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Reflections June 2012

Eat Right Now

Community: The Casserole of Life

By Wendell Fowler

Call me an idealistic, people-pleasing Pollyanna, but I love my fellow earthlings and cherish spending social time with family and community, kibitzing, eating, cooking, learning about life, hugging, sharing, bragging, holding court, re-telling bad jokes, networking, and being genuinely involved in the needs, concerns and contributions to our mutual village.

After overcoming terminal heart disease, I gradually eased back into society and soon discovered my real friends. I was pleasantly pleased by those left standing: my loyal, loving family, members of my village, loyal business peers and some colleagues. Most chef peers dumped me like Donald Trump when they learned I gave up meat, cigarettes, boozing, and lost 100 belt-busting pounds, since stereotypically it's documented no one trusts a skinny, sober chef.

Call me an idealistic, people-pleasing Pollyanna, but I love my fellow earthlings and cherish spending social time with family and community, kibitzing, eating, cooking, learning about life, hugging, sharing, bragging, holding court, re-telling bad jokes, networking, and being genuinely involved in the needs, concerns and contributions to our mutual village.

We can all agree socializing in a pleasant environment of like minds makes humans happier and healthier. The madcap, imperfect human animal is transformed by mingling and associating with other humans. The socializing role of community is also important to the health, peace, and sanity of our teetering civilization.

The phrase "sense of community" seems to be on everyone's lips these days. Do you recognize the valuable services within your community and treasure their contributions that support your family's physical well-being, mental health, piety, the quality of their lifestyle, and ultimately, peace of mind?

My own social and business community is one, large, extended family, and that's something quite extraordinary. Where would we be without our home-grown proprietors: the eco-friendly family farm produce stands, early-rising dairy farmers, brilliant artisans, nocturnal delivery trucks brimming with fresh produce, our dentists who nag at us to floss, the smiling family-owned jeweler, the local coffee house barista, the jovial spirits merchants who sell the red wine that keeps your cholesterol ratio in check and your tongue loose, the trusted family physician, and gym rats at your neighborhood health club where we sweat and shmooze with compassionate friends? They all affect our mental, spiritual, and physical health.

Laughter is outstanding food for the soul. Hearty laughter gives our lungs and hearts a workout, strengthens our immune systems, and may help lower blood pressure. In this crazy, stressful, yet gorgeous green world, it's vitally relevant to nurture our sense of humor and personal integrity and back away from engaging in anything negative that waters down our sense of community. It's eternally healthy to laugh at yourself and not take your bad self so seriously. Sorry, it's not always about you.

Finally, who doesn't want to identify with the winning, excitement, entertainment, and pride offered by powerfully-built, role model thoroughbreds that play sports? The teamwork and pride of participating in special community sports programs or attending a grade school, high school, college, or professional game is powerful therapy: stress relief. Cheer, scream, shout, and let it all out! It's primal therapy -- letting steam off the kettle before it boils over or explodes. Just avoid the nasty hot dogs.

I'm proud of my rich community of friends. Each is a part of me. Together we succeed. Identify, acknowledge and treasure yours, maximize your awareness and patronize their contributions. They're the essence of your family and village, the main ingredients in the tasty, nutritious casserole of life. After all, who we are and what we believe in is the result of everything we've exposed ourselves to, good and bad.

Locally and globally, we are all the ingredients of a large, delicious community. All thriving, living beings existing in a well-seasoned, structured, supportive community simmered to perfection for the good of the whole. Our families' glowing health is a teeny-weeny part of that success, but that success is a vital part of our vibrantly healthy, supportive village.

 

Chef Wendell hosts Eat Right Now on WISH TV 8 CBS Indianapolis. He can be reached at 317-372-2592 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Visit his website at Chefwendell.com.

Meet Wendell