If you substitute sip for chew and milkshake for carrot, Mr. Drabble would no doubt agree with Thich Nhat Hanh:
And when you chew, chew only the carrot, not your projects or your ideas. You are capable of living in the present moment, in the here and the now. It is simple, but you need some training to just enjoy the piece of carrot. This is a miracle.
I, on the other hand, am not that interested in food. Becoming immersed in a challenging problem, absorbed in the experience rather than pushing for a result, is the best way for me to live in the present moment. That wouldn’t suit many people, I know, so what do you savor?
May 1, 2016
one of my favorite monks. thich nhat hanh.
I have many of his many small wise books. and I’m trying to learn to
be in the moment. whether savoring food or anything else.
who would think it difficult! but it so often is.
my job for over 20 years was a constant MULTI~tasking type job.
you never did just one thing at once. it was so tiring. and that habit has been one I’ve had to break.
I’ve never been good at multi-tasking and for the most part was lucky enough to avoid it. I’m so glad you don’t need to do it anymore.
I love the quote. One of my favorite books (of his) is “Peace is Every Step”, although this may not be in it. The ability to be conscious and live in the moment has varied throughout my life. It is always tied to the level of anxiety I’m experiencing.
I agree. It takes commitment and practice, and it’s a lot easier sometimes than others.
I am a monotasker. When I eat I eat and do not do anything else. There will however be some occasions when I read and also munch some snack like popcorn.
I’m a monotasker in a lot of things, but not this.
I am almost always reading or watching a movie when I am eating. Maybe if I was a better cook I would pay more attention to eating?
LOL!
me too.
A lot of things are more fun than eating. 🙂
Oh boy! this one is NOT for me.
I LOVE food.
Truly!
The taste. The flavors. The texture.
Yum!
I wake up and almost immediately think about what I will have for breakfast!
Yes, I love food!
But I am always do something else too.
Really, I always multi-task.
It drives me crazy when others don’t!
I’ve been known to get very impatient, almost MAD if someone just spends too much time doing one thing when they could have several things going!
I’m currently doing several things at the moment.
Typing out this comment, holding Ping, listening to the News while I have the laundry going and Poppy and Claude are taking their turn eating, so that means I’m feeding the little dogs too.
I mean, time goes too quickly and I have so much to do.
I could never do just one thing at a time.
LOL!
Apparently you’re one of the rare people who can multitask efficiently. Most people become less efficient, which must be frustrating for you!
once upon a time, I multitasked but I had to – now I don’t – but I don’t always “live in the moment” – I think to do that with eating, you would need to be in a non-visually stimulating room – windowless as well!
My eating place isn’t really what is deemed normal place – but it’s only one I have right now, so I’m looking out the back windows to my garden and the mess over the back!
The interesting thing is a lot of people want company and conversation when they eat. No meditating on the food there.