Starting down a new path

Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid only of standing still.

Chinese Proverb

It has been a little over a month since I have posted.  A little over a month since my father left this great Earth. We are all doing okay. Our family has been embraced by the unbelievable people we have in our life. I have been humbled by the kindness and support that I have felt by old friends and new. Thank you for the love.

I now politely transition.

“If every U.S. citizen ate just one meal a week (any meal) composed of locally and organically raised meats and produce, we would reduce our country’s oil consumption by over 1.1 million barrels of oil every week.” (taken from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver)

I started this blog this summer in part to share recipes and new creations, but in large part, to document my journey towards a more sustainable way of life. It was uncovering facts like the one above that fueled my quest. If I am being honest, I never had a strong agenda of any kind.

But, now I do.

It was a random email, a cocktail party conversation and surprising remark from a close friend that triggered something in me. It has taken awhile to put my thoughts together. Get a grip on my emotions. Take a stance.

Let’s begin with the email. The headline read: Confession. Well, that definitely got my attention. The email proceeded to read: “At Costco, Kate begged for mandarin oranges in a can. And I bought them. I am so ashamed! And I won’t even tell you about the pancakes in the aerosol can…”

Two days later, at a cocktail party I am talking with a group of women. These women are well-educated, driven and conscientious. They are all mothers. These are women that are actively trying to make not just good decisions for their families, but great ones. The topic at hand was food. More specifically deciding how to make the right choices in eating local, seasonal, and organically. The words “overwhelmed,” “confused” and “skeptical” were thrown around quite a bit. So many questions: “How do you it?” “Where do I start?”

Where do I start? That one stuck with me.

Only a day later I am at another gathering. This time I am blindsided with an unexpected comment that came in the form of a question. It went something like this: “So, you remember that time you came over after hearing Micheal Pollan speak? Well, you were drinking out of a Starbucks cup…that’s not very sustainable, is it?”

Okay, much to reflect on here. First, that when you mention Michael Pollan’s name my heart naturally skips a beat and I instantly have a hard time focusing. Oh, but not to worry, the comment about the Starbucks cup might have as well have been verbal shot of espresso. I was awake.

I am sure my friend was just trying to get my goat. Chide me a bit. I have a good sense of humor. Why couldn’t I let this small comment go?

It was the culmination of all of these events that has driven me to stand here now, firm on my sustainable soapbox. Agenda in hand.

How are all of these stories related? They all reek with guilt, my friend. Guilt for many different reasons. Guilt from the mother who made the food purchase for the sanity of her shopping experience. Guilt from the women who feel paralyzed at thought of taking on what feels like a huge change even if it is to the benefit of their family and environment. Guilt from the friend who judged without asking.

Strangely, this guilt gives me comfort. I think it is because it makes me realize awareness is occurring. And with awareness comes transition. And just as there was no easy transition from my father’s death into this conversation, we must keep moving forward, however awkward and uncomfortable it feels.

But, we must be careful because guilt can stifle good intentions. How are we to start down a new path, if other’s or even ourselves are placing such strong expectations of immediate change? It takes times to learn, to sift through this marketing madness that the food industry has created. We all need time to navigate through the sexy packaging of convenient food, break old habits and determine what we are really consuming. This is a journey. It doesn’t happen over night. We must think big, but start small.

Just as you would never reprimand a baby as she struggles to take her first steps while learning to walk, expect a construction crew to erect a skyrise over night or rush an individual speaking for the first time in words other than their native language, we should house the same patience for ourselves and others.

“Where do I start?” my friend asked at the party. You start the same way you do most anything else, with education and then arming yourself with resources.

So, my agenda…

In addition to my monthly recipes, I am now going to include a weekly “word” of the week pertaining to eating more sustainably. I am also going to commit to highlighting a local company and/or farm each month that is making efforts to be sustainable in their approach to business. The recipes will still come and goodness knows I am behind in many posts, so get ready for some delicious comfort food over the next few weeks.

I must remind you that I am certainly no authority or expert, nor is my pantry always perfect, but I am confident when I tell you I am committed to this path I have chosen. And if you join me on this food journey, I promise each small change we make, over time, will make mammoth differences in our health, our economy and this great Earth we inhabit.

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