The Devil's in the Details: Making it Work

[jmmoon]

Gracie, that sounds like a blast! And always good to keep the boyfriends close---you can keep an eye on whatever might be happening! (I have a 14 yr old DD). ;D

RE: "What do you do in the evenings that you can't take another 20 minutes on your dinner? Are you in such a rush to leave your families or your peaceful solitude and get to the TV or the computer? People find time for what's important..."

I allow time in the evening for TV only one night a week (usually Friday), and usually give that up to playing on the computer. I haven't watched a current 'primetime' commercial TV show in years. The other nights I read for school, write for school, design/plan for school, go to school, etc. I take breaks (for my eyes) every hour or so and clean the house, do laundry, help DD with homework, etc. Once in a while I pop on a message board because I'm already at the computer doing online research and can't resist. About once a month I take a Saturday night off and DD and I watch a movie.

I guess I feel like I'm already juggling as fast as I can, and am "finding time for what's important" to me. We all have to have our appropriate priorities.

[SusieQ]

Gracie, that's a wonderful story. And that's exactly what I mean about taking time and making an effort to make our meals deliver more pleasure - NOT more calories!

And moonie, I'm not saying it has to be an all-or-nothing phenomenon. Lord knows, when I was a working single mom with two young boys, I didn't serve every dinner in courses! What I *did* do, and recommend for folks to try, is to find ONE night during the week to make special. For us, it was Friday night. I did then and still do, my most elaborate meal of the week - the one with the special dessert - on Friday nights, for the Jewish Sabbath. It could be Sunday lunch. It could be Saturday lunch, or Sunday dinner.

By having even just ONE meal during the week satisfy so many needs, it makes it easier to bear (without overindulging in the wrong foods) the quicker pace of the rest of the week. So many people have let me know that they eat over their desks at work, or while watching TV, or rushing about. None of those lend themselves to mindful eating - which is all about finding your "satisfied" zone!

If we can practice mindfulness during ONE leisurely meal a week, it generalizes. And makes eating mindfully easier the rest of the time.

Susie