Food to Family

Wise Eyes

livepeace — Wed, 27 May 2015 15:24:23 GMT

Seeker, wanderer, floater, gypsy ... these are terms I’ve used to define my wanderlust. With wide-eyed wonder and a pack on my back, I entered into a relationship with the world outside my hometown, I tasted adventure and I wanted more. I made a commitment to trust the subtle winds that whispered where to go next. I learned how public transportation worked in languages I didn't speak. Counting stamps in my passport and buying new pages to fill, I never stayed put for very long.

It took one look from an old Quechua woman to realize that I was done searching, that I had already arrived. I imagine it was akin to an ayahuasca journey; discovering that time had no application. It was an eternal moment. There in the Amazon forest, boots stuck in the mud, I found my religion.

Her face had more ridges than the trees, skin roughened by time. Her deeply set eyes pierced my soul. Contentment resonated in my entire being. I was inspired. She emanated wisdom that taught me more than could ever be said with words.

I travelled to Ecuador as a volunteer to bring dental health to children in remote rural schools. Armed with toothbrushes and helpful intentions, I was feeling useful. In the moment her deep amber eyes held mine, I felt like a silly child. That moment changed the way I see the world. To this stranger, I am indebted.

Trekking uphill through the sludge was hard on my pride. I thought I was fit and had recently competed in a marathon. The terrain was foreign and discouraging. The old woman was half my size, barefoot, and agile. With graceful strength she carried goods and a child back to her distant village; gliding as if on top of the mud, and then she disappeared. I wonder to this day if she was real.

Had I tried to communicate, I'm sure the magic would have vanished. I wonder about her from time to time. I've seen her in paintings and in trees. She reminds me to come home to the present moment. No matter where I am, I am reminded of her fierce yet peaceful stillness. She reminds me that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Life is not about how far I've traveled, how wild my adventures are, but about feeling connected to my feet and the ground underneath them. I am reminded to trust the lessons and blessings of the earth. In time I travel, in the wisdom of the present know I have arrived.

Photos: India bound

livepeace — Sun, 4 May 2014 02:56:00 GMT

Going to India to study yoga

My Scholarship entry - Understanding a Culture through Food

livepeace — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:25:13 GMT

Food is our common ground; everyone everywhere eats. It's what and how its done that shapes a culture. The most mindful experiences in eating involve using the hands. “Time for iftar,” Jamilla says, waking me up for breakfast. Had I been at home I would have grabbed the milk and poured myself a bowl of cereal, sitting down in front of the computer to check my email. Sadly, my culture relegates food to the back burner when something more important comes up. Here in Gaza, 7000 miles from home, it's a different story. Countless time and energy is required in preparing meals and everyone is expected to be present as it is an important bonding experience.
As I sit on the floor around a low table with no silverware, I throw my notion of etiquette out the window. Everyone dives in, armed with a piece of warm homemade pita bread, to attack the plethora of food. I adhere to the custom and dig in with bare hands (a stark contrast to my recent trip to Northern Europe where even sandwiches require a knife and fork). With every bite, I feel a deeper connection to the AlZaneen family who have invited me to take part in their ritual.
Another juncture on my journey of mindful eating occurs in Ethiopia when I find myself stuck in a small village for the night. A family sitting around a fire calls me over to join them. I recognize a similar feeling of gratitude as I rip off some spongy injera bread and scoop from the same pile as my hosts for the evening. As I have the privilege to be apart of a coffee ceremony, I know there is no greater gift. I appreciate the hard earned food and for a moment in time, I am truly am eating with family.
I now understand the Ethiopian proverb “people who eat from the same plate will never betray one another”. Mindful eating involves an intimate connection to the food and the company. It is meant to nurture the body and soul. While no culture has a right or wrong approach, all should be experienced with open mind, mouth, and heart.