They say the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, and the second best time is today. So make it TODAY! Don’t wait until tomorrow, whether it’s getting healthy, losing weight, being organized, finishing a project, exercising, cooking, learning a new skill/dance/language, etc. Let’s aim for TODAY since we missed 20 years ago.
Tu Bishvat, Jewish Arbor (or Earth) Day, is a day where you plant a tree. When I lived in Niger, West Africa, their independence day is also plant-a-tree day. There, it was during rainy season so that the tree would take root and survive since there’s no irrigation system (nature used to grow everything). But in Israel, there is irrigation so why is Arbor Day during the cold of winter? Because of the journey…
We don’t plant a tree expecting it to bear fruit and provide the end result. The true reward is the journey. We live in an instant gratification society. It’s the journey that is truly amazing. Think back to all things you accomplished that was truly meaningful. It was always the journey that made it so powerful.
Same with weight loss and health. Don’t forget the journey. Like the tree learning to take root, burgeoning new leaves, blossoming, you are also learning, growing, and flourishing. For many of my clients, this is about the process. Changing our palates so that we don’t have to deny ourselves anymore; we simply don’t enjoy the junk we liked in the past or it makes us sick. We learn to cook things that are so delicious that our whole family enjoys it too.” We find exercises that we can’t wait to do instead of forcing it. We crave the “healthy stuff” after we ate party foods that made us ill. We find the journey so rewarding that we forget about the destination. “But this is so easy,” claims so many of my clients. “I don’t even think about it or count calories, and this is the longest I’ve ever stuck to a program.”
Now, that’s the journey I’m talking about. Don’t plant your tree tomorrow and don’t plant it expecting fruits immediately. I challenge you to discover the journey. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with a tree that will bear fruit forever.
Changing old habits isn’t easy. If there are changes you’d like to make in your stress level, eating habits, exercise, and overall health and happiness, start with a free health consultation at www.HappyFoodHealth.com or (619) 876-2655. See if this is the right match for you. I do things very differently to make health a natural lifestyle and this is not for everyone. Check out Yelp for other people’s opinion of Happy Food.
~Samantha Hua, Nutrition & Holistic Health Coach, San Diego, CA
