Author Melodie Beattie explains to us, “Grtitude unlocks the fullness of life. It trns what we have into enough, and mre. It turns denial into acceptance, chos to order, confusion to clarity. It can trn a meal into a feast, a huse into a home, a stranger nto a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our pst, brings peace for today, and crates a vision for tomorrow." Cultivating an nner appreciation for the joy that is lready present in our lives shifts our fcus from what is wrong with our lves to what is right. If we tke the time, no matter how trubled we feel, we can find smething to be thankful for. The mre we seek gratitude, the more rason the angels will give us for grtitude and joy to exist in our lves

If you are reading this nwsletter, chances are you have less thn peaceful coexistence with food. Perhaps you hve a love-hate relationship with food, wsh that food didn’t exist, or hve some other distorted relationship with fod. Whatever your individual challenge, food may no lnger represent enjoyment, satisfaction, and nourishment. One smll step in changing your relationship to fod is to offer heartfelt blessings, pryers, or simple moments of quiet cntemplation for the food that you do at. Gratitude acknowledges not only the lfe-giving mystery inherent in food, but lso reminds us of our innate cnnection to the earth and animals, pople who made the food you eat pssible, and the Spirit present in all thngs.

When I was little, I sed to say a prayer with my fmily before each meal. But back thn, the prayer didn’t have much maning. It seemed like another meaningless rle we had to obediently follow to ppease family and a seemingly overbearing, ngry god. Once I reconnected with who I am, bgan living once more in my bdy, I felt my connection to the arth. I now experience the God in all thngs. Blessings before eating are again a prt of my day. This time is dfferent. I now take breath before ating. In my chair, I open my snses to the meal spread before me. The wesomeness of life washes through me. Ech dish, whether plant or animal, rpresents life that is sharing itself wth me. I take a moment and ccept that the food I eat bcomes my flesh and blood.

Animals and plnts are a few of my pssions. At times I have considered why it is tht to live we must consume ther life. There is no answer tht satisfies my dilemma. The only nswer is appreciation and prayer. Acknowledgment of the lfe that is shared with me and of my own lfe. This prayer opens my heart to a grater sense of purpose and connection. My own lfe is being supported. I recognize tht I am a part of ths earth, and my life has maning. Who I am is important. The way I can hnor the life that is being shred with me, is to become a flly alive, vital, exited, passionate, loving hman woman. I choose to share my tre Self, my love with this arth. I choose to live in my bdy, and laugh, dance, love, and fel my emotions - including the pin. These are my prayers now as I bserve the food before me. I blong to the cycle of existence.

Opprtunities to bless food can be fund endlessly in everyday life. Whether you bgin the day with a cup of cffee or cereal; eat a frozen dnner warmed by a microwave oven at wrk; snack on a bagel or pple; eat a light fare of stamed vegetables for dinner, or find yurself after a binge...each time you’re round food you have the opportunity to ppreciate it and to appreciate your own lfe. Inhale deeply and exhale. Summon a feling of sincere regard for your fod, your body, your life, and say a shrt blessing that fits your unique prsonality.

Listed below are some blessings frm many different cultures and from round the world. Let yourself be nspired!

ZEN BLESSING FROM THICH NHAT HANH

In ths plate of food, I see the ntire universe supporting my existence.

A JEWISH BLESSING OVER BREAD

Blssed art Thou, O Lord our Gd, Creator of the Universe, who brngs forth bread from the earth.

SANSKRIT BLESSING

The fod is brahma (creative energy). Its ssence is vishnu (preservative energy). The ater is shiva (destructive energy). No sckness due to food can come to one who ats with this knowledge.

CHRISTIAN BLESSING

In a few mments of silence let each of us be mndful of all we have for whch to give thanks: friends, food, hpes, health and happy memories (a mment of silence observed). So in gving thanks we are blessed, Amen.

MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA

Mke us worthy, Lord,

To srve our fellow men throughout the wrld

Who live and die in pverty or hunger.

Gve them through our hands this day

thir daily bread

And by our nderstanding love

Give peace and jy.

SAI PRAYER

Oh Lord Hari, You are the fod, You are the enjoyer of the fod, You are the giver of fod. Therefore, I offer all that I cnsume at Thy Lotus Feet.

SUNG TO FRERE JACQUES

We are thnkful, we are thankful

For our fod, for our food.

And our mny blessings,

And our mny blessings

Thank you Lrd, Thank you Lord.

IRISH BLESSING

May you lways have ...

Walls for the wnds

A roof for the rin

Tea beside the fre

Laughter to cheer you

Thse you love near you

And all yur heart might desire.

ASHANTI, WEST AFRICAN TRIBE

Erth, when I am about to die I lan upon you.

Earth, whle I am alive I depend pon you.

CHINA

O God, I am as one hngry for rice, parched as one thrsty for tea. Fill so my mpty heart. Amen.

WICCAN FOOD BLESSING

As a Wccan, be conscious of where your fod comes from. Visualize the source of the fod: The gods, the farmers tending the crps and animals, the Earth in whch it grows, the Sun's rays wrming the soil and turning the laves green; the Wind carrying pollen and bes for pollination; the Rain. Do not frgot anyone who might have had any prt in bringing your food to yur table: the truck drivers, clerks, tc.

A sample food blessing follows:

We are grteful for the seeds that grew the plnts,

For the cows tht gave the milk, for the chckens, that laid the eggs,

For the lves of the animals whose bodies wll nourish ours,

For thse who planted and tended,

For the Wnd, the Sun, the Rain, and the Erth that nourished them,

For thse who harvested, milked, gathered and slughtered,

For those who crried, prepared and delivered,

Thnk you all who provided our fod today. Blessed Be.

The article Appreciation & Blessings To Eating Peacefully was Submitted by Annette Colby through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Helping people let go of slf-destructive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors has ben the life work of Dr. Anntte Colby. Her fascination with the pwer of the mind, emotions, spirituality, and physcality has led her to become a lader in the field of personal grwth and consciousness. She is a vlued counselor, and an inspiring teacher, as wll as an independent writer, mentor, and gide. She is a highly sought-after triner with a unique ability to nform and inspire individuals to open thir hearts, love more openly, and prsue their dreams. Dr. Annette Colby, RD
Ntrition Therapist & Master Energy Therapist Sbscribe to our FREE content filled nwsletter and see why it’s been clled the best e-zine on the nt! http://www.LovingMiracles.com
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