A Slow Feast or a Drive-Thru Window?

Recently, I harvested the first lettuce and basil from our vegetable and herb garden. I always was interested in gardening and considered myself a fairly healthy eater, but I admit I had some habits that weren’t serving me well. We all have our weaknesses right? Well, mine consisted of too much coffee and potato chips to name a few. In my final semester of grad school, I found myself extremely fatigued with joint pain and hair loss.

At first, I attributed these symptoms to working two jobs and attending grad school full-time. It made sense that my crazy schedule and late nights studying had taken a toll on my forty-something body and I just needed a few weeks to recover. Well, I was wrong! A few months and a few doctor visits and lab results later, I discovered that I had a poor functioning thyroid and my hormone levels were out of whack. I embarked on my own wellness journey and spent months researching and studying how to manage my thyroid, how my thyroid affects my intestinal health and visa versa, and how to balance my hormones naturally.

I am not advocating that anyone abandon traditional medicine, but I have found that changing what I put in my body has greatly affected my health in a positive way. Through trial and error, I have found what works well for me- this includes tons of vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds, whole grains, fermented foods, and minimal chicken and fish. I am not trying to convince anyone to follow my recipe to wellness, as each person has their own unique needs and what works for one doesn’t work for all. I am writing more to share how this journey made me realize that what we put in our bodies is as good for us mentally, and in our relationships, as it is for us physically.

For me, eating has become much more intentional and even spiritual. Being a busy mom of three, dinners often felt rushed. To be honest life felt rushed. Besides saying grace and a few moments of gratitude, little thought was given about our food and where it comes from. As I began to explore the amazing health benefits of eating from the earth and abandoning processed foods, I became more mindful about how life feeds life. I realized that as we take a seat at the dining table, we are taking a seat at the table with our environment too. Our conscious choices of what we put in our bodies and our lives have a much greater impact than we often realize.

This mindful shift regarding what I eat can be applied to all areas of life and is just as true with our relationships as well. What are we feeding our relationships? Are we giving our relationships the healthy ingredients they need to thrive or are we too busy to notice or even worse are we starving our relationships? Are we taking time to enjoy those we love most or are we finding ourselves only half present? Do your relationships mimic a slow feast with quiet music and meaningful conversations, or do they seem more like a speedy trip at the drive-thru window? Of course we are all guilty of getting caught up in life at times, but it is often helpful to examine where you are in all areas of your wellness journey- physically, emotionally, spiritually. Sometimes it is helpful to take inventory of what is working well and what isn’t in all areas of life. What are some changes that might be helpful? What bad habits need to be abandoned for you to live your best life? If these questions resonate with you and you would like to explore them together, please give us a call. We are here to help.

Sanctuary Christian Counseling

9974 Molly Pitcher Highway, Suite 4

Shippensburg, PA 17257

717.200.3158

ellen@sanctuarychristiancounseling.com

susan@sanctuarychristiancounseling.com

andrea@sanctuarychristiancounseling.com