Chocolate Cherry Breakfast Smoothie

Life offers up some sweet moments.  Many are obvious, but far more interesting are the ones you have to pay attention to…  the not-so-obvious.  The space between.  The silence between the notes.  The pause between the inhale and the exhale.   These are the gems.   This is where I find that place that feels worthy of pause, of wonder, of contemplation, of curiosity.  

So, while I was aimlessly scrolling the internet one evening, I just about breezed by this article: “Jennifer Aniston Shares Her Signature Breakfast Smoothie.”  I paused, though, when I saw the opening line, “What did it take for Jennifer Aniston to squeeze into that glittering Saint Laurent dress…?”   …and I chuckled and the inner monologue started.  Now I was hooked; I kept reading.  What did it take, how did she do it?…  I purposely skipped past the part that said “In addition to exercising 4-5 days a week…” and saw that Jen “starts each day with a healthy homemade shake.”  Oh yes, a shake…  I can do that.  

Whether you’ve had a chocolate covered cherry or black forest cake, you’re probably well aware that chocolate and cherries are a classic pair.  Oh yes, chocolate and cherries are good for your SOUL…  but the combo in this smoothie is good for your soul wrapper too! 

Chocolate almond milk, frozen banana, cherries, blueberries, organic raw almonds, Maca root powder, vegan chocolate protein powder (I’ve grown attached to Vega Protein & Greens), and just a couple drops of liquid stevia.  

I’m glad I stopped and read further.  I’m glad I got past my drink-this-smoothie-look-like-Jen-Aniston snort laugh (and trust me, I’d drink a helluva lot of smoothies to look like her!).  Because, I found a wonderful, easy, naturally sweet, healthy, smoothie.  It’s my go-to morning shake.

I love finding the sweetness in the not-so-obvious… 

While I’m reveling in unexpected sweetness, I find that lately –in the midst of seeming chaos– I’m paying more attention to the delicate space between the craziness.  I’m nurturing this perspective.  I’ve been shifting focus from the disaster to the rescuer, from the problem to the volunteer  …to the grass-root solution.   …a donation made.   …the community engaged.  

I didn’t quite expect to find myself at the Women’s March in Washington DC last month.  I don’t do crowds.  Certainly, not 500,000-large crowds.  But, I felt compelled to go.  No sign, no plan.  Just me, feeling like I needed to be a part of our great democracy in action.  I piled into the Metro.  And, what seemed like an eternity later, I was birthed out of L’Enfant Metro stop, moving in a sea of people with pink hats and funny-witty-punchy-serious-naughty-poignant-creative signs.  

Moments later, at Independence and 6th Street, and surrounded by more people than I felt comfortable with, I climbed a tree, nestled between two limbs, and perched there for 5 hours listening to Gloria Steinem, Michael Moore, Alicia Keys, Senator Duckworth, Madonna, and many others.  I didn’t go to see these people; I had no idea they’d be there.  But, I appreciated each speaker.  I heard them:  stand up, take action.  

As far as the march goes…  It took a heckofa long time to actually start moving.  The march route was so packed we were wedged in place for hours; but then a budge, and then a few feet, and then we walked for miles.  It was peaceful.  It was powerful.  It was a day that I pledged: from now on don’t complain, do something.  It was a special day.  There was a sweetness in it I was not expecting.    

But, you clicked on this link because you were looking for something sweet  …like chocolate cherry sweet.  Keep scrolling…

 As we become purer channels for God’s light, we develop an appetite for the sweetness that is possible in this world. A miracle worker is not geared toward fighting the world that is, but toward creating the world that could be.

~ Marianne Williamson