Thursday, August 13, 2009

What a peach!

I've been making an inconsistent effort over the last few years to improve my diet. I'm not much for fresh fruits and vegetables, and I have to push myself; my current goal is two pieces of fresh fruit a day.

Last night, rushing through the grocery for some really bad food, I passed a display of white peaches. I don't often eat peaches - but the white ones are so beautiful, I picked one up.

I just ate it to finish off my lunch, and it was so juicy I wasn't sure whether I was eating or drinking. It was truly luscious.

One of the things I try to do for myself is to recognize the extraordinary (particularly sensory) experiences that come my way, and to enjoy them. To inhale deeply when I walk past the heavily-scented flowers down the street, to open the window during a thunderstorm.

To drink a peach.

I would never say that life is always good; Buddha tells us that life is full of discomforts. That's why it's so important to recognize the best bits. Some days I can get a lift just from sparkling surfaces in the bathroom, or from driving down the highway with the windows down, singing along with the soundtrack from "Once."

We don't have to be consistently joyous; we don't even have to act happy. But when gifts appear, savor them. They lift the spirits, the heart, and the energy. For those of us not used to looking up, it takes practice. But that peach has made me happy for a good quarter of an hour.

1 comment:

  1. I absolutely love this post! "Drink a peach." What an awesome phrase, and what an appealing concept. Love it. You make a lot of sense in both your writing and when you speak, and I'm proud to be your friend.

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