Raw & Vegan

I would like to share this sweet story with you:

The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stoney silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. After opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward, he walked me to my car. We passed the tree, and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. “Oh, that’s my trouble tree,” he replied. “I know I can’t help having troubles on the job, but one thing for sure, troubles don’t belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning, I pick them up again.” “Funny thing is,” he smiled, “when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before.”

via ParableSite.com

We all need balance in our lives, and taking troubles from work to home can cause all kinds of tension, as I have personally experienced!

My ritual was coming home troubled and stressed resulted in me making poor food choices so I would eat beautiful, organic and pure foods all day but finish off with Japanese take away. Not only was the food heavy, salty and not very tasty but I would sleep heavier, have trouble waking up the next morning, and struggle through the day.  The troubles I had at the end of yesterday didn’t get stuffed down by starchy food - they were fed and became hungrier the next day!!

I believe we put intention into our food, so a meal prepared in a tired and stressed mood will not reward you in the same way as a meal prepared in a good mood.  Whether or not there is science (psuedo or other) behind this I cannot say, but I can’t disagree that cooking when upset or stressed results in a meal thats slopped onto the plate!  Whilst a meal lovingly made is often presented nicely, or just by simply topping your slop with a pretty garnish!!

What I am now doing to achieve balance is recognising the point where I fall into weakness - for example, sitting at the computer so long my eyes hurt and I get tired then don’t want to prepare food; and I am setting a limit so, as in the parable above, I set the trouble and stress aside before moving into my personal non-work space.

What I’m trying to say is that, when working towards your goals to be a good raw foodist - whether you’re striving for 100% or aiming to eat raw several times a week - make a small ritual or gesture that allows you to release the stress of the day so you are free to move that one step closer to achiving your goals!

Here’s to a stress-free day!  :)

~Kate