Dinner leftovers for breakfast

The leader of an entrepreneurial and self-development program I did recent gave me an answer I was not expecting.

As part of this program we looked at the big ways we can help improve our personal vitality and effectiveness. This included working through modules on sleep, meditation, movement, and positive psychology.

I was going for walk with him one day and asked him if eating and food was one of the upcoming personal vitality modules. He simple said 'No', that it was too hard and too controversial.

This was not the answer I was expecting because from where I am looking the things I put into our body are right up there with sleep, meditation and movement in improving how I feel and function in everyday life, not to mention their impact on my long term health. Changing the way I eat and drink has been a major factor in thriving through difficult periods.

I contrast this with somebody I heard talking on RRR radio last weekend. When asked what she recommended eating for breakfast, she reflected that eating cereal and toast were a relatively recent and culturally specific practise, and probably not that great for us. In times not too long ago, vegetables and meat for breakfast were much more common, and therefore she recommended the best breakfast was eating leftovers from the night before's dinner.

So I gave it a go during the week: chicken sausages, broccoli and carrots for breakfast. 

While it was a head spin for me and my kids who watched me do this with gaped mouths, my body felt great during the day (and I didn't feel like eating again until well after noon).

I was also a great challenge to how I think about the first meal of the day and set myself up to be the best I can, and also to what I have mindlessly taught my kids about this meal. 

Leftovers anyone?

The generosity of taking care of yourself first

I was talking to a friend recently who was struggling with finding time for himself in the midst of a hectic job and young family. It was an interesting time for him to be pondering this as he was coming to the end of a six week stint when his family was overseas, and he was able to rediscover what it was that helped him to feel energised and vital.

As we were talking we started to wonder about the extremes of the scenario where you were not looking after yourself for the supposed good of those whom you love. Would we be willing to neglect ourselves so much, and give so much of ourselves to others, that we would die for those we are closest to? No, definitely not a sensible approach. 

What about a level of neglect and giving where we made ourselves sick for our most loved ones? Probably not, but that definitely seems to happen.

What about a level of neglect and giving where we were sluggish most of the time, sometimes grumpy, and deprived of feeling our best, all for the good of those we spend most of our time with? Well, yes actually. That is exactly what we are willing and actively do most of the time.

We then speculated about turning this around and instead thinking, what do I need to give myself in order to ensure that I am present and energised with those closest to me as often as possible? Do I need to get away by myself once a year for two weeks of hanging out with my friends? Do I need an hour each day to sit and think, to exercise, to write, without any distractions? Do I need one night per week where I don't have any responsibilities at home, to go to a meet-up, a film, out for dinner, or play with my friends?

I think this is something we can all give ourselves. In many ways it seems selfish, but I think that in taking care of ourselves as best we can, we actually have more to give those we love the most. And this includes offering the same opportunities to our significant other to take care of themselves.