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Nourishing Life: what is a nourishing life?
Food nourishes. I believe food has a greater impact on our body, our mind, our spirit and our earth than any of us can imagine. I believe that food promotes good health or promotes disease – and that these foods are different for everyone. We are all physiologically unique. And it is up to us to figure out what foods work best for us.
Food matters. No doubt about it. But there is so much more to life than food.
What does it really mean to live a nourishing life?
Let’s look at the definition of nourish, shall we?
nour·ish
[nur-ish, nuhr-]
–verb (used with object)
1.
to sustain with food or nutriment; supply with what is necessary for life, health, and growth.
2.
to cherish, foster, keep alive, etc.: He had long nourished the dream of living abroad.
3.
to strengthen, build up, or promote: to nourish discontent among the workers; to nourish the arts in one’s community.
If nourish means to sustain with food; supply what is necessary for life, health and growth; cherish, foster, keep alive; and to strengthen, build up or promote – then the nourishing life must involve more than food. The nourishing life is about cherishing, fostering and keeping our dreams alive. The nourishing life strengthens us.
Purchasing, preparing and enjoying nutritious food is a part of being nourished. A big part I’d say. It’s hard to be and feel nourished when we feel tired and sick after we eat. But there are other things besides food that provides us with nourishment. Things like laughing with loved ones, seeing flowers bloom in the springtime, or breathing fresh air during a walk in nature. These things, and many more, nourish us as well.
Listening to my body and my spirit has allowed me to learn what nourishes me. Moving my body nourishes me – even when I don’t want to. A regular yoga practice nourishes me. Honoring my body by treating it to non-toxic beauty products nourishes me.
There are also experiences beyond our physical body that nourish us as well. Reading. Learning something new. Engaging in a hobby we enjoy. Journaling. Sharing a laugh with a true friend.
Laughing, loving and living well – all essential to living a nourishing life. Because its not just what we eat, how we eat matters too.
As we embark on this journey of discovering and sharing our thoughts about living a nourishing life, I want start by asking you a few questions and hearing what sort of topics you want to talk about. What’s on your mind?
So let’s get started!
Leave me a comment below on your thoughts about the following questions:
- What nourishes you?
- What aspects of the nourishing life are you looking forward to reading about in this column?
- What parts of a nourishing life do you want to learn more about?
Namaste,
Jen
Tags: food, nourish, Nourishing Life written by Jennifer Saunders, spirit, thyroid exercise, thyroid nutrition column, thyroid yoga, yoga
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9 Responses to “Nourishing Life: what is a nourishing life?”
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Jen – WELCOME ABOARD. We are so excited to have you. Speaking for myself, I can’t wait to learn about yoga, and nutrition tips, among other things. Your column is going to be yogarific 🙂
Katie
Thank you for the warm welcome Katie!
Jen,
I love this approach. I tend to think of food as fuel and medicine. It keeps me running and can help so many things if you eat correctly. Maybe changing my thinking to “nourish” would bring me more peace. My biggest problem with having thyroid disease, specifically having Grave Disease is what to eat and what not to eat. Being a compulsive list maker, I always want a list of foods I can eat and ones I can’t. This doesn’t seem to work right now, since one thing I read says eat something, and the next says to stay away from it.
I understand you aren’t here to specifically talk about one type of thyroid disease, but any insight will be greatly appreciated.
Yoga is wonderful also. I can’t wait to see if you have any thyroid specific yoga thingies we can try.
Basically any new input would be wonderful. I seem to have read everything I can get my hands on now.
Amanda
Hi Amanda!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I will definitely use your feedback in the column.
Jen
Welcome and a walk nourish’s me when its above 30 degrees. Mary
Mary, its cold where I am too! I save the walking for the other three seasons!
Sadly, what I eat isn’t what nourishes me. I crave for carbohydrates, bread, pasta and similar. Don’t like fruit and vegetables and have to force myself to eat them. Anything you might have to share about this I’d appreciate. Thank you and welcome! 🙂
I feel your pain on the carb craving – I was a carb junkie! I hated vegetables. It takes time and patience to change the way we eat. I plan on sharing my experiences in this column.
Very much enjoyed this first column and look forward to reading the ones that follow.