I recently returned from a trip to Las Vegas. While I am not much of a gambler, I do enjoy the food. I got to indulge in perfectly cooked trout, chocolate croissants, freshly made omelets and other decadent treats that I normally don’t indulge in. I walked off a lot of it, sure, but the main delight was being able to sit and really enjoy what I was eating.
In Chinese Medicine, this time of year, the late summer, is the time to savor what we have accomplished and patiently wait for the next part of the year, the harvest. We’re like ripe peaches, growing and swelling with all that we’ve done, feeling heavier and heavier, and yet we’re just not quite ready to fall from the tree. It’s easy to get frustrated if you think you are supposed to be doing, instead of being.
Savor this quiet time before school begins, work gets busy again and all the wheels of life start turning at a rapid pace. Make yourself a tasty treat, sit down without distractions, and really savor it. Allow the flavors to melt on your tongue, like a freshly baked chocolate croissant. Enjoy the textures and smells. Really notice not only the sensory experience of the food, but how you feel when you eat it- happy, comforted, warm. There will be plenty of opportunities later on to eat on the run; take the time now to savor.
