Reality “slaps” can be a bit overwhelming a times. In fact, it can be overwhelming A LOT of the time. From natural disasters, poverty, disease, etc. You feel so defeated. Like it won’t stop. But that’s where we need to change our focus. Reality will always be slapping us in the face. How you react to it is what can make those slaps become blessings.
This is what we look like “reality slapped.” A little weathered but at least we have each other!
Instead of focusing on trying to make our lives better, let’s focus on trying to better the lives of others. Funny thing is it will most likely better your life without you even knowing it. This doesn’t mean you have to join the Red Cross or give your life savings to Charity. It means you take a moment out of your day to focus on giving something to someone else. It can be words of encouragement, a prayer, donating food/clothes to those in need, supporting our troops, etc. Use what you are passionate about, your God given gifts, to make a difference!
Yes, everyone has those God Given gifts. Think about it. What are you really good at and how can you use that to enrich someone’s life today?
I like to make things. And I like to give them away even more. So making Healthy Bites for families that need Gluten Free Snacks makes my heart sing! It may not be much but it’s the least I can do.
Chocolate Chip Banana Bites
And yes, I do realize they look like rocks.
Let’s nickname them Reality Rocks!
Ingredients:
-
.5 cup crushed banana chip
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4 tbsp. gluten free chocolate chip morsels
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.25 cup honey or agave nectar
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.25 cup dark chocolate peanut butter
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30 grams vanilla protein powder (about one serving)
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1-2 tbsp. dried milk powder (I used goats milk powder) ** optional
Directions:
Grind up banana chips in order to get them crushed. Then combine in bowl with chocolate chips, protein powder, milk powder, and peanut butter. Mix. Then add your honey and mix with hands more until everything is combined nicely. Scoop out a section, roll into a ball, place on wax paper. Freeze when done. Makes 18-20 bites. Best stored in freezer or fridge.
Do you like to make things? Make these, and pass them along to someone. And if you don’t like to make things, that’s perfectly fine.
Find your gift, use it! Share it!
Cheers!
LC
p.s.
For all those racing tomorrow, best of luck. Including the hubs!! And before you race, say a little a prayer and take a moment to remember 9-11.
<3
you are so sweet to make things for others, but it is times like these when the little things mean the most!
thinking of you guys
love u
michelle
so true. A little goes a long way.
love you!
<3
You are a a beautiful person and I am blessed to know you! The Austin area is blessed to have you around!
oh jess, you are too kind. I am honored to know you and I just hope and pray one day we can meet. Hope the race went well!
xxoo
This is so beautiful, I love it! 🙂 You are so right – reality is always slapping us in the face – it will constantly do that because that is the nature of life, but we must learn to smile and love and give in spite of that! Your post really reiterates what I’ve been thinking about today – the final lines of desiderata: “with all it’s sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. be cheerful. strive to be happy.”<3 You two are so blessed to have each other! Wishing your hubs all the very best! 🙂 xyx
You are so lovely with your words. I will hold them near and dear to my heart!
<3 and I will do the same with yours 🙂 xyx
YUM! Those ‘Reality Rocks’ (I almost called them reality slaps- haha!) sound delicious! I LOVE dried bananas.
That’s so sweet of you to help out families in need, I’m sure they are forever grateful. We always donate a TON of stuff to Goodwill, especially since we just got married- getting rid of ‘his’ stuff & ‘her’ stuff & making it our stuff 🙂
I like that, reality slaps bites! haha. And i love the feeling of cleaning out the closets. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right?
What a great reminder! Thank you!
<3
Those look pretty delicious! I feel like I’m rediscovering dessert, the GF way!
So glad you are okay – I think reality “checks” help us to put things in perspective and I alway think your perspective is great!
i know you relate Laura. Lots of “health” reality check lately, eh? Oh and scoby will be going out this week. We are home and getting life back to normal. Thank you for you kind words and support!
omg those banana bites look amazing, love the name !ha! Inspiration is beautiful! I love your outlook on life, reminds me of mine ; )
and I think we’d have a blast together too. A good heart to heart, some wine, and laughs all around.
<3
“Instead of focusing on trying to make our lives better, let’s focus on trying to better the lives of others” Beautiful quote! Great dose of inspiration for the day 🙂
oh yes, we all need that inspiration on a monday. Right?
🙂
You have the most amazing outlook. Truly unbelievable. Ok, important stuff, we need to find a date/race. When are u leaving us? Meanwhile, tried to enter the giveawway, I could see it in my google reader but the page was not found, so to speak, when i clicked to enter the site.
Oh, Lindsay, I love the positive message here! I truly believe that using our passions and gifts, and sharing them with others, is what makes this world harmonious and beautiful. Spreading love the way we know best is what we’re called to do! And you do it quite well. 🙂
I love this recipe! Banana chips are an all-time favorite treat of mine (as are chocolate and peanut butter, obviously!).
Hope you had a nice, reflective weekend. xoxo <3
oh sara, you have such a gift of encouragement! i mean really, your daily words of wisdom make me smile each day! thank you for that. Oh and thank you for your love of coconut! hehe.
We had our own little dose of reality on Thursday when power went out from San Diego to Orange County and all the way to Arizona and Mexico for 12 hours. They had estimated we wouldn’t have any for a couple of days. It’s interesting to see how people here reacted compared to those around you when the fires destroyed their homes. I was encouraged by the people in Texas and their willingness to help others in need.You are truly blessed Lindsay.
Oh, how I wish it had been the same here. Within 3 hours people were looting. Yep, leave it to good ole’ CA!
Those “Reality Rocks” look yummy! I pray your hubby did well!
Nicole
i heard about that! crazy! I truly think that our community has grown so much from this.I wish you could see in person too Nicole.
p.s.
How’s the cleanse? still doing it?
Me too Lindsay. That is how our little town used to be but it has grown beyond the quaint place it once was. Bummer.
I follow some of the basic principles daily but I knew it wasn’t for me when I had to severely limit fresh vegetables and fruit. Life without salad would be miserable! Thanks for asking : )
Every single day, before I let myself think of the bad, the ugly, the things I wish I could change, I remember to count my blessings. I have been blessed to have the most beautiful people in my life and to have been given a HEALTHY life. That in itself is worth celebrating.
” It takes no more time to see the good side of life than it takes to see the bad.”
you inspire me every.single.day.
these words are going to be posted on my refridgerator soon! thank you Becca. I love your outlook and how you’re life has been blessed from it. Amazing! you know you are my inspiration too.
xxoo
You are sooo right! It can be great to focus on others 🙂
Its the best medicine, right? Hope the knee is better after your little run.
<3
Love you, Linds! I know it’s been one thing after the next for y’all, and I am hoping you’re going to find renewal and LOTS of happiness in New Zealand! Time for a change of scenery. 🙂 And in the meantime, I know you will make the best of your time in Austin and continue to have a positive outlook and spread LOVE to everyone who is fortunate enough to know you. 🙂
oh how you know me so well. My heart breaks for james right now. Such a hard thing to see/watch. I am praying that New Zealand will be healing.
love you so so much.
I hope the hubs did well in his race today! This post made me so happy. Living in the present is so crucial to happiness.. dwelling on things can be useless and it’s better to think about what we can do to improve things! I am definitely a “maker”. I love to make things, especially for others. The best present I can give myself is a homemade gift to someone else because I love to see the joy that it brings!
Those who give away the most are the richest in the end. Thanks for this post. We all need to look for ways that we can make this beautiful world a better place.
our lives are so rich because of this! well said. There is not one materialistic thing that can fill that.
You are so great as always. I want you to know that I so look forward to read your blog because it is always so positive and full of encouragement. I could not agree more that it is how we react to tough times that really matters. We can only control what is in our control.
I hope your hubs race went well today.
Well Rachelle, I would have to say that you are my positive light. I look forward to seeing your smile and reading your posts. You really are living LIFE!! <3
Just saw your update on twitter : ( Disappointing I’m sure, but as I’m reading this post, ALL I can think about is what a wonderful, giving, open, loving couple you are and what a blessing you are to each other and the world!
“Reality rocks” – love the name! Slaps of reality can be tough to take, but they make us stronger. Hope your husband did well today!
it really does make us stronger. Its not fun “growing” in that strength but so worth it!!
Seriously, I love how every time I come to your blog I am reminded about what really matters in life. I am hoping James is kicking butt even if his helmet was stolen:( LOVE YOU LINDS!
thank you Janae. I am so thankful for your daily encouragement. Really! You might not know how much you make an impact on someone, but you do.
I agree with Heather, you are a special soul. You really really are. I love this message too, and I love all that you do for those around you, virtually and physically. Good luck to James today as well!
Jo, you lovely ladies make me want to be a better so I can’t help but stop and thank you for that!
I love the whole concept of paying it forward – in big ways and in little ways. I’m hoping to be doing a lot of paying it forward in a big way very soon (more details on this later!) but in the meantime, even the littlest of things can make all the difference. A smile and a wave as you pass a fellow runner. A “you look great” compliment to a friend. A quick call with words of encouragement to a family member who could use a boost. Anything big or small can make such a difference – and to your point, can totally benefit you too. Makes my heart sing.
oh now I am curious. Can’t wait to read about your paying it forward. I am sure its amazing….like you!
Hey friend! Love this…as always. 🙂 Miss you, too! I’ll shoot ya a message soon. Gluten free hugs from Dallas!
oh yea, youre alive! big GF hugs from Austin!
Ohh, Lindsay.. those bites look soo good!!
You’re so right.. sometimes it’s so hard to not feel defeated with all that goes on in the world but we can’t let that bring us down. There is good that comes out of everything and THAT’s what we need to put our energy into.
yes yes, you have literally lived this out sabrina. A great example!
SO TRUE. i always feel like your posts just speak directly to me with inspiration and i love that! when ever i am down and stressed…it seems that doing something for someone else can always pull me out of it with a smile. it just feels good to give of yourself to others! i LOVE baking for others. or just listening and being there when I can 🙂 thanks for the reminder!
so many people just need a hug or an ear to listen. You are so right! sending you a virtual hug right now!
good luck to your hubby today! he’s a very lucky man to get to come home to a beautiful woman and beautiful healthy bites 😉
oh you are too kind. Can you email that reminder to my hubs each day? hehe. <3
Pay it forward! I try to a bit each day 🙂 btw Lindsay I tried to subscribe to your blog but couldn’t. Is it me or on your end. Hope James has a good race today!
oh bummer. How did you try to subscribe? It just worked for me. Thanks for all your support Kalli!
delicious
You are so right. Life is about blessing others whether it be in big or small ways. Even the smallest act of kindness has the ability to change a persons entire day. We all have the choice to make a difference in the life of another person. 🙂 Great reminders!
sometimes i think its the smallest acts of kindness that has the most impact, ya know?
You are SUCH a beautiful person <3
Lindsay I love that you say you don’t have to go join the Red Cross or do something like that — a prayer, a thought, an act of kindness is a good place to start!
“find your gift, use it, share it!” — love this too. I’ve been doing lots of soul searching trying to figure out what gifts I have that should be shared more. I have the want/desire/need to do more, I just need to figure out what that is!
i think our gifts change over the years, ya know? especially when we get married and have kids. But you are so patient and wise HOlly. People are drawn to your sincere nature. I know I was. And you encourage us with that each day!
I have a HUGE servants heart and I LOVE to give things to others. For example, on Tuesday I spent 2 hours of my night baking close to 100 cookies. I gave some to the youth group and then the rest to my brother and the guys he is living with. I LOVE serving others. Praying for those in Texas who have had a life change from this fire. Praying for your hubs.
what a wonderful way to serve! and cookies, you can’t go wrong with that allie. Thank you again for all your prayers!
Oh man, you just reminded me that tomorrow is 9-11. I’m not ready, not at all.
i don’t think anyone is ready. I just pray that it is a day of remembrance, not anything else. <3
You are so beautiful and inspiring. Well done good and faithful one. You’ll hear it one day.
I might get a few slaps as well, cause lets face it, we are human. But its people like you Missy you keep in line. Thank you!!
You are definitely right that in helping others we can help ourselves! Those healthy bites look awesome :). Good luck to the hubs tomorrow!
thanks linz. I love that we see eye to eye and have the same name. hehe. Hey did you ever buy those devotionals?
Hehe so do I :). I bought the purpose driven life and one month to live!
You are right ….doing for others is doing for yourself, as well! I needed that reminder. All affected by 9/11 (and the fires by you) are in my prayers this weekend.
oh my prayer warrior Jen, i love you more for this! <3
You are so sweet and special! It definitely feels great to help others, i agree. Glad y’all are safe. Good luck to the hubs!
Hugs my dear <3
hugs to you! someday i will get a real hug from you katie “bug”
This really made me smile. You are such a special soul my dear. I love to make things for others and share. I think sometimes just smiling, waving, or saying hi to someone can be helpful. So small sounding, but sometimes just a smile, nod, wave, can make your day. (I’m an overly friendly runner LOL).
oh me too! i love saying good morning or waving on my runs. Just think if we ran together, we’d be a funny pair. Waving and smiling, haha. Oh girl, that just made me laugh. Love you so much!
p.s.
your gift…..caring for others with good food!! (pizza friday, doggie treats, etc).
I hope James has an incredible day! I love doing for others. I think it’s important to share whatever we can of ourselves. I hope your having an incredible weekend!
I kept thinking about your amazing gifts! how you served those kids at the church! How amazing you are and how blessed they must feel.
<3
Good luck to the hubs!!! Woohoo! I should make these for one of my best girlfriends. She has celiac, so it would be nice. Maybe instead of Christmas cookies!
oh yes, ,do it!! They have such a good banana chocolate chip muffin taste. 😛
Can’t wait to make those and give some away. And eat some too.
those look so good! i know it sounds kind of gross, but i bet salty potato chips would be an awesome substitution for the banana chips – something about that sweet & salty combo!
i’m not a caretaker or an affectionate person by nature, so when i want to show someone i care about them, i always bake them something! it’s my version of a hug!
i think you do this so well. You go out of your way to make good food for others….from scratch!! And it shows. Plus you are a genuis with ingredients. thats just pure talent!
You’re so right! Helping others helps yourself! I do like to make things, but I’m not so crafty so food is definitely the best way to express that!
Good luck hubs 🙂
yes, food is the only crafty thing i have. haha. But you have words. Your words say so much and really make an impact on others. They have on me!