Going Beyond Food

Raw food, nutrition, natural healing, cleansing, and holistic lifestyle practices were subjects that immediately awakened a deep passion within me when I first learned of them 5-6 years ago.  My intrigue and thirst for knowledge on these topics went beyond just how raw food made me feel and look.  I wanted to know everything.  I researched for hours and hours on end, foregoing most other activities in order to read about enzymes, superfoods, living water.  For several years, my passion for these subjects has surpassed most other interests in my life, resulting in my devoting many hours every week in learning, sharing, and even more in actual practice of the diet and lifestyle practices.

As my creativity is being reawakened, or 'recovered', as Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way, would say, I have begun to consider more deeply the role of raw food in my life as it relates to my other passions, some of which are creating art, writing, athletics, and music.  Since immersing myself in my passion for health and spirituality, these other interests, which I had been heavily involved with prior to my interest in nutrition, have been on the periphery in my consciousness and minimally exercised in action.

After several years of distance from my creativity and these passions, the are ready to re-enter my life in a fresh, new, and more mature way.  This has me thinking about something I see with lots of people and have certainly experienced myself: how easy it is for us to get so caught up in the whole raw food thing that we forget it's ok to have other interests, other passions, that are completely unrelated to food and health.  Not having food be central to our lives or career doesn't mean we can't be incredibly disciplined and mindful of our diet and lifestyle practices.  Of course, it is the perfect, meant-to-be career/life path for many to be raw food chefs, coaches, or to start a raw company.  But often, I see people develop an interest in raw food and even be totally passionate about it, and forget their other callings.  Even if we do feel inspired to have our main focus be related to health or raw food, we must remember how important it is to honor our other passions as well.  This is what I'm personally encountering.  I acknowledge my deep passion for knowledge about health and nutrition, but I am also remembering I must honor my other interests and take them seriously.

Raw food creates a healthy, energized body, a clearer, more focused mind, and, in my opinion, a more open channel for creativity.  This energy, focus, and enthusiasm can be fuel and support for our other passions, allowing us to create better and more profound work and to enjoy it more.  Raw food can be a support, but it's not the end-all.  Maybe it's time to take our focus beyond food and ask ourselves, "What do I really love, aside from nutrition, health and raw food?"  "What have I always dreamed of doing?"  Raw food can support the artist in creating better art, the athlete to perform better, the writer to create better stories, and can support interests that do not traditionally fall under the category of 'creative'.  Really, could anything one could learn, create, or experience not be made better by having extraordinary health?

If humans pull off the incredible things they do, fueled on a toxic diet, alcohol, and prescription meds, what could you do?

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