Last week I told you about my personal challenge to pause at the beginning of one meal each day in a moment of meditation or gratitude before eating. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I haven’t been very successful so far in achieving that goal.

I thought it would be easy, but I’m having difficulty remembering to do it! I’m not using my usual techniques to remind myself of things: putting a note in my calendar or writing myself a reminder on a sticky note and putting it in my purse. Am I simply unaccustomed to giving thanks for food? Is it hard for me to feel grateful for it? Is it connected to my being overweight for most of my childhood years?

I never thought of food as something our bodies need to physically survive. I used to use food for a different means of survival—to soothe my emotions internally when I wasn’t getting what I needed externally.

Emotions are the glue that connects us to life. They give us the ability to understand ourselves and how we relate to others. Emotional awareness means knowing what we’re feeling and why. At the beginning of this second week, I am starting to feel a shift in my awareness toward eating. When I look at food, it somehow looks a bit different.

One thing’s for sure: Had it not been for this challenge, I might not have had this awakening. I can at least say I’m grateful for that!

I’ll keep you posted as my experiment continues. How has it worked out for some of you?

Rose Caiola
Inspired. Rewired.