This Thursday, August 13th, marks the launch of The Healthy Cookie: Unbaked, an inspiring journal that documents a life changing two years from a Crohn’s Disease diagnosis to naturally attained perfect health. This is not a guide on how to get you well but the very personal story of how I got well. More than anything, it documents my discovery of life lessons that don’t just apply to Crohn’s but that can help anyone going through any kind of challenge. All week I am sharing excerpts from the book along with my favourite healthy cookie recipes.
Excerpt from The Healthy Cookie:Unbaked
Taking My Own Advice, WrittenNovember 17, 2006
I worry that maybe all this is for nothing. I get frustrated that I am working my ass of to get well and making many sacrifices in the process and still have a day here and there where I feel like crap.
For the first time, in the eight or nine weeks I have been here, I just kind of wanted to be back at home; home with my family, with my bed, with my friends, with my familiar normal life. I was feeling overwhelmed by all this focus on healing and by the idea that I no longer have any idea what my familiar normal life is anymore… Getting stuck full of needles every day, having to watch every thing I put in my mouth, ensuring that I drink enough water, get enough sleep, drink my Chinese Tea- sometimes it just feels like I am being crushed by the weight of my own dedication to wellness. Sometimes I feel exhausted by it all. I am putting in far too much overtime at this full time job of healing and I need a vacation…
Today I found myself coming home from Dr. Ha’s clinic, putting my pajamas back on and getting in to bed at 1:30 in the afternoon. I closed my eyes for about fifteen minutes. Then it hit me.
What was I doing? Why should I suddenly give in as soon as it gets tough? It has been easy for me so far. Now when it gets a little challenging, when I feel sad, a little homesick, when I have a stomachache, I get back into bed? That is weakness. If I were tired, it would be sensible, but I wasn’t tired. I just didn’t want to deal with it. And avoidance only makes things worse. We can’t heal something if we don’t touch it.
So I made the decision, the choice, excuse free, that I needed to take my own advice. It wasn’t easy but if we were never challenged sometimes, how would we ever move forward?
I got out of bed. I had a cup of fresh ginger tea, two glasses of water, put on my running shoes, grabbed my i-Pod and headed out for a walk. A leisurely walk with the sun on my face and smiles from the people I passed along the way. I was sad for the first half of my walk. I just felt sad and a little teary and really just wanted to turn back. Then, I was stopped by a man named Brian. He called me over and introduced himself and pointed out over the ocean. There, before us, were about eight dolphins playing in the water….
It is so easy to become overwhelmed by our own drama. But these simple things, the simple act of moving our body a little, taking a few deep breaths, being a little easier on ourselves, providing the things that give us comfort, they do make all the difference…
Check back tomorrow for another excerpt.
The Ultimate Healthy Cookie
1 cup of gluten-free flour
1/2 cup ground nuts (or use nut butter of choice. I use 1/2 cup ground almond and 1/4 cup ground walnut)
3 tbs fresh ground flax seeds
1/2 cup raw honey
2 TBS raw Cacao
1 egg (optional- you can always just add a little extra water)
2 TBS extra virgin, cold pressed coconut oil
1/2 cup apple puree (about one apple with peel in the blender or use 1/2 cup organic 100% pure apple sauce)
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 TBS cinnamon
2 tsp dried ginger
1 great big heaping spoonful of love
Additional options- choose one or all of the following: 1/4 cup dried fruit of choice, 1/4 cup chips of choice (carob? chocolate?), 1/4 cup dried coconut, a dollop of favourite jam, fruit spread or fruit butter (I used Prune, Honey Lemon Butter- recipe coming soon).
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and mix the wet ingredients (honey, coconut oil, apple puree, egg) in a second bowl.
- Now mix ‘em all together
- Place on cookie sheet (they will about double in diameter in the oven so space them out).
- Slip into the oven and bake for about 20 minutes until they are golden and appear dry. They will bake up chewy and delicious.
I can’t imagine how tough it must have been–the excerpt is so inspiring already. And the cookies look absolutely wonderful! I definitely need more healthy cookies in my life!
A beautiful post. Thank you.
If only you had written this March 17 instead of Nov 17, it would have been the sweet 16th anniversary of my bar mitzvah.
why so many cookies? A post like this deserves some healthy grill cheese sandwhich, but maybe I’m missing the point.
Your supportive brother,
Michael
I LOVE this magic moment!! Taking risks, even small ones always seems to pay off!
I looove everything you are sharing!! Your story has motivated me beyond belief!!
Thank you! <3
P.S. All these cookie recipes are tempting me!!
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Absolutely beautiful! I can relate to every second of that. I find that I look for inspiration in any and everything. Thank you for reinspiring me on my quest.
I feel the same way when I’m at home…feeling depressed, defeated. At times I just lay there in bed, and take a nap…when I’m not tired at all. Sleeping it off is so much easier then dealing with it!
I’m trying not to do that anymore and face life…when it isn’t raining(which it has been), I go for a walk as well. The sunshine is healing. =).
I love that you are sharing these posts. Thanks Meghan.
I am REALLY enjoying your “excerpts” and will be lining up for the real deal!
that and the cookies are WONDERFUL!
you are one inspiring lady!
Happy Tuesday
ps…Grilled cheese sounds goooooood…(sorry)
Meghan,
You’re making me all teary, and I’m reading this at work on my lunch break. It’s going to be an interesting, red-eyed afternoon. Maybe I’ll tell people I have allergies!
This post is awesome… Made me tear up as well!!
You and your brother are pretty funny too!
Michael- when we were kids, mom told me you were adopted and that she wanted to give you back. I told her to just give you time and that maybe she would grow to like you. Ah well, I can’t be right all the time.
We all need more cookies. I have taken to calling my mom The Cookie Monster. Since living at home with my parents, I have noticed my mom has a little cookie after every meal. Crunch crunch crunch… and they’re not the healthy ones I bake either.
Andrea! You win a bedazzled crown… I am pretty sure you were one of my very first regular readers (aside from my momma!)
No need to be sorry, grilled cheese is good.
Meg, you told me to read your blog more often and now look what happened!