Mind-Body-Soul Series Launch!

Whitney Cummings, post-vacation lamb meatballs, and last days of summer

The Mind-Body-Soul series is a weekly round-up from Human/Mother that aims to maintain the minds, bodies, and souls of “cycle-breakers,” or “people who identify and intentionally change negative patterns, behaviors, or traditions within their family or relationships.”

Mind: 

I recently listened to Rainn Wilson’s Soul Boom podcast episode, “Whitney Cummings: Is Trauma a Privilege in Disguise?” and walked away feeling understood, validated, and moved. Cummings opens up about her traumatic upbringing, her journey to healing, and her renewed sense of hope after becoming a mother. She’s awesome; this episode is awesome. Listen to it.

Body: 

The last thing I want to do post-vacation is cook, but after some pretty crappy highway food options, I decided to make this instead of shoveling more greasy, suspicious takeout food down my throat. The recipe was super easy, and my stomach thanked me for the respite from questionable fast food.

Here’s my adapted version: I thawed some already frozen homemade Cumin Lamb Meatballs from the freezer, sliced them up, and then pan-fried them in a cast iron skillet. I added in diced Japanese eggplant from our garden and three cans of chickpeas (instead of the called-for two). 

(Side note: We love beans in this household. If you ask my oldest child what her favorite dinner is, there is a 90% chance that she will answer: rice and beans. Yes, this is a real-life “Tell me what economy you’re in without telling me” moment.)

For bowl assembly: I started with a base of cooked Jasmine rice, threw in some sad arugula and cilantro over the rice, and then dumped all the warm, good stuff from the skillet over that. I used the last bit of tahini left in the jar to make this quick 3-Ingredient Tahini Sauce for Everything and poured it over all the delicious goodness, and finished the dish with a little lemon squeeze. Yum! (P.S.: My two-year-old and four-year-old ate it up, too!)

Soul:

My oldest daughter starts school tomorrow. She’ll be in her second year of Montessori preschool this year. So, this past week, which I’ve been referring to as the “last week of summer,” has been full of unplanned, unstructured, and untimed activities: kiddie pool and water table shenanigans, cardboard box and paper painting projects, and neighborhood nature walks. I’m really embracing the “fun mom” stereotype right now, thank you very much. 

Watching my two little suns light up with pure joy at the tickle of a cold sprinkle from the water hose, the delight of creating a new paint color by mixing a combination of colors, and the discovery of a new, “beautiful” flower weed or a “crazy-looking” leaf has been the cup-filling type of thing that my soul has needed after a fast-paced summer, full of travel, camps, and playdates. My mama-heart is aching that this sweet time home with my littles is coming to an end, but my human-soul is relieved because this summer it knows it took it all in with little to no distraction or hesitation. Progress.

Big inhale; big exhale.

Until next week,

Katrina

My youngest daughter’s masterpiece, “Untitled”

My oldest daughter’s painting aptly titled after her favorite summer destination, “Ocean”

Homework: What has nourished your mind, body, and/or soul this past week? Let me know in the comments below. Let’s help each other heal. Sharing is caring! :)