This is a blog written by Lee Gale Gruen aimed at helping Baby Boomers and seniors find more joy, excitement, and satisfaction in their lives after retirement from a job, career, parenting, etc. Her memoir, available on Amazon.com, is: Adventures with Dad: A Father and Daughter’s Journey Through a Senior Acting Class (click on this link for the book website: AdventuresWithDadTheBook.com)
NEWS: I gave a talk titled “Reinventing Yourself in Your Senior Years” last week at the SCAN Senior Wellness Center in Ventura, CA. Click on this link to see a short video clip from that talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cen-dN6SUU&feature=youtu.be
Now, on to my blog:
So, what do you do when the “happy holidays” aren’t so happy? Well, you bake cookies, of course (further discussion below).
Yes, it often looks like what the other guy has is so wonderful compared to what you have. This is the season where that’s especially true with seemingly everyone discussing all the wonderful things they’re going to do over the holidays. Maybe your plans or lack of plans look pretty paltry next to theirs. How can we be happy with what we have and embrace it?
I had an experience a few years ago where I was feeling envious of a friend. It doesn’t matter what it was about–just fill in the blank. The point is: what she had seemed better, more desirable, more appealing, etc. than what I had, and I was jealous.
I was telling my sad story to another friend who commented, “be careful what you wish for.” Ah yes, it’s so true and so easy to forget. When I took a good look at my coveted friend’s whole life, I realized I was cherry-picking. Yes, I was envious of “Thing A” that she had, but I certainly didn’t want “Thing B” in her life.
So, folks, when envy strikes, and it will, think about whether you’d really be willing to switch places with another person if you had to take the whole package and not just cherry-pick.
To cheer you up a bit if you’re feeling down at holiday time, and lots of people are, here’s a guilt-free cookie recipe that’s super healthy and yummy. You can also freeze them and with a 20-second zap in the microwave, they’re ready to serve last-minute guests or pack in sack lunches.
“NO SUGAR, MILK, SALT, BUTTER, EGGS, FLOUR” COOKIES
3 very ripe bananas, average size
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup (8 oz) chopped & pitted dates or golden raisins
1/3 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line cookie sheet with parchment paper (or use non-stick cookie sheet)
In large bowl, mash bananas
Add rest of ingredients
Mix well and let sit for 15 minutes
Drop dough by large, rounded teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet (NOTE: Cookies don’t spread during baking, so you need to shape them.)
Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown
Let cool 5 minutes & transfer to wire rack to cool completely
(NOTE: Cookies are best the day after baking. They can be frozen and defrosted individually or in batches in microwave for about 20 seconds on high.)
Happy Holidays Your Style!
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