘Creative puttering’ is actually one of my favorite things to do at home. It helps us to become aware of what’s still important to us, what continues to have meaning. This quiet, private act can…bring the different aspects of your life into sharp focus—and identify your needs.”

Alexandria Stoddard (Author & Interior Designer; November 8th, 1941)

“I pretty much putter every season change.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 167 to 169 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.