On Sucking the Nectar

Sucking the nectar is a modern-day version of the classic motto seize the day. My idea of sucking the nectar is rising with the sun, running until my legs burn, being present with my family and baking something so delicious I consider making a double batch. Another way to spin this: 

It's a tough motto to embrace but worth trying. 

Over the weekend I read interviews from Mindy Kahling, Zooey Deschanel, Allison Williams and Amy Poehler in Elle. I love Amy even more after reading her last response: 

Elle: You've got a lot on your plate! 

AP: By the way, I just want to thank you for not having your first question be "How do you balance it all?" Why not try to do as much as you can? More, more, more, more. That's how I'm feeling right now-really lucky and blessed, and I just want to enjoy my appetite. To some people, not caring is supposed to be cool, commenting is more interesting than doing, and everything is judged and then disposed on in, like, five minutes. I'm not interested in those kinds of people. I like the person who commits and goes all in and takes big swings and than maybe fails or looks stupid; who jumps and falls down, rather than the person who points at the person who fell, and laughs. But I do sometimes laugh when people fall down. 

Fantastic, right? Balance is great but so is going for it and figuring it out along the way. 

January has been a doozey for me and I'm looking forward to rediscovering my appetite for the nectar once again. 

On Election Night: Yoga and Muffins

Tonight, like most of America, I'm on the edge of my seat hoping my chosen candidate and party wins.

Dan, Ingrid, Harper and I walked to the polls first thing this morning where I voted and Dan stood outside corralling the toddler and dog as they waited patiently roamed around aimlessly.

With a hectic workload, I didn't think much about the election until I hit the yoga mat after work and started to have anxious thoughts.

The rest of the class must have felt the same because we were unbalanced, unfocused and a little nuts. About halfway through, the instructor had us pause with namaste hands and let out a sigh.

Instead of an appropriate, normal exhale, all of us let out a dramatic, audible "AHHHHHHH." In response, the instructor and students laughed. And not a little "class laugh" - no, this was a full-on real laugh, that finally broke the tension. From then on, we were able to concentrate, breathe and as cliche as it sounds, get centered.

On the drive home I turned off the radio in hope to continue some version of peace throughout the night. Even if things don't turn out how I'd like - the back-to-back ads, emails and not-stop speculation will all be done tomorrow. I hope the banter on social media doesn't get out control and everyone embraces a sense of civility and humanity with each other.

If that's too much to ask - feel free to whip up a batch of these Cinnamon Donut Muffins.

They'll be sweet in victory or defeat!