Clay's Purpose — December 2022

I recently spent time with Mia, a fourth-year medical student in the School of Medicine’s Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine Track, and President Gee getting ready for the holiday season. Mia taught us how to prepare a homemade granola recipe that can be personalized with your favorite ingredients. The recipe is easy and healthy, and it’s perfect as a snack or as a topping for Greek yogurt. Mia explained that she loves this recipe because you know every ingredient and you can customize it to include what you like. It also makes for a great gift to give during the holidays.

While it’s okay to treat yourself and indulge in holiday festivities, if you’d like to convert old family recipes to something a bit healthier, Mia suggests simplifying the ingredients and finding ways to include more fruits and vegetables. She also posts recipes for healthy meals on her blog where she shares how she balances life, travel, faith, exercise and food with a busy medical school schedule.

During the holiday season as we get together with friends and family members, many people have holiday traditions surrounding favorite meals and recipes. I always cook breakfast on Christmas morning for my family in my dad’s tradition. My dad was a very talented man but cooking was not one of his skills. However, he did traditionally make “the big breakfast” on Christmas morning – eggs, bacon, fried potatoes and toast. We have altered this recipe by making fried potatoes in the air fryer, substituting vegetarian sausage for bacon, and making eggs, pancakes and toast. It is tasty and reminds me of my family Christmases.

During this time of year, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. I encourage you to find time to think of all the things you are grateful for and to reflect on your well-being. The true gifts are spending time with loved ones, giving to others and caring for yourself and others.

You have accomplished so much in 2022, and I hope you will continue to grow to your fullest potential in the new year. For 2023, I am focusing on trust and mindset. Specifically, I am working on seeing life as a grand adventure. By releasing more control and resistance on the unfolding of my life, I trust that my life will open to its greatest potential. Gratitude is part of my focus, as is the knowledge that we are not powerless victims, but powerful creators of our life story. We change our lives for the better by reducing our self-imposed limitations and beliefs on who we are and who we can become.

Like Rumi said, “Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you. Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion. Set your life on fire.”

I wish you a happy and healthy holiday, and I look forward to a new year of opportunities ahead of us!

Happy Holidays to you and your families.

Clay Marsh, M.D.
Chancellor and Executive Dean
WVU Health Sciences