What Does it Mean To Be Healthy?
I grew up eating the chanterelles that my grandfather picked in the forests of southern Sweden and roaming through blueberry bushes at my family cottage on the outskirts of Quebec. Grabbing a handful, then dashing to the water's edge to swim amongst the tadpoles and the loons.
As we grow older, convenience takes the place of foraging and becomes our new foundation. A grocery store that has it all. But at what cost?
I was jogging to the river with my dog, Zen, on a particularly scorching day. On my way there, I saw a raspberry bush. Excitedly, I picked a few. Feeling the delight I felt as a kid. Before putting them to my mouth, I paused. “Wait, is this actually a raspberry?”
Silly. Isn’t it? While discernment is wise, it made me reflect. On how disconnected we’ve become to the earth's natural food source. If it doesn’t come from a controlled organization, is it safe?
We have access to so much, It’s something to be grateful for. But the chemicals in our food system are becoming increasingly difficult to avoid. It’s in the air, even. In our clothes. Harming our soils and our health.
I was talking with my sister about what true health means. There are so many definitions. So many different ways to look at it. What’s important to one person, may not be important to another and yet we all have the same end goal. To be free from suffering. To feel our best.
Health, to me, is largely influenced by the quality of what you surround yourself with. It has less to do with achieving a certain physical figure, and everything to do with nature. How can I be as close to the earth as possible? From the skin care in my bathroom cabinet, to the food in my fridge.
It’s living somewhere close to water so I can be immersed in natural elements. It’s raising my kids to think for themselves. It’s filling my cupboards with organic food. It’s making my own cleaning products…lemon and vinegar, as opposed to normalized disinfectants with a toxicity warning on the bottle. These are the quiet killers, the root of disease.
I’m lucky to be spending summer in a place that makes this easily accessible. With a Saturday farmers market providing local produce (no more expensive than the grocery store) and a chance to smile at the people who have grown my food. It’s just so beautiful to see…people in community like that. It’s rare you don’t meet someone new, who shares a similar worldview.
My Summer Saturday Ritual
I use this 11 minute morning meditation to connect to nature as I’m starting my day
Quick walk to the farmers market with my mom (who lives next door), sister, and my dog Zen. Sporting the organic JOM tote (obviously)
I like to include a stop at the bakery. Because sourdough bread makes the world go round.
Upon returning, lately I’ve found great peace in washing & preparing the veggies first thing. I play 639 Hertz which is the frequency of highest love and gratitude. It’s a 3 minute track. I’ll link it here
Ways To Feel Closer To The Earth
To read: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Deeply moving, it will help you feel connected.
To listen: Zach Bush
I love all his podcast episodes, but this one especially
To practice:
Start sourcing some of your food from local farms
Immerse yourself in nature. Allow it to become the way you greet the earth. Without distraction or technology.
Develop rituals of gratitude. A simple ‘thank you’ goes a long way. Bless the flowers. Tell the frogs you love them. Smile at the sky.
We’re all just doing the best we can. The more aware we are, the more connected we will become. It’s about coming together in harmony. Interconnectedness amongst all living things. Embodying it the same way that nature does.
xx, jewels