Good Morning and Happy Sunday!
Summer is right around the corner and it is so much fun to see the excitement in my kids’ eyes about all the fun they are going to have this summer. Big plans are a brewing!
Remember when you were a child and you got so wrapped up in playing, imagining or creating that you didn’t want to stop when it was time to eat? I grew up in the Big Wheel era (yes, I am dating myself) but my friends and I would literally spend all day tooling around the neighborhood in our make-believe town. I remember whining when my Mom would call us in for lunch because we were WAY to busy to eat.
Do you remember leaving your meal half-finished to run off and continue playing? Children innately understand that food is secondary to what is most nutritious and primary in life: fun and play.
As adults we seem to have lost our instinct to prioritize play. In our busy world, with its emphasis on work and responsibility, to be healthy and balanced we must work on more than just our bodies; we must feed our hearts, minds and spirits.
Have you noticed that when your body, mind and spirit are engaged in a creative project or happy relationship, your reliance on food seems to decrease? Likewise, when you are unsatisfied with your relationships, your job or other areas of your life, you may depend on food to cheer, soothe or numb you. When your life is out of balance, no amount of food can feed you where you truly need nourishment. The food that we eat is very important for health and balance, but what really feeds us—a full and fulfilling life—doesn’t come on a plate.
As a Holistic Health Coach, I teach my clients the difference between Primary and Secondary Foods.
Primary foods feed us, but they don’t come on a plate. Elements such as a meaningful spiritual practice, an inspiring career, regular and enjoyable physical activity (the Refinery is a great place to find that) and honest and open relationships that feed your soul and your hunger for living all constitute primary food.
Secondary foods are literally the foods we eat and give us the nourishment that our bodies need to function but we need to find that delicate balance between the two to truly THRIVE.
Take a moment to think about what is fun for you? What makes you light up? What excites you?
Make time for it this week. Even if you don’t have much free time for fun, try approaching a “serious” activity with an attitude of play.
This can:
- Greatly reduce stress and anxiety
- Bring more pleasure to your day
- Take your focus off food
Try adding more fun into your life and watch the magic unfold.
In Health and Happiness,
