Plants - Wet Paint Week 20

If it came from a plant, eat it;

If it was made in a Plant, don't. 

-Michael Pollan

The above quote is from the beautifully illustrated book, "Food Rules." It provides the reader with some common-sense ideas regarding food; what to eat, how much, etc.. 

It makes me think of Ahimsa, Non-violence/ Compassion/Kindness. 

Be kind to yourself and eat/drink well. 

Since it is Mother's Day, it was appropriate that this book came to mind. My mom did a really good job setting time aside so that we would eat most home-cooked dinners together, sitting down, all 10 of us, whenever possible. Amazing. We would always find some kind of green on our plates. She never made us eat it all, instead we would just have to "try" it. There were many times that I remember eating one pea. I'm grateful to you mom for setting me up to try stuff! 

Side-note: Another way to think of gratitude... My twin sisters and a partner are leaving San Francisco and taking a '87 Volvo across the country. They each get 1/3 of the car for their stuff. 

If you had to pack up a 1/3 of a car with your earthly goods, what would you take? 

More importantly, what can you live without? 

-t 

Ahimsa 

Non-Violence

1st of the Yamas

It is the backbone or the life-preserver of the Yamas. If you can't remember much, remember this one. It means non-violence. If you think of this in terms of thoughts, speech and action, then you've got some searching to do. Also, if you think of it in the range from thinking negative thoughts about someone (or yourself) to the other extreme, of killing someone.

More importantly, it is what you do. 

Do you remember the feeling of falling madly in love with someone? How all that they said or did (even their faults) were amazing, or at least quaint? How do we get there with ourselves in our yoga practice, both on and off the mat?
Can we take the risk to be open enough to love ourselves (even our faults) for who we are?
-t.

Thank you Rachel Hinsley for starting this conversation in my head!