2012
Not So Easy
I thought I was a pretty mindful person. I thought taking on a First Bite Meditation practice would be fairly straightforward, not too difficult….maybe a bit tedious, but really not that much of a challenge.
I was wrong.
I haven’t been able to go a single day without forgetting to do the practice at least once. Actually, a lot more than once. And it’s not like I’m catching myself after a bite or two! Sometimes I do. But often — often — I’ve finished the entire meal and am off onto something else before it even crosses my mind that I was supposed to stop and actually notice what I was eating.
Wow.
But I’m not giving up. And I’m not giving myself a bad time about it. I’m just noticing…with surprise. I’m giving a little respectful bow to the formidable power of habit, and I’m starting over.
Again and again.
I empathize… I made a deal with myself so I would allow myself to go watch the new “Avengers” movie (I know… violent movies = bad) but my deal was that I had to watch it “mindfully”… Hah! I actually woke up a total of 3 times in a 2 hour movie.. not so mindful afterall are we.
I find that I confine my mindful informal practice to the same activites day in and day out… whenever I try to initiate a new mindful exercise i get an object lesson in exactly how Unconscious I actually am. I wonder if I’ll be mindful when I watch that movie on Netflix a year or so from now… ummm probably not.
Thanks for commenting, Scott. Yes, it’s amazing how much of the time we’re on automatic pilot. Kind of crazy!
I was thinking about this today and it came to me that the act of the dinner prayer that many cultivate could also serve the purpose of slowing us down and bringing awareness to the act we are about to do. I wonder if that might help bring a pause and encourage more mindful eating.
In our deep ecology group one of the handouts included this:
Buddhist Blessing for Food:
Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space combine to make this food.
Numberless beings gave their lives and labors that we may eat.
May we be nourished that we may nourish life.
This is an area Im wanting to bring mindfulness to as well. thanks for sharing.
That’s beautiful, Janet! I’m remembering now that one of the teachers at the retreat said she has taught her young child to start each family meal by everyone holding hands and saying “Thank you” to everyone at the table and then adding “Thank you, Earth.”
Starting each meal with a blessing is a lovely idea. Thank you.