A very interesting day, this Yom Kippur. Gave me a lot to think about this year.
First off, fasting. Not eating food connected me to those who don't have food to eat. We are SO LUCKY to be able to eat beautiful, bountiful food. So many others are not so lucky.
Second, feeling the effects of not eating or drinking for 24 hours (feeling tired, light-headed, cranky) reminded me of how I used to feel a LOT of the time, just because I wasn't feeding myself well. I can see the difference BIG TIME in my interactions with the kids. Before the PCP, I was often cranky with them, had no energy and therefore little creativity in spending unstructured time with them. Now, thanks to all the changes in diet and exercise, I have so much more energy and not so many huge shifts in mood. We're all enjoying our unstructured time together - impromptu bike rides, walking the dog, playing made-up games - and I'm actively building more down-time into our days. Interesting how the fast brought up that awareness of how I used to feel, day in and day out.
Third, even though I wasn't eating well during the day, I did the next best thing in order to take care of myself: a big fat NAP. It was both luxurious and necessary.
Fourth, fasting is not easy. It's meant to be difficult. In the context of Yom Kippur, it's meant to be a reminder of our own mortality. I really did feel that today. Awareness of how our lives are so short and yet, we all carry so much pain around inside of us, some of it self-inflicted, some of it the result of mistakes we've made. It's a very powerful thing to be able to stand up as a community and get in touch with all of these things. Life is short, and yet, pain. What is our responsibility in all of this? How can we repair what has broken? Where do we choose to live from, now?
Felt good to sit with the questions.
Interesting. In many senses, people on a Western diet are on a permanent fast, a fast from nutrients and food that gives something back.
ReplyDeleteI fasted a bit when in Morocco for Ramadan. Ugh. So. Hard. I hated it.
ReplyDeleteGood that you are able to get some insight into your life and your pain from it. I wish I'd been mature enough to see it from this point of view.
Gmar Hatima Tova
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great to have more energy??!?!
ReplyDeleteGlad you are seeing a difference with your children. Can't ask for more than that!!!
I always thought it was interesting to wish people an "easy fast" -- I understand that you want to wish them to not have a hard time, but isn't that kind of the point? I'm so glad that you had a meaningful experience.
ReplyDelete