• Courage quote: André Gide (1869-1951), French author and Nobelist. This quote is very fitting for anyone who’s thinking about venturing into the unknown: no matter how safe you might feel in the harbor, you can’t discover new oceans unless you’re ready to leave the safe and familiar behind you. Actually, you probably did this as a child because you can’t truly learn to walk unless you have the courage to let go of your parent’s hand.
• Photo: “Tall Ships” by Wim Lassche. The small version of this image simply doesn’t do justice to the rich textures, details, and overall mood of the original photo. Trust me, you just have to view the larger version of these ships! Also, check out the photographer’s Photo.net gallery for other, equally amazing shots. They’re also featuring beautiful landscapes and settings, with rich textures and details, yet the photos aren’t overdone. Expect to see more of Wim Lassche’s work featured in Weekly Inspiration…

In my previous diet post, Healthy Diet Goals and Guidelines for 2010, I mentioned I wanted to eat less meat, even though my body seems to thrive on an Atkins-like diet high in animal fats.

In this post, I’ll discuss the why and how of this decision in detail. My goal is to gradually change my diet, so that by the end of 2010 I won’t be eating any dead animals anymore. A 100% plant based diet would be ideal, but I’m not sure I could go that far yet, so my goal is just to eliminate all meat from my diet.

If you’re a seasoned vegetarian, please feel free to post advice and suggestions for an aspiring lacto-vegetarian, especially if your diet is low in grains and low or moderate in carbs! I might need your advice!

• Quote: Buddha. This is one of my favorite quotes by one of my favorite authors, the Buddha: so simple, so profound, and so very true. Unless you realize that peace comes from within, no external circumstances can make you feel at peace. Peaceful circumstances can of course help you, but in the end, peace comes from within.
• Photo: “Lily Pair” by George Dangerfield. Click the image for a larger version or view his photo gallery for more beautiful photos by him.

The change of our calendar year is a good time to sit down for a while, think about how I’d like to spend the upcoming year, and to set some goals. In this post, I’ll explain my diet goals for 2010 and explain what I think would be a healthy diet.

Expect to read musings about the following:

1. General guidelines for a diet I believe is the healthiest one for me and for everyone. Yes, you too!
2. Confused musings about the more controversial diet issues: why I’m not quite sure about them but how I feel about them anyway.
3. Why I feel there is no One True Perfect Diet™ that would magically make everyone healthy.
4. A summary of my diet goals for 2010.

• Quote: William Arthur Ward, an American author and scholar.
• Photo: Timur Emeka. Two women toasting as fireworks explode during an outside party in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district to celebrate the New Year 2010. This image is from Boston.com’s wonderful The Big Picture blog. Go check out the whole entry, Welcoming 2010, and its 38 photos of New Years celebrations from around the world!

May Peace be your gift at Christmas
and your blessing all year through!

• Quote: Unknown. Nobody knows who originally came up with this holiday wish, but who cares – the message itself is the important thing. For me, Christmas isn’t about presents or cards or expensive decorations; it’s about calming down, spending time with my family and loved ones, and celebrating the Winter Solstice. (I don’t give presents or even send Christmas cards. It’s so liberating!) In the West, Christmas is often considered to be the time of peace and good will… but I wish you peace and good will for all year long!
• Photo: “Winter Night” by Ketil Monsen. View a larger version of this image or view the photographer’s Photo.net gallery for more photos by him.