Slow down and enjoy the mango

We got mangoes the other day. Super juicy. About five for a dollar each. I got a whole one for myself! It was so good that I scoffed it down. Still not satisfied, I had one third more. You won't be surprised that about fifteen minutes later I was feeling uncomfortably full.

This is a bad habit of mine. I love food and eating so much that I'll scoff it down. Then I'll want more food and I'll eat more, but if I'd savoured it the first time, the first serving would have been enough.

What do you mean, I should stop?

I know an author who swears by snacking. She has about six small meals a day. Snacking has been known to boost the metabolism. Doing this would satisfy my eating compulsion without devouring half the fridge. More than that, though, I need to practice savouring each spoonful. Do you ever find that you eat without really paying attention to it? You'll be thinking of what you'll be doing later, or something that happened earlier. Maybe some people won't care about this, won't be fussed as long as they get their fuel. But I think it's a waste when food is so delicious!

There's a phrase, Wherever you go, there you are. It means that you should stay in the present moment as much as possible. In Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, Richard Carlson give the example of someone who goes to work and spends most of the time thinking about home, and when they go home, spend most of the time thinking about work.

Just today, I was desperate to get out of the house, so I went for a bike ride. I had to remind myself quite a few times to enjoy where I was, instead of worrying about the room I probably should have been tidying at that moment, and how much trouble I'd get into when it wasn't done. To stay in the present, I made myself notice the different senses:

• I could smell the flowers, which were like vanilla. Also the fresh air. 
• I could see the ferns and bird of paradise plants beside the path.
• I could feel said plants brushing against my cheek as I rode along. Could also feel the bumps as I went over each break in the pavement.
• Taste wasn't much. Maybe the fresh air. And slight sweetness from the strawberry shake I'd drunk before I left.
• As I rode into the park, I could hear the kids yelling to each other. "Get the chips," One girl said to her friend as she spun the arrow on the board. The mothers talked over some decision, one encouraging the other about the best course of action.

Okay, so that's probably a bit too much info for you. The point is, sometimes we're only half there, with our mind being somewhere else. To get out of this bad habit, try to notice what is around you using the five senses.

If you want more of a challenge, I read somewhere that your listening skills can easily be improved by listening closely to what's around you. Not just the first sound you hear. Try to notice the subtle things, like an insect buzzing or the wind through the leaves. See how much you can pick up. It's fun. 

Listening is twice as important as speaking. That's why we have two ears and one mouth.