Eating is a special moment, a miracle indeed.
Like most things, novelty makes it even more special.
Our first eating experience happened through the connection we had with our mothers, via the umbilical cord.
Nourishment, safety, and trust was being established for the first time.
Life was formed and being nurtured. What a miracle!
Throughout our life, our experience with eating has changed.
It has turned into many things.
Eating is a nuisance.
Eating is a stress reliever.
Eating is a form of celebration.
Eating is stressful.
And more.
We all eat with different motives, which might change all the time.
Eating to avoid boredom.
Eating to chase a feeling.
Eating to experience novelty.
Eating to follow someone’s instructions.
Eating to perform “better”.
Eating to be healthy. Eating to live longer.
And more.
If you want to re-establish a different relationship with eating,
one that is more intimate, sacred, like our first miraculous experience.
You can start with practicing gratitude (I learned from the late Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh)
- Be grateful to have options to choose what to eat and when to eat
- Be grateful for the person (maybe yourself) who prepare the food for you
- Be grateful for the producers and suppliers for the food
- Be grateful for Mother Earth to provide us with food
- Be grateful for our body to be able to experience eating
Final thought: If eating is a sacred activity, how would you like to set up your schedule and dining area?