BS"D
Pardon me for being so naive and star-struck at the wonder of snow, but bear with me for the life-lesson. As a born Californian and later Floridian, it is extremely rare for me to experience snowfall. (Is that what it’s even called? I do know about rainfalls, it’s an almost everyday thing here, so I assume for snow it’s called snowfall.)
So, I traveled to Toronto and was blessed to witness the most awesome sight: the tiniest, softest, snowflakes falling in every direction. That was the beginning, and I know it did get steadier and stronger and faster, but those few first moments of delicate crystals everywhere was magical. Each flake was so small I couldn't even see it on my outstretched finger. I only felt the faintest touch. And then an hour later I got out of the car, and the city was enwrapped and covered in a clean, soft, white, blanket of the purest snow.
While the impact of a single snowflake is negligible, when hundreds of thousands did their best, falling gracefully or wildly, depending on the wind, all together they created a magnificent sight which even the Canadians begrudgingly admitted was beautiful (and then went on to tell me I could take it all back with me). One snowflake simply can’t do it. But many many can.
When we want to make an impact, we can do so without a huge crack of lightning, without a massive noise, explosion, or applause.
But we must be constant. Doing little tiny good things constantly changes the entire world.
As I tend to relate everything to nutrition these days, I will do so now:)
People say: give me something drastic to change in my diet so I can get rid of my major health scare. Or give me surgery, a drug, or a horrible-tasting tea to eliminate my crippling problem. Sure, these things can create significant change. However, if we want to go the gentle route, we certainly can. And just like in the doctrine of signatures, where the shape or color of herbs signifies what body part they are good for, the falling snow reminds me of something. It reminds me of sprinkling tasty spices or herbs on your food.
Do you think that’s insignificant? It’s not. When you buy a bunch of health-giving herbs and crush them and mix them into spice blends that you use every single day, you are slowly but surely, very gently and deliciously, adding life-giving nutrients to your daily fare.
And you are worth it! Many wives and mothers are selfless and serve others all day and that’s wonderful; may they be blessed and continue to do so! But they also need to nurture themselves.
Your meal should not be dry cereal with milk. It should be a meal where you put love into it, for others and also for yourself, adding spices to flavor it just so.
And in the big picture, all that sprinkling of the spices, just like the fluttering of the snowflakes, creates an environment of robust beauty and health.
So, add your turmeric, black pepper, cumin, rosemary, fennel seeds, thyme, dill, oregano, kelp, coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic, parsley, cilantro…. (Or order some of Peaches 'n Cream Herbals Spice it with Herbs! to add to your culinary pleasure). Have fun with them. Good health can come gently and slowly. Slow and steady does it.
L’chaim, to health!
Nechama
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