How can a light switch look so ominous? And yet, that’s appropriate for this story. Cold; even in the morning light. Hard. Uncaring.
Last week, I started a new series on my mental health journey with a post titled, “The Mind I Was Given”. I discussed mental preferences, our comfort zones, and the patterns of behavior that led to me being classified as a “classic perfectionist”; a label I don’t disagree with. At length, I spoke to how our preferences, behaviors, and abilities are what make us who we are and that our minds are ours to understand, accept, and protect. The crux of my message was that who we are should not be confused with mental health issues such as anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This week, I’d like to discuss how my fight with OCD began, and what I’ve identified as my “fear”. Additionally, I’d like to begin talking about mental balance.
As we’re nearing the end of 2025, I want to send out a reminder to get out and take in the fall season. If you’re involved in a sport like Mary and I are in disc golf, then this could quite possibly be the best time of the year to enjoy the cool and the beauty of our natural surroundings. Additionally, if you’ve been getting out all summer long, it might be a good time to start thinking about the coming winter and ways in which to stay active during the cold months ahead.
My mind has always been what it is; it is mine to understand, accept, and protect.
Back when I started thebeanandseed.com, I promised to talk about my mental health journey. Up to this point I’ve only touched upon it briefly. I suppose I’ve been hesitant to get into the subject; not because it’s hard for me to write about, but because of the potential for judgement. You see, I have come to learn that, for the most part, only those who have experienced similar hardships look at you from a fully sympathetic perspective. Sometimes, even those who have gone through similar situations will still criticise you because they believe you’re not approaching your issues in the appropriate manner. Well, I’ve decided I’m not going to worry about those opinions anymore; the potential for my experience to help someone else is more important than what a misinformed individual may or may not approach me with; maybe I can even provide some clarity for those who would judge. With that said, I believe we were given beautiful minds. We are capable of wonderful thought, creation, and an aptness for empathy beyond that which we can imagine. But the world is a harsh place. We are sometimes put against seemingly impossible odds. Survival instincts kick in. How, then, can we find balance and get the most out of the minds we were given? I look forward to sharing about my attempts to find balance in the future, but as someone suffering with anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), I want to start this series on my mental health journey by talking about our mental preferences and how they can be incorrectly labeled as compulsions. You may not be dealing with the exact issues, but I hope you will be able to glean valuable insight from what I have to share.
Behold the Kraken… Err, Korken! Large opening for cleaning; replaceable gasket; affordable price.
Maybe this is a funny thing to post about, but, if they’re useful to me, then I’m sure they’ll be useful to someone else. When I started working on my refrigerator pickle recipe, I wanted to get a mason jar to store them in. I quickly discovered that mason jars are for long term storage and feature single use lids; they’re also sold in bulk. Randomly, while roaming through Ikea, as one does, I came upon the Korken.
I didn’t eat all of this after taking the picture… I had some help! 😉
As someone who enjoys a little something sweet after a meal, I thought I’d share some ideas for what I consider to be healthier alternatives to traditional dessert options. I, admittedly, struggle to eat the recommended serving sizes for a lot of foods as I don’t get my fill. I love Pepperidge Farm cookies, for example, but I always want 2 Chesapeakes, 4 Milanos… you get the idea. This has led to me not keeping such delights in the house, but saving them for special occasions. So what do we eat for dessert instead? Read on for some options that highlight the culinary principle known as food paring.
Maybe reheated soup doesn’t make for the best picture, but, the point is, it’s easy, healthier, and much cheaper than going out for a similar bowl. Get yourself a nice set of glass storage bowls and meal prep for the week. Also, don’t forget the unsweetened iced tea! 😉
Soup isn’t the first thing I think of when I think of fast food, but Chick-Fil-A’s (CFA) seasonal Chicken Tortilla Soup is actually my favorite item on their menu. Unfortunately, it’s only available from mid-November to mid-March and now costs an eye-watering $8.50-$9.50 a bowl depending on your location. Keep in mind this is just for a bowl of soup… no drink included! All that said, my goal for this fast food substitution is to make a healthier alternative at a more affordable price that can be eaten year round.
My challenge results are in… Thumbs up from a healthier thumb!
30 days ago I challenged myself to try and improve the health of my thumb and forearm. You can read more about the injury I sustained in my “30-Day Physical Therapy Challenge & Car Accident Insights” post. The goal of the challenge was to see if I could improve the current state of my thumb and arm on my own prior to seeking out a medical professional. Now that I’ve reached the end of the challenge, how’d it go? The short answer is that I’ve definitely regained strength and have lessened some nerve issues. Read on for the detailed answer and some thoughts that may help you out if you find yourself dealing with a stubborn injury.
My finished Chicken Tortilla Soup served with an oat milk iced coffee. It’s not so hot that it needs a glass of milk, but still a good combo!
So this one is a slow cooker recipe I’ve been refining for a couple years now. It is inspired by Chick-Fil-A’s seasonal Chicken Tortilla Soup, but you can make it yourself year round! That said, it’s a soup I always seem to want when football season gets into full swing. The goals of the recipe are to be reasonably priced, hearty, and lower in sodium than what you can get from Chick-Fil-A. As prepared, I’m coming in at less than half the price for a bowl and less than half the sodium. Also worth mentioning is that I’m using two cans of Petite Diced Tomatoes in this recipe; for more on this, check out my “Turning Cravings into Kitchen Staples” post.
As adults, we’re responsible. We do our jobs, pay our bills, and take care of ourselves and our kids if we’ve got them. Surely then, we know when to step away from our devices and don’t need to set limits on screen time for ourselves, right? Well, I don’t think the question is that simple. Assuming the activity isn’t keeping you away from your responsibilities, I would say it’s engagement level during our screen time that we need to be paying attention to when determining when enough is enough. Let me explain.
I went too big on the chicken sandwich… I have to admit that right up front!
So, last week I mentioned starting a new feature that focuses on creating substitution meals for fast food favorites. The idea is to save some money, yes, but more importantly, to create healthier alternatives at home. My goal for this week is to come up with something that can be a substitute for Chick-fil-A (CFA). Any family member or former coworker of mine knows that I had quite the big Chick-fil-A obsession there for a while, but I’ve definitely slowed down over the last few years as I’ve tried to get my blood pressure and migraines under control. That said, I still love a chicken sandwich with pickles and know this is a great meal for my easy refrigerator pickle recipe!
The Bean & Seed 