Autumn Leaves, Sir John Everett Millais, 1855 from Wiki Commons
October continues to be a perfect month to "clean house" both literally and figuratively. Plan your menu to feature the foods of the season--with an emphasis on winter squashes and apples. Soups, stews, fruit crisps and salads with nuts and seeds are all nourishing choices that will bring warmth and nutrition to your body. Drink some detox tea, and plenty of hot water throughout the day. I like to add a bit of warming ginger to mine. Now is also a great time to tackle cleaning up your environment. Keep sweeping away those layers of leaves!
- More ways to cleanse: Clean out your pantry. Toss open bags of flour from months ago, anything expired, and donate foods that you know you won't consume. My daughter is into rice pasta now so the whole wheat was donated.
- Do an "Amvets" clean out. Go through your dishes, pots, pans and kitchen gear looking for duplicate or odd pieces that you really don't use or need. Amvets will gladly take these.
- Give books to your local library. Clean out your book cupboard. If you've read it, and know you are unlikely to re-read it, give it to an organization that can use it. Often retirement homes and churches are also looking for books.
- Closet--start with your coat closet. Mismatched mittens go bye-bye. Do your boots need cleaning? A button needs replacing? See where you stand with outerwear.
- Check out shoes and boots. I have two leather pair of boots that I have re-soled every year so that they continue to last.
- Medicine/toiletries--clean it out. Take stock of what you have. Before you go buying that latest supplement or facial cream, see if there are items you can and should be using up. We don't want to waste the earth's resources. I'm currently taking ashwaganda for immunity building. I had bought it and not used it for months.
- Get rid of emotional baggage. Winter means months spent indoors with your family, co-workers and friends. If you are carrying around any grievances or emotional wounds, heal them now. I suggest long walks where you hash it out internally and then let it disperse in the wind.
- Pick a winter endeavor. It may be reading a really long book, or getting into some spiritual texts, or playing an instrument. Choose something that will occupy your mind in the coming months.
- Garage/Basement Cleanout--yep, now's the time (especially if you want to park your car easily).
- Yard Cleanup. Cut back that which is dried out, plant bulbs for spring, and yes, sweep away those leaves (and how about an old-fashioned leaf rake, not an annoying leaf blower). Good exercise!
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