I have a new tradition. I go grocery shopping on
Sundays and bag up the fruits and vegetables for my lunch.
This
started simply about a month ago. Upon my return from the store, I was rushing
around kitchen, a pressing anxiety to sort and store overtaking me. At the apex
of the full dash a thought struck me: Slow Down. Breathe. Enjoy each moment.
After
stowing the perishables, I pulled out the strainer and paused. I inhaled and held
the oxygen for ten seconds before letting it gently leave again. The next
hurried impulse was to put on music, to grab my MP3 and speakers or my phone—
but I quelled the notion. The five steps and additional electronics wasn’t
necessary.
All I
needed was the food, my hands, and some quiet.
And
that is what I do now. I pull the grapes off their stems, one-by-one. I rinse
the carrots carefully, immersing myself in the feel of the water. Then I bag
everything up in preparation for the week ahead.
The
repetition feels simple, natural. The quiet calms me.
I find
peace in the process.
-
SNG
