Norman Wells has been home to us a year now. This day, one year ago, we flew overhead the tiny town, landed on snow and stepped out into a blizzard.
What better way to celebrate a year in Norman Wells with another blizzard, two weeks spent apart from Jesse, and a daunting feeling of homesickness.
It’s not bad, it’s just reality. We didn’t expect smooth sailing when we decided to move from New Zealand to the far North of Canada. Which is precisely why we did it.
Four years ago I wrote a ‘100 things to do before I die’ list. So far I have ticked off perhaps 5 things. Most of which I had added to the list knowing I would soon be achieving. Will I ever enter a surf competition? Backpack through Asia? Become a topiarist? Enter a bodybuilding comp? Perform in a band in front of 20,000 people? Study at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris?
I know that if I sit in my cozy zone of comfort I won’t. So I remind myself, the only way I am able to tick off ‘live overseas for a year’, ‘journey the width and height of Canada’, ‘have tea in an igloo’ and even ‘start my own business’ is by throwing caution to the wind. Everyday. To dream big, but more importantly, to just do it.
Thinking about it is helpful, but at some point you just have to do it.
I didn’t post this with the intention of being inspirational, or telling you to just do it. I started reflecting on the year and this was the outcome. So be it.
On a lighter note, these energy balls are quite the pick me up. Need mind fuel to ponder your life’s aspirations? Need physical fuel to power through that workout and achieve that bodybuilding goal? These are balls of goodness, using all three of the specialty ingredients I scoured Quebec for while on vacations – chia seeds for antioxidants, protein and fibre, hemp hearts for their Essential Fatty Acids and pro-inflammatory properties, and cacao nibs for that hit of raw, unsweetened chocolate. These are sweet, hearty and satiating – one ball, a meal in itself.
Chocolate Chia Energy Balls
Recipe from Guilty Kitchen
Makes 25 – 30
6 pitted large medjool dates
1/4 agave nectar or honey
3 tbsp chia seeds, ground
1/4 cup hemp hearts
1/3 cup (1 scoop) Chocolate Protein Powder*
3 tbsp dried fruit (I used craisins)
1/2 cup crunchy natural peanut butter
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of sea salt
2 tbsp cacao nibs
1/2 cup rolled oats
*If using unflavoured (I used Ergogenics Natural Protein Powder) use just shy of a scoop and top up with dark cocoa powder.
In the bowl of a food processor, blend all the ingredients except the cacao nibs and oats. Make sure the paste is evenly mixed and all the dried fruit is chopped up. Add nibs and oats and pulse briefly until incorporated (alternatively transfer the paste to a bowl and knead in the nibs and oats until evenly combined). Scoop out tablespoon size portions and roll into balls. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Happy first Canadian anniversary! Whether or not you meant this post to be inspirational, it is (especially the starting your own business part – I’m looking forward to hearing more about that). I’m not very good at goal setting but you’re so right – you’ll never get anywhere if you don’t just do it.
I have a similar recipe for energy balls but without the dates, which I will have to start adding because I just discovered them as an ingredient in “baking” and I’m a total convert! I keep looking at the cocoa nibs in the store but I just can’t bring myself to shell out $10 for a tiny bag… tell me they’re worth it! Haha.
Oh yea, they’re worth it Korena!
Ha! Glad you think it was a worthwhile purchase Jesse!
I’m not very good at goal setting either – it’s Jesse that really encourages it in our household with monthly goal-planning sessions.
Ha Korena to be honest, I wouldn’t bother. They are a treat, great for garnishing or adding crunch to a shake. But adding pure cocoa brings the same flavor, and chopped chocolate the crunch.. so definitely a luxury not a necessity at that price!
My advice, do as many of those things before you have children. Then life is so full you can’t imagine doing anything else. I am so glad I travelled and explored the world before I became a Mum because now I am just content being a Mum and growing food in the backyard.
Yummy energy balls, I wish we could get hemp hearts in NZ. They were one of my fav nutrient-rich foods in Canada, so surprisingly sweet and delicious.
Thank you Nicola. We will take that to heart. Sometimes we want to rush into it – start saving for a home, plan when we might want our first child, because that all seems to fun and really, it’s the next step. But you’re right. I want to be content hanging around the same place for a number of years and establishing my vegetable garden and not wishing I was exploring. The next couple of years for sure are dedicated to exploring. I only just got onto hemp hearts and I love them on our oats and yogurt!
Yay! Happy Canadian anniversary! 🙂
Thank you! It’s amazing how home-like it feels, despite my grief over missing NZ. In one year this little town has really embraced us (or rather us it).
Christina, way to go. Seriously. It takes a lot of courage to leave ones space of comfort and venture into the unknown- especially one as extreme as northern Canada. You are a pretty inspiring human, and I have no doubt that you will make many of your other goals realities. Also, I will have to try this recipe once we are home. Hope your new business is off to a fabulous start.