Mid-week Inspiration,                                              

This onward and upward slog to perfect health continues.  On the one hand we believe we are human and thus prone to deterioration.  On the other we are inundated and invaded with advertising that suggests that only perfection is good enough for any shining western success story.

The other day a friend sadly reminisced, the days of homely politicians were gone.  The expectations of our society are so high and so simultaneously shallow that we judge our potential leaders on the appearance of perfection.

I suspect the number one resolution for us post Christmas goal-setters is to refigure our figure.  Most post holidayers either start an intense ‘fitness’ program or they commence finding new ways to justify an expansion of girth. 

Someone told me recently that one of the reasons for obesity in our society parallels poverty.  It’s not so much that the weight gain of the poor comes from lack of esteem but rather it comes from unhealthy food options, processed grocery foods contain increasing amounts of sugars to stimulate over consumption and increase product sales.  I recently eliminated a soy drink from my diet because I found it had ‘become’ too sweet.

Fast foods, junk foods, road foods and processed foods feed the harried populations.  How many of us make real healthy choices around food; most of us lack time or money or both.

So how do we change?  The absolute first step, and I may be the worst, is to slow down; at least on the thinking level.  That in itself can be a challenge for anyone who believes that he or she is controlled by circumstances.  After all, production, we are told, is key to profits.  And without profits the worker (you and me) becomes redundant. 

Once we have arrived at the understanding that we must slow down, it becomes necessary to answer the burning question, ‘how?’.

Taking silent time for ourselves is best.  It is good to create a time in our lives that can be consistent for us.  I prefer the moments immediately after waking up and going to sleep; even as little as a couple minutes, but any routine of silence will work.  This time is a no thinking time; it is a time for being present.  During this time for me all my daily issues will begin to surface; I just let them go as quickly and effortlessly as I can.

This is not a time for solutions; it is a time for remembering, remembering who we are, remembering that there is some life back of our localized awareness.  It is a time to simply remember there is something that, when we allow it, enfolds us with a sense of peace.  This sense for most people feels uncomfortable or even unbearable at first.