An Afternoon of Mindfulness…
The weather in San Diego has been remarkable…
There are not many places where you’ll experience an 80 degree day in January. While I do hope for a bit of refreshing rain this season, there is something quite lovely about being able to spend a winter’s day by the coast in sandals & a maxi dress.
I have just a few days left before returning back to full time work. While there is still much home organization & lesson planning to accomplish before diving back into “the grind,” I felt it was important to to take just one day for myself. So, yesterday, I made my way up the coast to a place where I love to sit in silence, think, reflect & be mindful…
I took a stroll around the gardens…
Said hello to the koi fish…
And found the perfect spot to sit, breathe, meditate & write…
I didn’t make “resolutions” this year. I know myself & after a few days, I tend not to follow through. I lack a certain “stick-to-itiveness” that makes resolutions work. So no hard-core cleansing, no new gym contract, no pie-in-the-sky goals, or setting myself up for “failure.” However, I do like to begin a new year fresh, with a clean slate so to speak, & I have a lot of “junk” that I’ve been carrying around for far too long. So, at my little meditation spot, I made a list of that which I would like to free myself of & that which I wish to cultivate in it’s place - mainly more acceptance, patience & compassion - or myself, others, & this life in general.
All that walking & thinking can work up an appetite. So, after taking in some sunshine & ocean air, reading & sitting with my thoughts for a while, it was time to nourish myself. Encinitas is home to many veg-friendly eateries & juice bars - Mozy’s, The Roxy, Lotus Cafe, Peace Pies, & Ki’s Restaurant. Ki’s is easily my favorite, located picturesque Cardiff-by-the-Sea & that is where I found myself headed after SRF.
Ki’s has a breezy outdoor patio that overlooks Highway 101 & the ocean, & is a wonderful place to dine solo with a book, sunnies, & of course lots of sunscreen!
There are so many delightful choices on the menu, many of which are vegetarian & vegan, or easily modified.
They have gorgeous salads, & I love the “Marinated Tempeh Sandwich,” the “Tostada Suprema,” & the ”Tofu Tacos.” They also have a smoothie & juice bar, & having never tried their juice, I decided to branch out ordered the “Super Mix” to start…
“Super Mix” - carrot, beet, celery, spinach & parsley
I love a fresh green juice, but P likens the taste to that of “lawn clippings.” However, this blend of greens with carrot & beet gave the juice a subtle sweetness that helped it go down easy. Anyone who is apprehensive when it comes to green juice should give this a try. It is tasty & undoubtedly healthy.
On to my entree, this beautiful salad….
Ordering is the hardest part when coming to Ki’s, & I always intend to try something new. My two habitual standbys are the “Tempeh Sandwich” & “Kim’s Salad.” I choose the former when I am extra hungry & the latter when I want to be extra good. Seeing as it is post holiday & nearly everyone is on some sort of detox or cleanse, I decided to go the route of extra good & ordered the salad.
“Kim’s Salad” - Romaine Lettuce, Red Cabbage, Carrots, Cucumbers, Sprouts, Tomatoes & Sunflower Greens topped with Ki’s Millet Burger
The greens & veggies are fresh & crisp, while the wedges of golden brown millet burger make this salad super satisfying. It comes with a side of “Ki’s Organic Dressing & Dip” - a rich & creamy blend of organic canola oil, cider vinegar, sunflower seeds, mustard seeds, garlic, sugar & spices. So delicious & better yet, you can take a tub to go, which I most certainly did!
As I said, the weather has been remarkable, & while I love my boots, scarves, & sweaters, I would be going against my goal of more “acceptance” if I didn’t allow myself to appreciate & be grateful for this glorious coastal day. So…no complaints here!
