Soul Food

Everybody has their own version of soul food. I have mine. I like my coffee strong and dark. I like my soups spicy. I drink my tea’s deep and dark. I love greens of any kind and my go to is anything crunchy and salty. I also love ginger which is good in my case as it has many, many benefits for what ails me. I am not crazy about sweets, but I do think they all look beautiful when presented the right way.

To get to the point, back pain has been part of my life since I was a teen. I have herniated discs in the top and bottom of my back and I have learned how to live with the pain and avoid certain motions that make things worse. I was a runner for many years and loved it, but had to give it up due to pinched nerve stuff and piriformis issues. These are not bright, fun things to talk about, but they are my reality and pain is something we can all relate to on many levels.

I no longer run, however, I do stay active. I walk, hike, spin, and yoga stretch daily. Some days are better than others. Most days are doable and that is all that I am asking for. Being a potter is physical work and I sometimes need to take breaks. So, I do.

I have created a few medicinal soups to help remedy the pain. I find it to help keep the inflammation down. I make a mean ginger-lemon-tumeric-cayenne concoction. It is delicious and not for those sensitive to spices. My friends & family tell me it is zesty. Which means, spicy, hot goodness that can be hard for some to handle. But, it works for me. Let me know if you are interested in the recipes. They change weekly depending on my needs and whatever left-overs I have in the refrigerator. ~Pain sucks, but food and activity can make things a tiny bit better. Of course, all of my mugs and bowls look elegant when the broths, veggies, and beverages are added. It is the perfect combination for healing.