Reflecting with Avocados…

Allow me to reflect a bit, if you don’t mind…Let’s talk about beginnings and choices with the items around me currently…

Avocados – These little guys stare back at me with their green flesh, and I know they are firm, as I just poked them before sitting down to write to you. They are just beginning to soften up, and I can’t wait to make another tasty Guacamole with them. I am going to choose to let them sit on the counter, be patient with them, and I am going to keep a watchful eye over them each day until they are ready to be mashed into a perfect dip.

Saint Hooligan’s Maniac Punk CD – Saint Hooligan is an amazing punk band containing some brilliant local guys. When Saint Hooligan was formed, I’m sure they only hoped of having a CD that sounded as awesome as this one does. They nurtured their music, themselves, and their fans and became the greatness that they are today. I think I’ll put it in while cleaning later today…

House Plants – Don’t judge here….I am looking at a total of 11 houseplants right now. One of which I think I am killing, or either the cat has been salivating on it. I made a subconscious choice to walk past it daily and water it very little at one time. I didn’t mean to. Life just got busy, and I didn’t pay attention to the Sun that was beating down on it daily. That poor plant…I should have paid more attention to it.

Cup of Coffee – This cup of coffee…Mmmmm, as I take a sip…this cup of coffee holds the beginning of my day. Did I mention it is the second of the day. It also holds a choice I made…I chose to sweeten it with Splenda instead of sugar and to use only half of the creamer I am used to. It’s a step…a step in the right direction like my healthy omelet was this morning made of one egg and one egg white. It was filled with mushrooms, onion, ham, and topped with Gruyère cheese. Yum!

Sounds of a few beginning riffs on an electric guitar – The hub made a choice to purchase a new guitar recently, even though he is in the beginning stages of learning. I can hear a few riffs that I recognize that he is picking out by ear, and it is sounding pretty good. It’s a choice he has made to never give up a dream. We are never too old to pursue our passions or dreams…it’s a choice we make everyday when we wake up.

My reflection – As I have mentioned before possibly, I type these to you on Windows Live Writer. It has a black background, and with my alabaster skin, I reflect rather well in it. My reflection I see has changed the past year since I’ve been writing to you. I see a beautiful woman now. A woman who now believes in herself and her abilities in life. She is a woman who has goals now…a woman who is ready to challenge what life throws at her, and should be expected to throw it back at times. A woman who knows who she is, and will not let any bully put her asunder. It’s a real woman in that reflection…disheveled hair pulled up in a ponytail, fresh out of bed, makeup smudged under her eyes, jewelry from yesterday still in her ears, spaghetti strap tank with one strap falling off her shoulder, plump cheeks, a couple of blemishes, a slight double-chin from this angle, and freckles so dominant that they can be seen clearly in the reflection…a real woman who enjoys braless days.

Even though my reflection has improved over this past year, I will begin to keep a more watchful eye over her and her feelings. I will nurture her soul more, and be patient with her. I will not let the every day sun beating down on her kill her spirit. I will pay attention to her needs more. I will continue to make healthy choices for her. Amongst those healthy choices, will fall the choice to continue pursuing her dreams and passions, even if she doesn’t quite know where to go with them. But, most of all…I will let her relish in the idea of not being perfect…the idea of being a real woman.

As Shakespeare wrote:

“This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

As I look up again from writing, those damn Avocados are looking right back at me from the kitchen island. They are laughing at me because they know I cannot use them today, or tomorrow. What they don’t know is that I already have the recipe, and the determination to slice them open and scoop out their goodness in T minus 2 days. Mark my words…Tuesday…I will have perfect Guacamole. As for the Avocados…they are just the beginning.

On to a Guacamole recipe without actual product photographs (since the Avocados aren’t yet ripe), now that you’ve read my thoughts for the day so patiently! *smiles*

Feel free to use a Guacamole seasoning packet, but it really is simple to make fresh. Try this recipe out sometime…You’ll love it…

Fresh Guacamole

• 3 Avocados
• 1/4 red onion, finely diced
• 1 red jalapeno, finely diced (or green)
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro (give or take depending on your taste)
• 1 garlic clove, finely diced (give or take depending on your taste)
• 1 teaspoon of salt (optional)
• dashes of hot sauce to taste

Directions:

Mash the avocados, and mix in the rest of the goodies. Makes about a cup. Enjoy!