What is the Story of Your Food?

It's Memorial Day. I've visited Grandfather's grave. I've had some wine with my mother, and with my mother-in-law. She made a chocolate chip cheesecake to die for (she is the cheesecake queen). I've had, well, several pieces. It's one thing she and I have in common--that love of cheesecakes in all their variety. It's a point of connection between two apparent strangers. Cheesecake isn't just cheesecake--it has a story.

Food, at its most fundamental, is the stuff that builds our bodies. Too much food builds too much body. But when you have access to more than enough food (and everyone reading this has access to more than enough food), food goes beyond nourishment--it develops stories.

Some stories are joyful--Grandma's biscuits speak of love and warm winter mornings. Most food stories, however, are ambiguous--even sad. Chunky Monkey has become synonymous with a broken heart. Tequila tells the story of bad judgment and life-changing consequences. Ramen noodles with spaghetti sauce mean dinner in the dorm room instead of a date. Leftover chunks of pancakes sticky with syrup tell of children with dirty faces and uncombed hair rushing for the schoolbus (and a mother who's tired before the day has even begun). Every food has its story--and most stories seem to have their food.

Problem is, food doesn't replace lost girlfriends, friends who've abandoned you, children who ignore you, spouses who bore you or loved ones who have died. The stories aren't from or about food--the stories are in our own hearts and minds.

If you have a story to tell, tell it (that's what friends, family, ministers and therapists are for). If you need physical nourishment, eat.

How do you know the difference? If the cheesecake brings you pure pleasure, then savor each bite. If, however, you are telling yourself the story of how your waistline grows and your self-esteem shrinks even as you chew, put the fork down and go find a quiet place to take deep breaths.

What are your food stories? Please take a moment to hit "comments" below and sign in with your name or anonymously if you like. Because stories can only change, teach and heal if we share them.

Salt Water Cures Everything

I'm lifting this week's "Motivator" from Kim, a terrific Weight Watchers leader who leads the 9:15 Friday meetings at Silverlake Shopping Center. Kim paraphrased the author Isak Denisen, who wrote that almost every problem can be improved by adding salt water--in the form of sweat, tears, or time by the sea (you thought I was going to give dietary advice, didn't you?)

This week, when you run into obstacles, try to figure out which of the three forms of salt water will help you get around/over/through them. Do you need to just roll up your sleeves and work through it (sweat?) Are you bottling up your emotions and need to let go (tears?) Or do you need to back away from the situation and get some perspective (which always seems to happen when you look at the vastness of the ocean?)

The last thing you want to do with problems or pain is literally feed them. Running to the fridge when you are stressed is as bad for you as, well, drinking salt water!

P.S. To join the conversation, click on "Comments" below. You don't need to create a log-in. Just use your "name" or make one up.

P.P.S My church where I teach yoga is running one of the first Vacation Bible Schools of the summer for toddlers to adults. Just imagine--for two hours every evening during the week of 6/9-6/13, someone else will teach and entertain all of your kids for FREE while you enjoy a walk, a dinner together, or some time lying in a hammock (or enjoy some Bible study of your own in the adult classes). Call 485-7200 to register by phone or register online right now!

It's Win-Win Season

It's time for 5K walks and runs every weekend. It's time for PaddleFest on the Ohio. It's time for Relay for Life overnight walks and carnivals. From now through October, you can find some way to exercise and contribute to your community at the same time.

Thursday night, my belly dance students and some dancing friends performed for a live audience--in some cases, for the first time in their lives. The Delightful Dancers of Amal al-Zahra' (that's me in dance persona), the American tribal belly dance troupe Terpsichore and the live drummers from the Doom Daddies joined with several volunteers from our Relay for Life team to raise $1067 for the American Cancer Society. Not half-bad for a first-time event!

The key lesson for me has been about the power of taking risks. These women of all ages, shapes and sizes danced WAY out of their comfort zones. They've lost weight, gotten fitter and stronger as a result of letting go of the fear of making fools of themselves (at least for one night). They've done themselves a lot of good. Several people in the audience have asked about dance classes as a result--so the example of the Delightful Dancers pays forward. That thousand dollars they raised will do great good too.

When you take a risk and invest in yourself, you serve a higher good. Taking time to walk, to dance, to play isn't selfish--it's the whole point.

Are You Too Busy to Read This?

I'm guessing that half of the readers answered "yes," and didn't link over to the blog. The rest of you are the polite ones who care about my feelings and, therefore, are scanning impatiently, waiting for me to get to the point because it's Monday and you still have stuff on your desk from last week and you really don't have time to do anything but put out the constant stream of little fires that pop up in your life over and over again (and was that a mixed metaphor? Who knows? Who cares? You're behind and you'll never catch up, and Keri, why are you running on like this?????

Stop. Take a deep breath in through your nose. Let the air tickle your nasal pharynx and release some nitric oxide into your circulatory system. Let the NO signal to the brain to relax your arteries and open to more blood flow. Let more oxygen into your heart, your brain, your organs. Let your shoulders relax down your back. Let your blood pressure lower. Let your adrenal glands slow down and stop pumping out stress hormones like cortisol. Let your body stop laying on fat in the cells around your abdomen. Take another deep breath. Do it again.

Hit "print" and cut that paragraph out. Tape it to your mirror, your dashboard, your Blackberry, your mother-in-law's forehead. When you want to scream, cry, hyperventilate, just stop. This is your life. It's supposed to be fun.