Zen Journey

We would like to invite our friends and family on a Zen journey. As a family we are practicing mindfulness and the art of being present. As a result we are experiencing peace, harmony and joy. We hope you will join us!

"Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others".
- Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Zen Master


Each week I will post a suggestion for your journey. Incorporate it into your life and share your experiences with us.

This weeks suggestion is: Eating Mindfully

For the past three weeks we have been eating in mindfulness. Each evening we sit down at the table as a family. We take a moment to clear our minds with a few deep breaths (inhale-I calm myself, exhale-I smile). These few breaths help us become present, in the moment. After our breathing ritual, we look around the table and smile at one another. This only takes a few seconds, but it enhances the quality of our meal together. If you cannot smile at one another, it is very hazardous for the family. After our smiling, we bless the food. We thank God that we have such an abundance on our table. We are then aware and are ready to eat. We eat in mindfulness, appreciating the food and where it came from. If the kids don't like something, we help them understand the good things it provides for our bodies (ie. "Why did you make this?" "Damon, that spinach and black bean burrito fills your body full of germ fighters and muscle builders"). We are aware of our conversation, allowing only positive discussions. It is very toxic for our bodies when we eat while we are speaking negatively about others or our jobs. We have had three weeks of relaxing, enjoyable dinners. Kenyon and Damon have been extremely receptive to our rituals. They love to take deep breaths, and love to smile at one another. Our conversations have improved (although we are still working on eliminating the fart/poop talk), and the boys have been willing to try new things. This is an easy step that brings joy every day. I challenge you all to join us on our "eating mindful" journey!