Weeding My Mind

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Weeding My Mind

You must weed your mind as you would weed your garden. ~Astrid Alauda

When I eat things that make my body and my mind like a flower garden that been untended and needs work, I’m cluttering it with weeds. Unhealthy foods and eating too fast or only certain kinds of foods definitely have a physical affect on me. I find that out with healthy and junk foods.

Last night I made one of my favorite vegan dishes – tofu, broccoli, and wild rice, with a bit of strawberry vinaigrette for flavor. I didn’t realize how much I craved this dish. I wonder why, if I like these kinds of foods so much, do I want to clutter my body (garden, temple, whatever you want to comparison can be used) with weeds like chocolate and other junk foods. I’ve pretty much given up eating things like potato chips and donuts – ok, to be truthful, I’ve eaten them on occasion after I said I wouldn’t eat them again – but I think about how they affect me, especially since I have high cholesterol and triglycerides (fancy words for ugly fat-clogged arteries).

If the Lord designed my body to be receptive to healthy foods, then eating other kinds of food isn’t in line with God’s plan for me. Maybe if I think of it this way, then it will be something I can deal with – not the good food/bad food paradox. I will be able to stay closer to the “temple” thinking. Face it, I only have one body, one life, a limited number of chances during this life to do what’s healthy for myself in the short span of time I’m here.

Michelle Rose

Lessons from Life

Monday, June 22, 2009

Notes:
*I have not written Lessons from Life since June 8, 2009. First, I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue writing them. Second, the original issue I wrote about when I started writing the lessons changed. So, I will be starting them with a focus on something new – health – including the way, how, and what I eat, its effect, physical exercise (which I don’t get too much of), spiritual/physical/financial/mental/emotional issues involved in eating/health, and more. My eating affects every part of my life. It’s a cross-addiction.

** If you cannot relate to any of the topics I write about in this new phase of LfrL, please feel free to let me know you’d rather not receive it anymore. If you want to continue receiving them, do nothing.

A Bit Too Much

I like cheese. When I ate meat, and now that I’m back to eating vegetarian/vegan, I still love cheese. Unfortunately, depending on the amount I eat, cheese affects me in an “unloving” and quite painful way. (I won’t go into detail) ;-D I had one of those days Sunday. I felt like I wanted to die or that I would.

I don’t easily remember my bad experiences with food I’ve eaten Obviously, or I would not repeat them over and over. Once the food passes my lips and the pleasure is done, I don’t think that some ill-effect could happen at a later time. Yet, it does and I mistakenly think that next time will be different, but it’s not. The older I get, though, the less willing I become to learn these painful lessons.

Ok, so between praying to God, writing these lessons, going to see a nutritionist in August (the earliest appointment), and doing what I can until August, I will become healthier.

“A dog is a wonderful excuse for getting some walking exercise. Although they may not walk at the same speed as a person, they get one out of the indoors and off the couch.”
by Michelle, who’s working her way toward becoming a former couch potato (or at this time a former 10# bag of potatoes) ;-D

Michelle Rose