Happiness, or rather the pursuit of it, is at the height of popularity for topics of books, documentaries, and research. And for good reason. According to the World Happiness Report of 2019 the United States of America is nowhere close to the top of the list. In fact, we continue to decline in happiness ranking – landing in 19th place.
The reasons for this are many, and complicated. But there are small things that you can do every day to bring joy back into your life. One way is by reconnecting with nature. Research confirms that even short interactions with nature can boost your mood. And with summer in full swing, your local Farmer’s Market provides a great opportunity to do exactly that.
Research also supports that changing your routine contributes to the boost in happiness. I decided to combine these both into an exercise that you could try this week.
Take a break and visit your local Farmer’s Market – pick up a few Roma and Heirloom tomatoes to try using the bruschetta recipe below. While you are there, savor the moments – enjoy the bright colors and the smell of the fresh fruits and vegetables. This is your chance to connect with nature and change up your routine a bit.
I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on this. Did you give it a try? Did you find a boost in your happiness?
Bruschetta (4 pieces)
- 1 Roma tomato
- 1 heirloom tomato
- 1 tsp olive oil
- salt
- balsamic glaze
- 5 basil leaves
- 4 slices of sour dough baquette
Preheat oven to 415 degrees.
Core the Roma and the heirloom, then dice into small pieces. Spread the tomatoes evenly over the sour dough bread. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and 1 tsp olive oil.
Put aluminum foil on a cookie sheet and place pieces of bruschetta on top. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
While the bread is baking, thinly slice the basil leaves.
Remove bruschetta from the oven. Top with the basil leaves and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.