We have a few friends who have begun the process of really taking drastic measures to change the course of their health, the health of their families and the incidentally the health of the planet. It isn't always easy but it's worth it. One of our dear friends is Myriam. The following is a letter Matthew wrote in a time when Myriam reached for support as those around her couldn't grasp the importance of what she is attempting. We all thought you might benefit from the support too. You can do it!
Hello Myriam,
I've been wanting to write to you for awhile now both to offer support in your transition to a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle and to just to tell you what's been going on for us here in this little corner of the world. It's unreal how fast time goes. Entering our second year, it seems like it's going faster than ever, not necessarily in a bad way. We are loving everyday here and feel blessed to have this opportunity to be in a fascinating and rich culture like France. At the same time, we are both very excited to come home again. To rediscover the unique people, places and choices that life offers us back home. Oddly enough, my appreciation for my own country and culture continues to grow the more time I spend here in Europe.
For me, it's really been one long lesson in gratitude. European life is in certain ways much simpler and immediate than life back home. Having no car, we walk most of the places we need to go. The city is beautiful and pedestrian friendly and Ruth and I have both found that walking is a lifestyle choice we prefer, both now and for the future. The body feels better as does the soul. There's less stress and without even trying I've found it to be a sort of active meditation which allows me to air out the little frustrations that our busy modern lives encourage. Cause make no mistake, however romantic and enchanting French life can be, it is every bit as full of the little daily challenges and difficulties as life back home. I really believe we go too fast for our own good.
That's why we've made the decision to continue with a very modest yet vital lifestyle. We have quite happily spent the majority of our time in our little city. Many people would consider this odd or even tragic to have voyaged so little outside of our region. But to us, it has been a choice which has paid rich dividends, so to speak. We have an abundance of time, very little stress, kind and interesting friends and the liberty to do truly amazing things. Next week, we go to Paris for three days to watch tennis, visit a museum and check out whatever else interests us. We feel at home here in many visceral ways. So why come home many people ask?
Because we honestly feel that our home country is just as rich and fascinating as European life. I have a hard time understanding why so many Americans have accepted the mediocrity that has come to characterize their country. To us, America is a place of loving family and friends, incredible opportunity both personal and professional. It's has some of the best thinkers and doers in the world today. You just gotta dig a little to find them. We feel blessed to come home to this country, to be welcomed by you and Kerry, to see our family grow and to have the opportunity to continue to do the things which we are passionate about. We are truly blessed to have this choice.
In regards to food, I think you're making some amazing progress towards the goals you've set for your life. I encourage you not to think in black and white terms. Let pleasure be your guide and invite discipline into the mix only to the extent that it is able to peacefully coexist with that pleasure. Remember that every bite of high-nutrient food is both a blessing and a victory for your cells regardless of whatever nutritional goals you might have. And what we call discipline is often just the ability to create space apart from an admittedly crazy society and its eating habits. So start small.
When you are alone or with others that share your nutritional goals, try to create an environment with all your favorite nutrient-dense food choices and only those foods. Give yourself the gift of discovering the pleasure these foods can provide when they don't have to compete with salty, sugary foods. If you can create a home environment that offers only pleasurable, high-nutrient food choices, you will restore a more deliberate aspect to your food choices. Each time you desire something outside this diet, you leave the house and go and get it. Walk if you can because it will allow you plenty of time to meditate upon that choice without judgment.
If you can create this opportunity for yourself, you'll have a great foundation to build upon as you go forth into the world. If someone brings food into your house which doesn't correspond with your nutritional goals, tell them if you have the courage. If not, throw it out or give it away as soon as possible. It's only after you've been able to create a disciplined and highly pleasurable home food environment that you'll be able to extend it to your work, social outings and other events as you desire.
In the beginning, don't expect to be successful in the most challenging food situations. For instance, worrying about food in a party or social outing with all the excitement and craziness that entails is neither fun nor healthy. We know foods can be addictive so treat that knowledge with respect. An alcoholic doesn't kick his addiction with his old drinking buddies, nor a sex addict in a strip club. If you choose to go to a party do your best to find pleasure in whatever high-nutrient choices are available but don't beat yourself up if you desire other foods. If you find no joy in your actions, you won't succeed.
There's nothing inherently wrong with eating any type of food. Your nutritional goals are there to invite more pleasure into your life. The more you break from your diet, the more you'll naturally have to ask yourself if you want to reach the nutritional goals you've set for yourself. If you do, then you'll either start accepting fewer invitations to parties (knowing it's natural to snack at them) or you'll start creating more pleasure in the situations you've already mastered (at home, with a few friends, etc.) so as to resist the temptation to overeat at parties.
This is the best advice I have in addition to continuing to educate yourself about personal nutrition and well-being. We have such blessings in the West and such untapped power to introduce peace and justice into the world simply by bringing more presence to our personal food choices. Each dollar spent and each forkful consumed is an opportunity to remake the world. An opportunity we can no longer afford to take for granted. I think you're exactly where you need to be. Welcome to a conversation that matters.
Bonne continuation et tiens-moi au courant.
Matthew
Until next time,Be well little cell.
