Transformative Nutrition Practice of the Month
December: The Long, Deliscious Journey
Ithaca
"When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
Pray that the road is long, full of adventure, full of knowledge..
Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many,
when with such pleasure, with such joy
You will enter ports seen for the first time;
Stop at Phoenician markets, and purchase fine merchandise,
Mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
And sensual perfumes of all kinds, as many sensual perfumes as you can;
Visit many Egyptian cities, to learn and learn from scholars.
Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to make it last for many years;
And to anchor at the island when you are old,
Rich with all you have gained on the way,
Not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.
Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would never have set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.
And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
You must already know what Ithaca means."
Constantine Cavafy, translated by Rae Dalven,
Excerpt from "The Zahir" by Paulo Coelho
In the goal-oriented society in which we live, a huge emphasis is placed on reaching our end goal while we suffer through or at best ignore the process of getting there. In the case of our weight-loss obsession and drive to be thin, we've become willing to sacrifice pleasure, enjoyment and quality of food as well as endure often large amounts of physical and emotional pain in efforts to accomplish the task of looking like the people on last months cover of Vogue or GQ.
This story is a reminder to realize the point of it all is the journey and not the destination. Just think of how many people lose weight and reach their goals only to find no more happiness, contentment or peace with themselves or food than before. If we wait to reach the end goal before we can feel good about ourselves, our bodies, our diets, we will find that "Ithaca" has deceived us. Instead the invitation is to enjoy and embrace the journey, so much so as to "pray that the road is long." There is so much to discover along the way about ourselves; so much food and people and life to enjoy.
This month remember in your desire to reach your personal ideal weight how precious is the journey to get there.
- Treat yourself to a "sensual perfume" of some kind. I.e. fill your home with the aromas of a home cooked meal. Hint: Anything with sautéed onions will do it! Purchase a new fragrant body product to use daily; Take a bubble bath tonight; Go to the bakery and get a sweet treat, etc.
- "Enter ports for the first time". I.e. Try on something new; eat a food you've never tried before, try out a restaurant or recipe you've been meaning try, purchase a new article of clothing in a color you never wear, but calls to you; don't wait; ask HIM out!; plan a trip to a previously unexplored destination..
- "Learn from scholars". I.e. attend a lecture or seminar being given by a speaker from whom you want to learn; get a new book from the library or bookstore to read or listen to on CD. My most recent recommendations, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters by Courtney Martin, When Food is Love by Geneen Roth, The Yoga of Eating by Charles Eisenstein, etc.
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