Check out the new newsletter style! Just Be is moving up :) Read on for inspiration & true confessions from a health counselor, and If you're a North Beach yogi (or wannabe) make sure to see link to the left. Interested in COOKING? See special offer for you below.

I'm feeling STUCK. It's still the New Year, and I'm not feeling the "brand new beginning", "fresh start" thing. In part it's due to the season, the inward nature of winter (see previous newsletter if you missed out). But I realize it's also my GRAND EXPECTATIONS that have been holding me back. Do you ever have goals/expectations that are so big you don't know where to start?

So yet again, I've come back to this place of needing to slow it down...even though it already seems as if I'm going slow; I mean, hello?! I'm not getting anything done! Counter-intuitive (especially in our go go go culture) but in order to get anything done, I need to slow down the expectations & break down the steps.

The best way for me to do that is through HONESTY & AUTHENTICITY. Here I am, apparent image of health, allowing myself to be totally candid with you, saying 'ughh, something isn't working for me...actually, I'm saying I FEEL LIKE CRAP! :) '. But yes, SAYING WHAT'S TRUE FOR ME IS FREEING! It releases the expectation of me to be the perfect image of health...and guess what? in saying that... I already feel healthier. Ahh the irony...

So what can you come clean about? What façade are you hiding behind or where are you feeling stuck? GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION to be true to yourself...to express your fears in order to move beyond them. Give yourself permission to JUST BE YOU...rather than 'just DO IT.' Scary? Yes. Hard? No. Because it's the suppressing of feelings that is hard, and the letting go and moving forward that makes things easier & allows you to go with the flow.

I counsel people about food, but ultimately the work I do, is about helping people to LISTEN to what their bodies say. Our bodies are so smart - they don't miss a beat (literally). They tell you when something's wrong, and when something is right. So ARE YOU LISTENING, or are you trying to hide your true feelings?

Unclear about your true feelings? Eating good clean food helps to clean the mind so you can see more clearly, and listen more closely. Eating grounding foods also help you to get centered and focused. (See below for good grounding food).

My wish for you is to be clear & true to yourself. Are you on that path? Consider confiding in a journal, a friend, or a consultation with me to help get you there. You have all the answers. Others just get to help you discover them.

(from foodandwine.com)
Prep time: 30 min Cooking time: 1 hr
Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large butternut squash - peeled, seeded & cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 can chickpeas-drained, rinsed
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon mild curry powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

DIRECTIONS 1) Preheat the oven to 375°. 2) In a large bowl, toss the butternut squash with the chickpeas, olive oil, curry and cayenne and season with salt and pepper. 3) Spread the squash cubes on a large rimmed baking sheet. 4) roast for 1 hour, or until tender. 5) Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir the yogurt with the cilantro and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. 6) Spoon the roasted butternut squash and chickpeas onto a platter and drizzle with 1/2 cup of the yogurt sauce. 7) Serve the remaining yogurt sauce on the side.

North Beach Community Class

Morning class. Beginners Welcome.
Held at the Hapkido Institute
I'M LISTENING TO YOU!
Take the survey to the left to request the class time. Got friends who might be interested? Forward this email to them so they can take the survey too!

Contact Ali for a FREE HEALTH CONSULTATION.