Returning to Roots: Nourishment, Regret & Renewal

     

When I was a little girl, a family friend would lovingly prepare healing teas for me whenever I wasn’t feeling well. I can still remember the warmth of the cup in my hands…fragrant with turmeric, garlic, and ginger. These homemade concoctions weren’t just comfort, they were care, tradition, and wisdom passed through generations.

     As I got older, I began incorporating those same spices into my everyday meals. Then, when my daughter was young, we embraced that lifestyle even more. She participated in camping programs through the Children’s Garden at the New York Botanical Garden, where the theme was often “edible gardens.” We truly immersed ourselves in that culture of eating resourcefully, mindfully, and with joy.

     But life, as it tends to do, grew more complicated. High school and college schedules, jobs, travel, and everyday demands took center stage. And as the world shifted into the age of convenience…Instacart deliveries, UberEats drop-offs, and drive-thru everything…it became harder to hold on to the slower, more intentional rhythms we once cherished.

     Now, in this season of chronic illness and recent retirement, I look back with a mix of fondness and a quiet sense of regret. Not just for myself, but for not sustaining that way of living for my two now young adult children.

     Still, I believe this with my whole heart: it’s never too late. We can return to what once nourished us. It may look different. It may be smaller or simpler. But the spirit of it, the care, the grounding, the healing...can be rekindled in meaningful ways.

🌼 Do you have a recipe, spice blend, or go to tea that helps fuel your body and spirit?

Share it with us in the comments... et’s rediscover the goodness together.