Lorelei Bachman's Blog, page 2
September 25, 2017
A Clean Apology in 3 Steps
In the words of Elton John, Sorry seems to be the hardest word.
While apologizing is hard to do, it gets easier with practice, whether you are doing it yourself or accepting it from someone else.I recently had a situation with my teenage son who recalled an instance of being spanked when he was little. It seemed to come up in conversation a few times in a joking way with siblings that brought it to my attention. He felt wronged.I felt defensive for a host of reasons. As a young parent, I tried some of the things my parents did and didn’t feel right about them. It took time to develop my own ways of discipline that I felt were kind and fair. Parts of his story were embellished. He was only 3 at the time. He's currently nearly an adult. So why now?Regardless of why it became a topic of conversation, the truth is it was affording me a chance to apologize and him a chance to let it go.I tried to explain some of the thoughts I had about it. He said, “Wow, that doesn’t sound like an apology at all. Sounds like a “Sorry, not sorry.”He was right. I was using qualifiers and the context of that time was irrelevant now, especially to him. I thought about experiences in my life where apologies had meant something because they were honest and straightforward and I realized it really only boiled down to a few things.1. No excusesThe moment you apologize while also excusing your behaviour, you are nullifying the apology. You are giving yourself justification for why you did what you did. We’ve all done this and it basically means both parties walk away feeling unresolved. For instance:I only said what I did because YOU hurt my feelings.I’m sorry YOU feel that way but you’re too sensitive.Honestly, what did you expect me to do after what happened?Sound familiar? That's because it's hard to admit when you're wrong.2. Own your junkIn any bad situation, you are only accountable for what you did or said, how you behaved and your reaction. See if you can identify what your part was and take ownership of it. Interestingly enough, the key to your relief is acknowledging your failure, not anyone else’s. For example:I handled things poorly and I am sorry for it.I was too upset to think clearly and I overreacted.I said things I didn’t mean out of frustration and hurt. They were spiteful.I had no clue what I was doing and as a result, made a lousy choice.3. Expect nothing in returnSurprisingly, the power of a true apology does not rely on the other person forgiving you. It relies on you taking account of your own mistakes and trying to do better. You don’t need absolution from the other party for what you have done wrong (even though it's nice to hear) because you are giving it to yourself by honestly trying to change and not repeat the behaviour again in future.It may seem that as a parent, I had the right to do what I felt was necessary at the time. In some ways that was true. Most of us were spanked and lived to tell about it. But some kids out there were spanked excessively bringing about a lot of shame and therapy in later years. Regardless, fear was not what I wanted my parenting legacy to be. I waited until a few days had passed and tried again.I told him I was sorry I had ever spanked. I explained that I stopped because I felt that other methods would discipline with more kindness, and that I had been wrong. I acknowledged that spanking had hurt him.He said, “Okay, mum. I know you love me. I’m not traumatized or anything.”So was it just a test? The teenage brain which so interestingly focuses solely on itself until wronged, then focuses on everyone else? Perhaps. But for me it was a chance to clear the slate. And I’’m grateful for that. The topic has come never up again.
While apologizing is hard to do, it gets easier with practice, whether you are doing it yourself or accepting it from someone else.I recently had a situation with my teenage son who recalled an instance of being spanked when he was little. It seemed to come up in conversation a few times in a joking way with siblings that brought it to my attention. He felt wronged.I felt defensive for a host of reasons. As a young parent, I tried some of the things my parents did and didn’t feel right about them. It took time to develop my own ways of discipline that I felt were kind and fair. Parts of his story were embellished. He was only 3 at the time. He's currently nearly an adult. So why now?Regardless of why it became a topic of conversation, the truth is it was affording me a chance to apologize and him a chance to let it go.I tried to explain some of the thoughts I had about it. He said, “Wow, that doesn’t sound like an apology at all. Sounds like a “Sorry, not sorry.”He was right. I was using qualifiers and the context of that time was irrelevant now, especially to him. I thought about experiences in my life where apologies had meant something because they were honest and straightforward and I realized it really only boiled down to a few things.1. No excusesThe moment you apologize while also excusing your behaviour, you are nullifying the apology. You are giving yourself justification for why you did what you did. We’ve all done this and it basically means both parties walk away feeling unresolved. For instance:I only said what I did because YOU hurt my feelings.I’m sorry YOU feel that way but you’re too sensitive.Honestly, what did you expect me to do after what happened?Sound familiar? That's because it's hard to admit when you're wrong.2. Own your junkIn any bad situation, you are only accountable for what you did or said, how you behaved and your reaction. See if you can identify what your part was and take ownership of it. Interestingly enough, the key to your relief is acknowledging your failure, not anyone else’s. For example:I handled things poorly and I am sorry for it.I was too upset to think clearly and I overreacted.I said things I didn’t mean out of frustration and hurt. They were spiteful.I had no clue what I was doing and as a result, made a lousy choice.3. Expect nothing in returnSurprisingly, the power of a true apology does not rely on the other person forgiving you. It relies on you taking account of your own mistakes and trying to do better. You don’t need absolution from the other party for what you have done wrong (even though it's nice to hear) because you are giving it to yourself by honestly trying to change and not repeat the behaviour again in future.It may seem that as a parent, I had the right to do what I felt was necessary at the time. In some ways that was true. Most of us were spanked and lived to tell about it. But some kids out there were spanked excessively bringing about a lot of shame and therapy in later years. Regardless, fear was not what I wanted my parenting legacy to be. I waited until a few days had passed and tried again.I told him I was sorry I had ever spanked. I explained that I stopped because I felt that other methods would discipline with more kindness, and that I had been wrong. I acknowledged that spanking had hurt him.He said, “Okay, mum. I know you love me. I’m not traumatized or anything.”So was it just a test? The teenage brain which so interestingly focuses solely on itself until wronged, then focuses on everyone else? Perhaps. But for me it was a chance to clear the slate. And I’’m grateful for that. The topic has come never up again.
August 4, 2017
10 Words We Learned From Literature
Taken from the pages of your favourite books, these made up words are just as useful for daily conversation.
Think about all the words you’ve ever glanced over. Every page, every chapter, every book – the number is staggering, especially for bookworms. Most of the words you’ve read once, you’ll read again – in new sentences and new meanings – but the same old word choice (a mere one million plus for English speakers) can get so drab. That’s why we’re thankful that writers take it upon themselves to coin new terms, play off of old ones, or combine them as they please simply because they can.As a little thank you to our creative wordsmiths, we’ve put together a few of a favourites to vamp up your vocab. Some of these author-coined terms may surprise you!George Orwell 1984Bellyfeel – a gut instinctConversational uses: When you probably shouldn’t order another margarita, when you probably shouldn’t sample the expired milk, when the skies are grey but your phone says sunny and 75 – listen to your bellyfeel!William Shakespeare, William VI pt. IIIClangor – the sound of a loud clamourConversational uses: Use this term to describe the sounds that give you a headache (because you didn’t trust your bellyfeel and went for another margarita), the sound of the neighborhood kids banging pots and pans together as they sing the soundtrack to Frozen, or the sound of your dog as he runs into the sliding glass door.Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork OrangeDroog – friend; companionConversational uses: Use this term to address acquaintances, co-workers, and any close buddy.Roald Dahl, The BFGGloriumptious – glorious and wonderful!Conversational uses: Use this term when you’re extremely excited, when something positive happens, or sarcastically when something terrible happens and you’re feeling snarky.Lewis Carroll, Alice through the looking glassFarfarren – travel safe; bon voyage; fare well under fair skies.Conversational uses: Use this term when your droog leaves the room.John Milton, Paradise lostLovelorn – forsaken by one’s loverConversational uses: Use this term at the end of a relationship: after the initial breakup but before the ice cream and tears.Charles Dickens, David CopperfieldMicawber – an optimistic personConversational uses: Use this term to describe all the lovelorn droogs who still know life is gloriumptious!J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter seriesMuggle – non magical personConversational uses: Use this word as a more pleasant alternative to ‘basic.’Rudyard Kipling, Just so storiesSvengali – evil, and with malicious intentConversational uses: Use this word to identify the evil doers making all the clangor.James Joyce, Finnegan's wakeQuark – the cry of a gull.Interesting fact: the physics term, quark, was actually taken from this literary context, specifically from the line, “three quarks for Mister Mark.” The link between the term and the number three seemed suited to the way quarks operate in the universe and the theory that they come in three different ‘flavors’: up, down, and strange.Conversational uses: When you want to confuse people, point up at the flock of birds above and yell ‘quark!’ People with either think you’re a physics genius or slightly deranged.Full Article: https://www.thereadingroom.com/article/10-words-we-learned-from-literature/1547
Think about all the words you’ve ever glanced over. Every page, every chapter, every book – the number is staggering, especially for bookworms. Most of the words you’ve read once, you’ll read again – in new sentences and new meanings – but the same old word choice (a mere one million plus for English speakers) can get so drab. That’s why we’re thankful that writers take it upon themselves to coin new terms, play off of old ones, or combine them as they please simply because they can.As a little thank you to our creative wordsmiths, we’ve put together a few of a favourites to vamp up your vocab. Some of these author-coined terms may surprise you!George Orwell 1984Bellyfeel – a gut instinctConversational uses: When you probably shouldn’t order another margarita, when you probably shouldn’t sample the expired milk, when the skies are grey but your phone says sunny and 75 – listen to your bellyfeel!William Shakespeare, William VI pt. IIIClangor – the sound of a loud clamourConversational uses: Use this term to describe the sounds that give you a headache (because you didn’t trust your bellyfeel and went for another margarita), the sound of the neighborhood kids banging pots and pans together as they sing the soundtrack to Frozen, or the sound of your dog as he runs into the sliding glass door.Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork OrangeDroog – friend; companionConversational uses: Use this term to address acquaintances, co-workers, and any close buddy.Roald Dahl, The BFGGloriumptious – glorious and wonderful!Conversational uses: Use this term when you’re extremely excited, when something positive happens, or sarcastically when something terrible happens and you’re feeling snarky.Lewis Carroll, Alice through the looking glassFarfarren – travel safe; bon voyage; fare well under fair skies.Conversational uses: Use this term when your droog leaves the room.John Milton, Paradise lostLovelorn – forsaken by one’s loverConversational uses: Use this term at the end of a relationship: after the initial breakup but before the ice cream and tears.Charles Dickens, David CopperfieldMicawber – an optimistic personConversational uses: Use this term to describe all the lovelorn droogs who still know life is gloriumptious!J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter seriesMuggle – non magical personConversational uses: Use this word as a more pleasant alternative to ‘basic.’Rudyard Kipling, Just so storiesSvengali – evil, and with malicious intentConversational uses: Use this word to identify the evil doers making all the clangor.James Joyce, Finnegan's wakeQuark – the cry of a gull.Interesting fact: the physics term, quark, was actually taken from this literary context, specifically from the line, “three quarks for Mister Mark.” The link between the term and the number three seemed suited to the way quarks operate in the universe and the theory that they come in three different ‘flavors’: up, down, and strange.Conversational uses: When you want to confuse people, point up at the flock of birds above and yell ‘quark!’ People with either think you’re a physics genius or slightly deranged.Full Article: https://www.thereadingroom.com/article/10-words-we-learned-from-literature/1547
July 6, 2017
The Right to Live at Risk
Our ability to help others when they actively make poor decisions is limited to a few basic things.*Out of abject frustration, I one day shared a scenario with a woman in my yoga class who happened to be a Registered Social Worker. I knew her to be patient and kind and felt she could give me some solid advice.I explained to her that I had a friend I cared about who, after two failed marriages, had decided to marry a third time. The kicker was her third partner was an alcoholic who promised reform regularly after a lifelong battle with addiction. As soon as my friend would leave town for work, her boyfriend would go on drinking binges and had recently been arrested for a DUI in her car and been put in jail until one of his adult children bailed him out. My friend’s car was impounded.I told her how concerned I was, explaining that no matter how much better he seemed than her prior two relationships, that she was at risk and that I loved her and cared about her. Even getting in the car with him could be dangerous. I also tried to explain how I thought she was worth a stable, loving partner.She defended him, protesting how easy-going he usually was and that this incident was the one that would reform him. I reminded her of the other incidents like this in the past and that the best indicator of future behaviour was past behaviour. She didn’t listen. In fact, with time, she told me that I had judged him unfairly, that she would not break things off unless he did and that she was not going to confide in me anymore, which I told her was her choice.She has always refused counselling, constantly looking for quick fixes to break old patterns but never looking at the reasons she repeatedly chose troubled partners, which I suspected was the underlying feeling she simply didn’t deserve any better and didn’t like being alone.The woman in my yoga class listened and said, “The unfortunate truth is that people have the right to live at risk. Ultimately the choice is theirs. As Social Workers we often offer all sorts of alternatives to situations that our clients may refuse. We can’t control the outcome and neither can you.”She went on to say that in the situation with my friend, my ability to help basically boiled down to:-Clearly stating concerns and red flags-Suggesting counselling to help improve confidence and independence-Offering love and supportThis wise advice from a Social Worker could apply to anything we might be indirectly dealing with in someone we love, from a teenager through to the elderly. It could be gambling, overeating, hygiene, bad partners, poor financial decisions or chronic risk taking. Fill in the blank.Since that time, her advice has come back to me repeatedly and when my children have come to me with similar concerns, I have reiterated it to them.People have the right to live at risk.If the situation becomes too frustrating, you may have to step away but you can always leave the door open for someone you care about. If they are able to make better decisions or find the courage to change, you can cheer them on. However, resist being their go-to person if they stay wrapped up in the drama and are constantly calling with the day to day upsets that are a result of their decisions.I recently got a text from my friend after a long silence. Fortunately, her boyfriend changed his mind and has decided he doesn’t want to marry. He has decided to live out his days on a boat. However relieved I feel, I realize life doesn’t always work out this conveniently but knowing how to deal with it gave me the ability to step out of the fray and leave the outcome to those directly involved. *(Photo: crooked-compass.com. Casa del Arbol. The Swing at the end of the world.)
June 12, 2017
The Wisdom of Rest
“Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer.”-Leonardo DaVinciIt’s not a secret to most of us that rest is required for our bodies to recharge and rebuild. Most spiritual philosophies also stress the importance of rest for our souls. And yet, when you ask most people, they will admit that it is difficult to find time to unwind with all the pressures and commitments we face in everyday life. Resting doesn't necessarily mean lying in bed all day. It means slowing down from your usual pace.Joshua Becker for Becoming minimalist lists the following benefits of taking one day a week for yourself:Deeper relationshipsA day set aside each week for rest allows relationships with people to deepen and be strengthened. When we aren’t rushing off to work or soccer practice, we are able to enjoy each other’s company and a healthy conversation. And long talks prove to be far more effective in building community than short ones on the ride to the mall.Opportunity for reflectionSometimes it is hard to see the forest through the trees. It is even more difficult to see the forest when we are running through the trees. Concentrated rest allows us to take a step back, to evaluate our lives, to identify our values, and determine if our life is being lived for them.BalanceTaking one day of your week and dedicating it to rest will force you to have an identity outside of your occupation. It will foster relationships outside of your fellow employees. It will foster activities and hobbies outside work. It will give life and identity outside of your Monday-Friday occupation. Rather than defining your life by what you do, you can begin to define it by who you are.Increased production Just like resting physical muscles allows them opportunity to rejuvenate which leads to greater physical success, providing our minds with rest provides it opportunity to refocus and rejuvenate. More work is not better work. Smarter work is better work.Reserve for life’s emergencies Crisis hits everyone. Nobody who is alive is immune from the trials of life. By starting the discipline today of concentrated rest, you will build up reserves for when the unexpected emergencies of life strike and rest is no longer an option.
Remember, you don’t have to justify what you do to anyone on your day off, including yourself. Turn your devices to silent and find what nourishes your soul, practicing it without restraint. Plan your rest by keeping your calendar free of appointments on certain days and make yourself a scheduled priority. With a little time, you will see your life and health begin to change for the better.Full article: http://www.becomingminimalist.com/resting/?utm_sq=ffehvj9qpc&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=The+Art+of+Simple&utm_content=Other+Articles
May 26, 2017
A good teacher can change everything
It only takes one, but maybe you’ve had a couple.When I think back on my schooling experience, a few teachers come to mind that affected me in pivotal moments, teachers that were able to accept differences in their students and help them believe they could make a difference.I recently saw a blurb on social media of my grade 3 teacher, Mary Roebuck. At Fisher Elementary school in Lynden, Washington, Mrs. Roebuck taught me to sing Down by the Bay. She taught me to write in cursive. She introduced me to new genres of reading and sent me to the accelerated reader’s class, despite my anxiety over being with a different group. She never made a fuss about me leaving class for speech training to correct my lisp. And on the first day of school, she offered every student, at any time, a free hug. And I even I, a non-hugger, took her up on it.Jack Dicken, my Grade 6 teacher in White Rock, B.C., told me I had a gift for writing and had me read a Remembrance Day composition in front of the school with a poppy proudly pinned to my shirt. He also assured my sister she was a talented artist. In high school, Kathy Smith taught me to love the works of Charles Dickens. She devoured Great Expectations, despite having taught it for years. And Diana Carter introduced me to the world of Ethnic literature while Monsieur Paulus assured me I had the potential to embrace the French language.All 5 of my children had the same kindergarten teacher. Mrs. Moline managed each personality with grace and adaptability, claiming my most atypical child was “destined for greatness” after a particularly rough start to the year. Another teacher allowed my daughter to doodle for stress relief once her assignments were finished. That daughter is now headed to art school.Looking back, despite all the other ups and down of growing up, I can see how integral these people were to my life and in the lives of my children and am so grateful for their influence. Right through my graduate work, there were educators who were there to encourage and inspire.Which special teachers shaped your life?
Lynden Spotlight: Mary Roebuck brings 40 years of Excellence. Photo/Article: Lynden School District.Full Article:http://www.lynden.wednet.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=1273&pageId=8022283
May 18, 2017
Laugh it up!
We’ve all heard the idiom that laughter is the best medicine. But laughter is actually a powerful antidote to stress, pain and conflict. Consider the following benefits of laughter according to Harvard Health:Laughter relaxes the whole bodyA good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.Laughter boosts the immune systemLaughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.Laughter triggers the release of endorphinsthe body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.Laughter protects the heartLaughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.Laughter burns caloriesOK, so it’s no replacement for going to the gym, but one study found that laughing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn about 40 calories—which could be enough to lose three or four pounds over the course of a year.Laughter lightens anger’s heavy loadNothing diffuses anger and conflict faster than a shared laugh. Looking at the funny side can put problems into perspective and enable you to move on from confrontations without holding onto bitterness or resentment.Laughter may even help you to live longerA study in Norway found that people with a strong sense of humour outlived those who don't laugh as much. The difference was particularly notable for those battling cancer.More than just a respite from sadness and pain, laughter gives you the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult of times, a laugh–or even simply a smile–can go a long way toward making you feel better. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your brain and readies you to smile and join in the fun.Children laugh more often than adults so spending time with them may teach you a thing or two. Don’t forget funny books, youtube clips or funny stories shared with a friend. Or if you have teenagers in the house like I do, ask them to show you funny memes. I guarantee you they'll have quite a few on their phones.Video: Sesame Street: Kermit and Joey say the alphabetFull article:https://www.helpguide.org/articles/emotional-health/laughter-is-the-best-medicine.htm
April 20, 2017
Clipping the Tangled Burden of Resentment
"There is nothing more time consuming than having an enemy."Loving your enemies is a tall order. Perhaps developing tolerance towards others is a more realistic starting point. How does one go about clipping the burden of resentment? The black belt of yoga philosophy is the fourth principle: practicing detachment towards those who have harmed us. In her book,Bringing Yoga to Life, author and lifelong yoga instructor Donna Farhi describes becoming consumed with an extended family member who failed to acknowledge the death of her brother. She details her resentment as evolving into full blown hatred because when the roles had been reversed, she had supported this relative in her own time of loss. She shared her story of injustice with whomever would listen. She imagined tragedy befalling her relative as a sort of payback to which she would not respond. She planned to forgive her relative once she was dead, for that would be easier, picturing herself by her coffin.Her thought was,"I forgive you, but I am still right."Though she knew that her relative was a lonely person who had few friends or close relationships with others, these facts failed to soften her. She wondered if acknowledging this family loss would set in motion a wave of discouragement her relative was afraid to face. Finally, Farhi decided to pick up the phone since she did not have the courage to visit her. Though nothing changed in her relative's behaviour, for Farhi, it broke the last vestiges of resentment and brought a deep sense of relief, energy and lightness. She states:"There is nothing more time consuming than having an enemy. Further analysis might reveal that the selection of reruns is limited so that we rewind, replay and rescript our past and imagined future interactions with alarming regularity. We might notice a thorny resistance to changing our point of view because it can be so satisfying to be right. Or we play the victim by fingering our wounds and showing off our scars as proof of how badly we've been treated. Practicing this fourth attitude doesn't mean we forego healthy discrimination in our relationships or that we stay in abusive or unhealthy partnerships. It just means that we don't have to hold on to the story and harbour ill will toward another. By expounding on the behaviour of others, we fortify our ill will and encase ourselves in bitterness. We inflict suffering on ourselves and manufacture our own torment by failing to detach ourselves from things that ultimately, we cannot change in another."As actress Carrie Fisher stated,"Revenge is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."Forgivenessonly has to happen once. Make the conscious decision to move on and let go of things you can't change. Being right isn't more important than being at peace. Accept that the other person may have done things for reasons you don't understand. In fact, you may even be mistaken about the situation. The only thing in your control is your own behaviour so choose wisely to stop nurturing the grudge and move ahead of being petty by shifting your focus.
April 2, 2017
One Stone at a Time
"We would be wise to be wary of any methodology, whether it be a diet plan or a tidy-up-your-life-plan, that promises immediate results and all conclusive happily-ever-after guarantees."-Donna FarhiI recently read a passage in a book that gave me pause for thought. The author talked about the amazing stone walls of the English countryside, fashioned from rocks of every shape and size. Many of the stones had been removed from pastures to improve grazing land and skillfully placed without mortar to ensure their stability. Naturally, it would have been easier in the short term to simply throw them in a pile, but instead, these structures have stood solid and ensured livestock stays enclosed (as far back as the Iron age).This was likened to a truthful understanding of ourselves and our goals which are a day to day effort that builds over time. Fahri mentions that like us, thousands of years ago we had ancestors who likely had trouble getting out of bed, probably ate or drank too much and tried again to do or be better; people who lacked faith or willpower, who forgot what they'd learned and had to review. Rather than a sign of failure, this is a sign of the authenticity of our endeavour. The practice is the reward."Time and effort act as the invisible mortar for our experience; it stands between potentially discordant elements and through finding their correct relationship, brings all into a unified whole."I love the English countryside so this struck a particular chord with me. Maybe some days are a ten-stone-day and others are one or two. But regardless, it helped remind me that every day is a gift, whether it is the most productive or not. Whatever you happen to be working on, try to avoid all-or-nothing, success or failure labels knowing that tomorrow may be a bit better. As long as you are trying, you are still moving forward. Think about how far you've come and all the stones that are fortifying your wall. This gratitude can fuel your life and personal goals and remind you that you are not back at zero. There's quite a bit of wall behind you already that has made you who you are. One stone at a time.
March 19, 2017
Homemade "kind" bars
I like to keep something protein-rich in my glove compartment for after swimming or those days when I am running errands and need a quick bite. Kind bars are pricey and since I am usually making things in batches for teenagers, I stumbled upon this recipe online which has received high praise in my household. It doubles easily and I think it's even better than the packaged ones. You can improvise by substituting chopped, dried fruit or coconut easily. I can't say how long they keep because they never last long around my place!INGREDIENTS½ cup unsalted roasted almonds, whole½ cup unsalted dry roasted peanuts, whole½ cup roasted walnuts, chopped⅓ cup rice krispies1 Tbsp flaxseed or almond meal (pulse a handful of either of these in a food processor or blender to make meal. This binds the mixture together)¼ cup brown rice syrup or light corn syrup2 Tbsp honey½ tsp vanilla½ tsp sea salt½ cup dark chocolate chips (optional)DIRECTIONSLine an 8 inch pan with parchment or wax paper leaving a couple of inches overhanging on each side. Grease lightly.In a large greased bowl, mix together nuts, puffed rice and flaxseed meal together and set aside.In a small saucepan, combine brown rice syrup, honey, vanilla and sea salt and bring to a boil, continually whisking for 2 minutes.Pour syrup mixture immediately over nut mixture and stir to combine. Transfer into the lined pan and spread out evenly, making sure there are no gaps.Allow mixture to cool for about 20 minutes then, using the overhanging foil, take the block of nuts out of the pan and place on a cutting board. Cut into 10 even bars and allow to cool completely before drizzling chocolate.To make the chocolate drizzle, place the dark chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring each time until the chocolate is melted.Spoon the chocolate drizzle over the bars and let sit at room temperature until the chocolate has set.Store bars in an airtight container for up to a week or freeze to save for later.KITCHEN COUNTERMakes 10 bars.Kelly Hunt is a DC based food blogger and writer ofEat Yourself Skinnywhich has been featured on such sites as Shape Magazine, Women’s Health, Glamour and Cooking Light. Kelly has a sincere passion for cooking and loves entertaining for friends and family.Photo: Kelly Hunt.
March 12, 2017
The Brontës: To Walk Invisible
Literature lovers will know the Brontes for the classic English stories Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.What I was unaware of until recently was the tremendous struggle sisters Emily, Anne and Charlotte faced in getting their work published in a time when women had next to no influence in the world of novels and poetry. In fact, male pseudonyms were used (Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell) in order to gain traction and garner sales.To Walk Invisibleis the BBC’s bleak but brilliant portrayal of this incredibly talented family and their struggle for notoriety. It recently premiered in the UK to excellent reviews this past December and is available for viewing on PBS Sunday, March 26 at 9/8cThe family loses their mother at a young age (as well another sister) and are raised by their father, along with their brother Branwell, a painter and writer who suffered severely with addiction problems that ultimately cost him his life. As life gets increasingly more difficult for the family, Charlotte begins to believe that their writing could provide self- sufficiency and a way out of their circumstances. But they have to find a way to be published first.
