Gentle…

Posted by LeeAnn on April 26th, 2010 at 12:30pm

I am learning to be gentle. I am learning to be more in the present moment.  In fact I am learning to savor not only the moment but also the food I choose to eat.  I am discovering the fullness of tastes and enjoying fresh herbs and organic produce.  In fact I am enjoying fresh so much that I am planting a wonderful garden so that I can taste truly ripe and fresh foods. Now don’t get me wrong, I have eaten fresh for most of my life except for the past 10 years while eating on the road.  I grew up with a garden and plenty of fruit – even fresh eggs.  It is just that I had apparently taken fresh for granted and am reconnecting with food that is grown within 100 miles of my home.

I think I am in love with Jamie Oliver – he is my hero for bringing fresh to our schools too!

I guess it is time in our culture to return to our roots of feeding ourselves rather than letting factories feed us boxed and processed junk.

Elizabeth Keyes in her 1973 book – How to Win The Losing Fight focused on what she calls a “gentle” eating method. Basically you can eat anything you want in quarter-sized bites that you hold in your mouth and taste.  By slowing down and actually savoring the food we eat, not only do you want less but also you discover there are things you have been eating and may not even like the taste of.  Hmmmm – the whole concept of slowing down and mindfully offering your body food and listening to its response can turn your world upside down.

One of her exercises when having friends over for dinner is asking them to bring “soul food” to share at the table.  By that she means bringing a poem, a passage, a quote to share and feast with the other guests. I have been trying that with friends and the response has been wonderful.  Everyone can hardly wait to get together again to be fed both physically and soul-fully.

I invite you to be gentle this week – gentle with your body, gentle with your soul and gentle with your heart.  Let mindfulness lead and see where it takes you.  As always it is a practice – are you up for it?

Happy trails,

The Divine Cowgirl

(photo credit: jtravism)

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