Deep Nourishment: What step will you take?

I just spent a lovely evening at the Anne Arundel Co. meeting of On Purpose Networking for Women. In my 5 minute presentation, I did an abbreviated Raisin Meditation and talked about getting pleasure from food and--even more importantly--from non-food sources. In a culture that's overfed and undernourished physically, I say there's also a deeper malnutrition on the soul level.

For years, I suppressed who I really was in order to please others and meet unreasonable expectations--both theirs and mine. I was numb to my feelings, cut off from my true self, and living by the "shoulds." It's been an interesting journey over the past decade, of learning how to nourish myself on all levels. I've slowly been waking up, breaking free from all that oppressed and suppressed my unique voice, and learning to savor the sacredness in everything. An amazing adventure, really, that I will be on for the rest of my life.

How might your life (and specifically your relationship with food) be different if you slowed down to savor each bite of food, and nourished yourself deeply in non-food ways. Here's the question I left the group with tonight, and I ask it of you as well: What step will you take to break free from the "shoulds" and deeply nourish yourself in the next 24 hours?

Honor what comes up for you, even if you or others might perceive it as a little "upside-down." For me, after a 12-hour work day today, it just might be a nap in the middle of the day tomorrow (when I "should" be working).

I'd love to hear about what you did and how it affected you, and look forward to reading your comments!

Hungry

Halfway through my humble bowl of dinner, I realize I am lost in thoughts about something two months away, and barely conscious of the fact that I am shoveling in the next bite before I've finished chewing the last one. I'm enjoying the flavors, and yet not really taking them in - instead, unconsciously hungering for another"hit" in the next bite.

The metaphor of my life reflected in the moment washes over me. Why so "hungry?" What am I seeking in my frantic rush to read another book, learn another skill, do another "good" thing? When will my heart get what my head now knows - that it's all within me? ... that I already have everything I need?

I pause, put my fork down, and slow my chewing. The flavors are richer as I hold the food in my mouth and actually chew it until it's liquid consistency. I breathe deeper and slower, calling myself back from my busy mind's distractions several more times before I've savored the last bite. I can feel the tension washing away, and my stomach thanks me for the gentler approach with contented gurgles.

It's a life-long practice, I remind myself--this slowing down. A bit of upside-down living I'm committed to in the midst of the mad rush of modern life. Grateful for the holographic connectedness of life, I trust that even these 10 minutes of choosing to be awake to my food will create more presence and satisfaction in my non-food moments.

upside-down living

People have been asking: What exactly is "upside-down living?" My response is usually: What does it mean to you? What images or actions or ideas does it bring to mind? It will mean different things to different people, so there's no particular definition to it. Really--I encourage you to take a moment to reflect, before reading on: How would my life be different if I lived it upside-down? What's one way that I do--or could--live upside-down? Notice the first thing that pops into your mind, even if it seems bizarre.

I've had various ideas about what it means to me, or what it might mean for others, for society. This is the first time I'm putting any of it into formal writing, so let's see what comes to the surface in the next 10 minutes! Living upside-down could be about . . . not joining facebook just because everyone else is doing it . . . picking up trash and recycling even when the neighbors look at you funny . . . living according to my own feelings, opinions and desires, rather than everyone else's . . . crying in front of others--without shame . . . actually listening to my body and what it wants/needs, rather than all the "experts," . . . taking a real lunch break . . . taking the bus . . . facing my fears . . . s-l-o-w-i-n-g d-o-w-n . . . dancing through the daffodils like no one is watching . . . not wearing a bra just because I'm "supposed to" . . . smiling at a stranger--just because . . . paying a bit more for local organic food . . .

The possibilities are endless. See how many you can come up with in 1 minute. I'd love to see your list!

Gratitude Over Compote

(written February 28, 2009)

One of my favorite sweet desserts in the winter is a fruit compote, gently simmered until the fruit flesh softens, giving up its juices to blend with spice and syrup for a delicious and comforting ending to a meal. In this case, it consisted of organic apples and pears, raisins, a squeezed lemon, cinnamon, a dash of cloves, and some maple syrup. An added bonus was that it simmered for several hours on an old wood-burning cook stove, absorbing the cozy ambiance of the fire in the retreat space I was enjoying. As I savored the sweet, tart and spicy flavors mingling on my tongue, I found these words of gratitude flowing through my stream of thoughts:

Thank you, oh fruit of the vine
for offering up your life to
sustain mine
Thank you vine
for generously giving
of your harvest
And the trees contributing fruit, blood, bark and flower
Thank you

Thanks be to the Source from which it all comes
And to which we all return

In that moment I touched a deeper place in myself--a place that knows no separation between my body and Mother Earth. We are inextricably connected in this dance of Life...and I, so often numb or distracted in my busyness, miss that connection; a connection that feeds my soul - and, I say, offers the true solution to our planet's current peril. Oh, that I might touch that place more often...