Foothills PT November 2018

Should Last Beyond Thanksgiving AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Taking the time to acknowledge who and what you’re grateful for is a Thanksgiving tradition far more important than turkey or football. It’s the cornerstone of the holiday and the reason we feast together in the first place. But when you really think about it, should expressing our gratitude and appreciation for others be limited to one day every year? Of course not! negativity and pessimism—“Kids these days,” “The world isn’t what it used to be,”etc. The crabby grandparent and angry old neighbor are archetypal depictions of later life. But these fictions don’t have to be your reality. Recognizing and acknowledging gratitude will help you take stock of the positive aspects of your life and dwell less on unhappy thoughts. Being grateful has also been linked to significant health benefits. According to gratitude expert and author Dr. Robert A. Emmons,“Preliminary findings suggest that those who regularly WHY GRATITUDE MATTERS As we get older, it’s easy to succumb to

practice grateful thinking do reap emotional, physical, and interpersonal benefits. Adults who keep gratitude journals on a regular basis exercise more regularly, report fewer illness symptoms, feel better about their lives as a whole, and are more optimistic about the future.” HOWTO PRACTICE GRATITUDE In the above quotation fromDr. Emmons, he mentions the practice of keeping a gratitude journal. This activity is a great way to start seeing the world with a more positive, appreciative eye. As often as you can, take a fewminutes to write down the acts, people, andmoments that you’re grateful for. Some will be big, others small —but all will have an impact on your mood and bring a smile to your face. Before you know it, you’ll have an entire book full of goodmemories and warm feelings. While keeping a journal is great, there are other ways to go about cultivating and expressing gratitude. The easiest one is simply to say“Thanks” whenever you can. It may seem insignificant,

but you’d be surprised what a difference it makes. When you approach the world with the perspective that every day is Thanksgiving, it’s only natural to be grateful. We all have moments when we want to curse the world, especially as we get older, and those experiences are perfectly normal. Just as frequently, though, we have moments that are worth celebrating, often with people who are worth appreciating.

Which will you think about more?

Take a Break!

PUMPKIN CHICKPEA FRITTERS

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

1 can chickpeas, drained

1. In a large mixing bowl, mash

together chickpeas and pumpkin purée until the majority of peas are mixed with purée.

1/2 cup organic pumpkin purée

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

2. Add sunflower seeds, apple

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

cider vinegar, spices, and flour to mixture. Fold until fully integrated. 3. In a large skillet, heat oil on medium-high. 4. Formmixture into golf-ball-sized spheres and roll to coat in panko breadcrumbs. Pat into flat cakes and carefully drop into hot oil. 5. Fry fritters, flipping once, until golden and toasty, about 2 minutes per side. 6. Transfer cooked fritters to a paper towel to dry and cool. Serve 5 minutes after cooking.

1 teaspoon garlic granules

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1–2 teaspoons flour, for binding (optional)

1 cup panko bread crumbs, for coating

BLACK FRIDAY COLONIES FEAST FOOTBALL

GOBBLE GRATEFUL GRAVY POTATOES

THANKFUL THANKSGIVING TRADITION TURKEY

1/4–1/2 cup safflower or canola oil, for frying

Recipe courtesy of The Food Network

207-625-4300 • 3

Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs