Maybe a decade ago, or a little less, a fellow lomilomi practitioner and I offered sessions at a Bhakti Yoga Retreat in Anahola, HI. The retreat was hosted by two sisters who I loved and found to be genuinely gorgeous human beings. Living on the island at the time, it was so interesting to see peeks into the world of retreats. Or the other-worldiness of it may be better stated. Worlds are created to transport people away from or into something. Eiher is fine. Sometimes we need to be carried away to reconnect within, waking up to the truth that resides.
I remember standing in this resplendent kitchen facing the beach and doing a double take on the food I had nibbled.
“And this is our chef, Katie,” McKell the host announced to the twenty plus, newly showered and eager destination yogis.
I remember the food being to so freshly presented, and the presentation enhanced the natural flavor and beauty. It was a creative act, just like the choosing of words is for a writer, or a palette for a painter, some artists work with food. We all can to some degree, really. I turned to look at the chef and was not surprised to see a friendly, natural beauty in front of me. Let me clarify: natural beauty to me, emanates from the inside out regardless of physicality. It is a being who shines from their eyes and their presence. That was and is Katie.
Katie and I recently had a serendipitous chat on the Rebirth podcast. You can listen here:
Why Serendipitous? Well, the Anchor app failed (that I use to record) so many times that Katie offered to download and try from her phone and it worked on the fourth try. It could have been her phone. It could have been the app. The point is how many guests do you know that would head straight into a solution?
That’s Katie.
I remember thinking, she has strong connection to her will. So much energy is wasted on doubt. I can honestly say that the amount of pivoting I have done in my own life this past year or two definitely dimmed the flame a bit on my decisive fire. I noticed Katie’s assuredness. I also noted that I did not have to be the one with all the solutions all of the time ←this is actually h u g e for me. I made a mental note to continue rekindling my flame, which at times can be simply assuring there is ample oxygen.
I’m impressed with people who live life, and unabashedly use the light of their inspiration when I need it. I offer and have offered the same. I think it’s how life works. It’s the time of the year for these reflections that can warrant great changes, whether through a momentary pause, a journal entry, or working in a container and digging deeper, or dropping in with the grace of allowance.
I read this on her blog:
Morality and neutrality are not one and the same. Let’s not confuse food as good or bad but let’s also not confuse Fruit Punch for a Banana. Does that make sense? There’s nothing inherently wrong with a Dorito, it’s not the Dorito’s fault it was made in a factory and designed to be hyper palatable. Yet, a Dorito vs a Rice cracker is not a neutral argument even if the caloric value is the same. Food is not neutral nor is it good or bad. Some food is just better for your health, healing, body, mind and overall longevity. It matters what you care about. Some people don’t care if you haven’t noticed. And that’s okay. It’s not your job and it’s certainly not mine to convince anyone to care that what they eat makes a MASSIVE difference in their life experience. Why? Well, depression and obesity sometime speak louder than you or I. Global pandemics speak louder than you or I. The funny thing is that even with these rampant immune sucking conditions we continue to miss the mark – and that’s okay too. You’ll make yourself sick trying to wake anyone up to getting better.
So how can Therapeutic Eating even help if it’s not my job or your job to change the world with what we’re eating? For starters, it’s only our job to live and live well. Not to change others. Wellness is a small ripple in a placid lake. Sickness is like a motor boat raging through that lake at 7 a.m. Which one will wake you up first?
“Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the Universe, no less than the trees and stars; you have a right to be here.”
Desiderata, as quoted on www.therapeuticeating.com where you can learn more about November’s Body Reset: 10 days to spark behavioral change and other deliciousness