A Quiet Revolution
The English poet William Wordsworth wrote a sonnet in the early days of the Industrial Revolution that captured the discord of the time:
“The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;
Little we see in Nature that is ours . . . “
Wordsworth was on to something that troubles mankind to this day. Industrialization freed man from backbreaking labor but alienated the human family from Nature. The new question wasn’t whether to go forward, rather it was how to gain the “new” while keeping the best of the “old.”
This clash of old vs. new took a more ominous form when industrialization changed, (better said, adulterated) our food supply. Factory food made a good business but processing changed the nature of food and led to the chronic diseases that afflict us today.
The modest goal of Word of Wisdom Living is to save the world by rediscovering how to eat. The 52 Healthy Changes, delivered one per week, if faithfully followed, promise to restore mankind’s harmony with Nature. It’s a revolution for sure, but a quiet revolution fought not on any battlefield but in the kitchen.
Change Is Hard
To live better we must change how we eat and live, but change is hard. So there will always be money made with any product that promises the benefits of change without the actual work.
Due to an upset stomach we spent Sunday morning at home, a rarity for us. So I watched the major networks and got a surprise. The cable channels, Fox and CNN, were covering the issues of the day, mainly the 2012 presidential election. The old networks, ABC, CBS and NBC, during the time I was watching, had turned their station over to infomercials filled with easy promises of doubtful benefit. A few examples:
What happened to the major networks? They seem more a carnival sideshow. So, one more time, here’s our promise: If you want to transform your health, you must also transform your lifestyle, beginning with your diet. It’s hard (though doable with 52 steps) but it’s worth it. If you do it you’re likely to look better, live longer, and have fewer regrets when your time does come. That’s our promise, plain and simple.
Menu from Week 25
We’re away from home in beautiful Midway enjoying the longest daylight of the year. The warm sunny days and cool, pleasant nights delight, and influence our menu—we ate our monthly bacon ration in one week.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday (We had guests so a special dinner.)
Friday
Next week: The next Healthy Change comes in the time of shortest nights—sleep.