Day 154 Intention ~ Be Thankful For Each Meal

Day 154 Intention: Be Thankful For Each Meal

Yesterday after rocking the park, I met some friends at a local spot for brunch. As everyone was about to chow down, one person brought up that many times people don't say thanks for what they get to eat. It's a great thought. We don't. 

Oftentimes, we are eating on the run or watching t.v. while we eat or otherwise distracted and just start to shovel the food into our mouths. We don't pay attention. We don't chew. We tend to overeat because we aren't thinking about what we are doing. 

This takes me back to a training I did with yoga teacher, Jonny Kest a few years back. He had us all close our eyes and he put a raisin in our mouths. He had us feel it with our tongue, softly bite it, and really think about it before we chewed it up and swallowed. This was his way of getting us to think about what we were eating. He encouraged us when we broke for lunch to eat in silence, with no distractions, and take one bite at a time. Not putting any more food into our mouths until the last bite was swallowed. Slowing it down and appreciating each bite in the meal.

When you slow down how quickly you eat, your brain has a chance to catch up to your stomach and you find that you don't need to eat as much to become full. 

I am very lucky to have not ever suffered from hunger in my life. There has always been food on the table at meal time. For many, this is not the case. I am sure that for people who have gone hungry at some point, each meal is gratefully accepted. I really want to be sure to be thankful for each meal that I get to enjoy and savor it. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia