Falling ... Leaves and tears ...

The trees know when to let go.  Leaves, whose purpose has been lived out, now fall to the ground.  
The trees' expectations, hopes, dreams and feelings of comfort from the leaves are now lost forever.
Facing our disappointments, losses, no longer able to fake accomplishments and comfort that is no longer there--if it ever was--we, like the trees let their leaves fall, release our tears.

The leaves go on to make our earth, the fertilizing magnet for new growth and life; 
as do our tears pouring libation to all that we stand on, 
all that we hoped for and all that we wait for now in sweet anticipation.  

Giving up Caffeine -- Choosing Authenticity Instead

My raw food lifestyle is going very well.  This time around I am not doing Wekesa's popcorn.  Those of you who have had it know that's a feat.  I am not doing dried seaweed.  Not doing as much olive oil.  I have absolutely cut out all the white girls.  Not even doing cashews directly -- only in occasional salad dressings, pestos or pies.

Coming off of coffee this time around, I hung onto my jasmine tea.  Said to be green tea, I could rationalize the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant promises, etc.  And, I don't doubt the goodness there.

On yesterday, I drank some jasmine tea late in the day and given that I have been so raw, as close to 100% as I possibly can, my energy level is already out of the wazzoo.  I could feel the effects of the caffeine at 2 AM this morning as I could not sleep.  In my green smoothie yesterday, I added some maca.  My body is cleansing nicely, and I have all the energy I need.

In the past, I needed the lift.  Eating cooked foods, especially with the white girls: white sugar, flour, rice, dairy, etc., I needed that afternoon lift and the early evening one too, as I sometimes worked way too late.  I could trick my body into deciding that I wasn't working overtime.  I always said, "If I can't get energy naturally, I will steal it."  The stealing it was usually through caffeine, and my caffeine of choice was coffee. So, I could convince myself that I was superwoman and keep on pushing.

Well, everyday I am having more and more of an abundance of energy.  I just have to get used to it and count on it and trust it, and I also must rest when my body needs it.  This raw foods transition is similar to fasting in my experience in line with the old adage:  "Give to the fast, and the fast will give to you."  It is important that I support my body in this transition and trust that my body will support me for years to come.

One more opportunity to live authentically too.  If I am tired, I will rest.  When I feed abundant energy, I will exercise that abundant energy.  Wow, a new twist on the word exercise.  I will write about that later though.  For now, I raise my cup for a toast to authenticity, and I will keep you posted.

New Year's Day 2015

I am at it again -- determined to make the raw food lifestyle apart of my everyday living.  And, this time around I know more, am more acclimated, clearer about what it takes and I am super excited.

You are welcome to come along and support me as I go forward.

Today, I have had water and one banana, and I am good for now.

I will report a little later about what I will be eating on this New Year's Eve day.

Cucumber Beetles:  You gotta go.  They initially looked like lady bugs to me.  Now, it doesn't matter.  I am not in an investigative place anymore.  I have decided to kill them.  This has me feel like I am loaded for bear.  Actually, I started out my war deciding to pick the beetles off every morning and sometimes in the evening.  AND, I seemed to be winning.  I would pick about 2 to maybe three off each day.  Today, there were at least six, maybe eight.  Before, my reasoning was:  "Let's be reasonable; I am much bigger than this little beetle.  I don't need to go in armed to kill.  I will pick them off and place them out of the garden -- in fact into another separate spot in the garden."  Each day, I still found at least one -- usually two-- beetles, though.  I sprayed an organic spray that seemed to matter early on too.  Seeing the six of them, my attitude changed.  "I am losing this war terribly, and my cucumbers are suffering."  "Until I find a way to better co-exist with you -- that is get some beneficial insects in here that will may check you all, I am checking you myself."  "It is down to whether I have cucumbers or not."  "SQUUSH." 

Afiya's Garden: Cantaloupe Heaven

Afiya's Garden: Cantaloupe Heaven: At some point this season I experienced what I considered the "perfect" cantaloup.  It was deeeeeelicious.  Wekesa and I purchas...

Cantaloupe Heaven

At some point this season I experienced what I considered the "perfect" cantaloup.  It was deeeeeelicious.  Wekesa and I purchased it from an organic Black farmer from South GA who said he was born as a child onto hundreds of acres.  This probably had it taste even better.

I decided to follow my heart and just plant it.  Many voices resonated in my head.  First, the "you're not a Brown voice." Growing up, it was the Browns who grew great watermelons.  Almost like what I have had our Malian instructor Baba Maiga teach us about our Songhoy culture:  certain families were known and good at fishing, farming, music, etc.  In fact Maiga would never sing when he played a guitar in public, as he was not known for that, and in his culture he should bring attention, fame and funds to the family that was.

Anyway, I digress.  I decided that watermellons and other mellons took the greatest, richest soil and expertise that the Browns had, and that I did not.

"You don't get enough sun."  I don't.  I only get about 4.5 hours at most when a minimum of 6 is probably needed for mellons and any other fruit-setting and root vegetables.

Still, the voice of "you like this mellon; if you could produce another like this one, wouldn't you love it and won't your children love them for generations to come" won out.

OK, and look at it -- Just doing what seeds do when we life aligns -- living out its destiny.

I will keep you posted, and I am claiming that I will take a picture of a beautiful delicious cantaloupe sliced and ready to eat.