First of all: I loved reading your comments on all the things that make you YOU yesterday! I feel like I know you all so much better. Now it’s time for some eats, because it’s WIAW:
Go ahead and use your imagination to envision me sitting in all the empty chairs.
{BREAKFAST} Toast topped with cottage cheese and peanut butter, greek yogurt with cranberries/strawberries, apple, and grapefruit
The type of imagination I’m asking you to do is harmless right? I agree it is. But for me personally not ALL imagination is harmless.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld was very wise when he said “One is never fortunate or as unfortunate as one imagines.”
{SNACK} Green seductions loose leaf tea, mini protein bar, and pistachios
I confess to getting caught in deep and elaborate day dreams whether it’s about excelling in school, succeeding in a race, winning a contest, or having more friends.
Sure they may seem harmless at the time, but it only sets my heart and soul on something that is not even coming close to fruitation. Speaking of fruit:
{LUNCH}Hummus with salad, cottage cheese with soy cereal, apple
When I realize that my dream isn’t reality I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. A slight plunge where hope is lost and I’m all alone. In my experience it is true “that the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genisis 8:21 ASV). I don’t need better marks, or more money, or a great race time. Why do I always want more then I have? Why are these things so significant to me anyways?
{SNACK} roasted soybeans
Then I look around me, and see the truth. I am living the dream. I have an amazing summer job, I have a mother who’s trying her hardest to bond with me, I have the finances to go to school, and I have the faith to get me through the dark bits….
{DINNER} Coconut Curry tempeh, cherry tomatoes, turnip, greek salsa dip
…and I can’t forget how fortunate I am for yummy snacks:
{SNACK} Post lifting smoothie poured over cut up apple, watermelon, strawberries and cranberries
So for now I’m going to focus on the things I DO have rather then the things I DON’T have.
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Do ever get caught up in imagining the things you long for? Do you think some imagination can be a bad thing? Do you like tempeh (I loved it!)?
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I day dream at least one a day about my future: relationship, career, kids, health, etc. It’s great to have dreams but we also need to embrace the present and appreciate everything we have at that moment. Life doesn’t begin once you reach a certain goal, your life is happening NOW!
Beautiful post and delicious eats! I too get caught up in things that shouldn’t matter and I end up stressing myself out even more. I find more and more that I try to live in the now and appreciate another day on God’s green earth
We’ve truly been blessed to be healthy and happy!
Yum!
By the way, I love the idea to pour the smoothie over fruit
I do day dream, and sometimes have the tendency to pomder about my past but I’m slowly being able to say that things happen for a reason and that my past is shaping who I am today. I do like tempeh had it in a sushi place but I have been too scared to prepare it at home as I’m not sure how too.
I have never tried tempeh! I am dying to though. I love to imagine things, its what makes me…me
Great looking eats and happy WIAW !
I do catch myself imagining things or daydreaming sometimes, but I try not to do it so much because I’m a firm believer of learning to live in the present. That Genesis quote is very applicable to society today– SO many people are always wishing they had more, but really they will never be content until they come to the Lord.
AND YES. I love tempeh (especially the Coconut Curry kind that you had)
Cottage cheese and toast.. YUM!
Never tried tempeh – although it is something I do want to give a go!
I definitely get caught up in those kind of daydreams once in a while, but it’s nowhere near as bad as it used to be. I used to only focus on the things I didn’t have… I would constantly be telling myself “Oh, I’ll be happy when X happens”, and then X would happen, I’d be happy for a bit, and then I’d be on to the next X. It was like I was always chasing happiness instead of realizing that happiness exists in the moment, and that you can find it by paying attention to all of the blessings in your life. I have so much in my life to be htankful for, as well, and I’m definitely getting better at noticing
I loved reading this but I am actually not much of a daydreamer! Unless you count day dreaming about recipes…cuz i do that a lot
But i do dream at night a lot, always totally crazy stuff and sometimes i get disappointed when i wake up! 
I think most of that is harmless, but it’s not cool if its getting you down! Truly the best grades, times, etc really don’t matter! But i don’t think its awful or uncommon to think about those things.
so many things to respond…i’ll start off with the fact that i want/need to try tempeh. okay, that’s out of the way. i feel so similarly to you about needing to succeed–feeling like that’s a part of you and without it (who even knows). i think realizing what kinds of positions we are in is the best we can do b/c it puts everything in perspective. sometimes life is hard and decisions are difficult but with a support system in friends, family and ourselves we can do/overcome anything!! ps: i want your dinner
I’ve never tried tempeh, but your dinner sounds really good. I need to try that
I never really thought about it, but I guess I don’t day dream that much. You described the sinking feeling perfectly, and I know what that’s like but it only happens when I’m freaking out about the future or something like that. I think daydreaming is a good thing. It makes you more optimistic, in my opinion. I should do it more often
Yum, Greek yogurt
I love how beautifully photographed all your food is all the time.
I definitely get caught up in my imagination a lot- ever since I was a kid I always have lived in a half fantasy world in my mind/how I envision things being, in a way though it keeps me motivated and creative
I’m not a huge fan of tempeh, but in college I had it a few times where it was actually pretty tasty
I think imagining is good, but we have to remember that imagination is not always reality and we shouldn’t get caught up in imagination and forget about reality. I think that pretty much sums up what you said, so I guess, in short, I agree with you
Love your Wednesday eats!! I’m coming over next week, okay?
I LOVE tempah, but it upsets my stomach ( 
) so it’s a pretty rare thing for me. But coconut curry flavor?! I MUST try that!!
<3 <3
Ohh I love you. This post seriously rocks. I get these down in the dumps feelings a lot about school and “life” and they get my mind running WILD! I think too much about failing and not enough about my qualities and succeeding. I need to focus on the plan that is set for me, regardless of whether I know what it is yet! I have gotten better with this lately and it’s reading things like this that help! Awesome eats of course!
I catch myself day dreaming all of the time..or imagining ways my life could be different, how I could change, what should be improved, etc. I want to get better at living in the present and sometimes accepting the way things are. That is a healthy thing to do too
Can’t say I am a huge fan of tempeh, but I haven’t given it a proper chance!
I’ve gone through most of my life always thinking I want something else, it’s about time I get satisfied with what I have now!
Your last snack looks to die for. Fruit is my obsession!
When I first tried temph I was hesitant, but now I really like it!
beautiful post
I’ve gone through a lot thinking I want something else when really I’m just happy and thankful for what I have.. it takes awhile to realize it but once I do i’m satisfied 
I totally do. I actually save all my imagining for when I’m running alone or on a treadmill and it makes the time go by faster
I keep meaning to try that tempeh flavor!
Wow your eats look so delicious! I’ve never had tempeh but it looks really good the way you have it paired up. And that breakfast- mmm- I’m a sucker for breakfast foods and that combo is awesome
I LOVE tempeh, and that coconut curry sounds amazing–did you purchase or make it?
And I love imagination, but I see how it can have that impact on a life–we need imagination so we DO want more/have dream/goals/ideas, but we also need to realize that where we are right now is pretty awesome too
I purpchased it already flavored and in strips. Very convienient for fast dinner! The brand was Turtle Island Foods. I guess when it comes to imagination it needs to be in balance
Well that sounds even better than making it myself
And Whole Foods carries Tofurkey/Turtle Island stuff, so YES, putting that on my shopping list 
My imagination can make me feel bad about myself — a lot of times it tells me bad things, like I’m not training hard enough and this season I’m not going to do well or that I won’t get into a college that I want to go to. Other times my imagination is great and makes me want to work hard — I dream of being an amazing runner, having an awesome career, getting married, etc. It’s important to consider what we already have though, and make the most of it.
That tempeh sounds awesome. Did you buy it premade or did you flavor it?
I purchased it already flavored and in strips. Very convienient for fast dinner! The brand was Turtle Island Foods and they also have two other flavors (maple bacon, and sesame garlic I think)! I agree imagination is also important for motivation, I guess it’s one of those things that we need to have the right balance of
I lovee tempeh! Especailly the coconut curry kind.
Sometimes I daydream but I think it’s a good thing cause it keeps me motivated to really use my full potential and work my hardest to acheive what I want. It makes me feel like I can do anything
I totally agree – feel blessed to have what you DO have. That should be more than enough!
Aw what a beautiful post girly..I guess in the past my dreams were my downfall and ultimately led to my eating disorder. I wanted to be the most perfect daughter, slim, pretty, getting the top grades, going to the best university…I thought that it would make me happy and make my parents proud when it just wasn’t the case at all! Now that I’ve been through all of that, I have gained such invaluable experience that I’m just thankful for LIFE and even just the small, simple things in it and it feels amazing..
That curried tempeh looks AMAZING! I’ve only tried tempeh rashers and I wasn’t keen because they tasted too meaty but I plan on buying some pretty soon and since I’m a huge curry fan, I’m thinking curried tempeh!!
Your photos are gorgeous by the way…so creative
daydreaming consumes too much of my time sometimes! I’m starting to look around me and just be glad for what I have instead of longing for what I don’t have. This was a lovely post
I’ve never tried tempeh!
I love this theme, so adorable! And I think imagination is a great thing, and without it things would be seriously boring. But I definitely have a tendency to let my imagination run wild, which is not always a good thing.
Tempeh? one of my favorite proteins ever
beautiful food!! i bet you had a very happy belly
Sam @ fitness food & faith (giveaway today!)
Ohhh what beautiful sitting scenery!
With beautful food!
Whitney
I get caught up in my imagination too…sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s demoralizing.
I love your eats!
I’m definitely a dreamer! I usually envision things in my future – what grad school’s going to be like, what my social life will be like, reaching my running goals…all things that haven’t taken form yet. I think as long as I’m not seriously entertaining the notion of making it to the olympics, its totally healthy. But, “it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live”!
. celebrating the life you have is important too 
I’ve only had tempeh once, and I wasn’t a fan! I probably should try to cook it a different way/….or maybe just cook it better…haha
It’s definitely better to focus on all the wonderful things you DO have! But I know that’s easier said than done! Sometimes I think we miss out on the moments that are happening NOW because we’re so focused on what we want later!
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bahahaha love it! such a fun spin on it =)
I always let my imagination run wild… but I do long for things I cant have and places i cant be… and bffs i cannot visit. I can’t help it!
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