By Rosemary Parkinson, Freelance Writer
"The illusion of ignorance, has produced the idea that you don't know any of this; that everything which has just been said is new to you, and that you can't comprehend it. This illusion allows you to continue living in the Realm of Relativity. Yet you do not have to continue living as you have been living, in pain and in suffering, hurting
yourselves and each other, waiting, waiting, waiting for better times yet to come -- or for your eternal reward in Heaven. You can have Heaven on Earth. You can live in your garden of paradise..."
- Communion with God, Neale Donald Walsh
I KNOW the spiritual meaning is more the purpose of my guru, Neale Donald Walsh's writings, but I thought it apt to use it in a different context to begin a different kind of 'review' today.
Recently I nearly hit the bucket -- was nearly relegated to pushing up daisies -- was nearly breathless and still forever. In other words, you nearly lost me. I nearly lost me. I am sure many a restaurateur whose dreadful fare has been touched (or left untouched) by my 'reviewing' eye and mouth may be smiling by now as they read on, wondering why am I constantly using the word 'nearly' and not 'have'. Don't be so mean, my goal has only been to help you but, as life would have it, I have not been helping myself. Ignorance is an illusion and I have been living it, hurting myself something awful probably would have landed hurting others even more (yep there are those who love me) as they spread my cholesterol ashes over the seas of life.
This earth has given me such bounty, but I have probably spent decades abusing this gift, trying to reach 'that other level' (death) before my time with too much food, too much alcohol, too many cigarettes. Too much partying, too much dabbling, too much everything. I am not alone. We have all been there and done that. Just think about it, how many times, for instance, have we imbibed far too much rum before lunch or dinner, then left the salad behind just to savour (not once, sometimes twice and even three times) that delicious, spicy, heavenly thick brown rich gravy or that succulent pork with big slivers of fat that give us the satisfaction of having reached heaven. My point exactly, and if we are not careful that is where we will reach before our time.
At 2:00 a.m. one early Saturday morning last week I, in desperation, learned very quickly how to use that 'thing' called a cell phone and by the Grace of God reached a doctor who, although cried to get out of her bed, arrived almost immediately at my door with a smile, ready to help. Bless her soul for she's one of a dying breed.
I knew what was happening even before she arrived. I had been playing with my health for a long time. That day alone I had eaten enough Chinese food to feed China itself. Two nights before I had partied down Negril and didn't get into my bed until after dawn. The day before all of that, I had discovered yet another cookshop and had two oxtail meals. Not one -- two. Plus, instead of the customary slice of Donnette's Banana bread and Peanut Cake, I had advanced to one whole loaf for my large self with two cups of tea twice a day. And, and, and... What can I say. You are all aware of my story. I have made no bones about my love of the good life.
THE DOCTOR EASED
ME BACK TO SOME
The black band squeezing my arm to perdition and the cold circular 'thingie' on my wrist told the doctor the inevitable -- blood pressure to the max, borderline stroke. Dr. Eva Maria Seither, an avid reader of my reviews (and so is aware of my lifestyle) never once castigated me. She did, however, slowly eased me into some realisations.
I have had, unfortunately, to double up on my blood pressure pills, but now I walk the beach every morning and I swim and kick my legs in every which way, convincing myself that this is exercise. And it is. Better than what I did before -- which was 'nutting'. I am seriously trying to cut down on the food and alcohol intake and, most importantly, when I feel even the slightest stress, stop, close my eyes, breathe in and say over and over again 'this is not worth me'.
I cannot promise to quit everything and live the life of a cloistered nun but I have been taking these and other steps to come to grips with my problem. I will not stop my reviewing habits, I am going to make a conscientious effort to develop a healthier eating pattern the six days of the week when I am not playing Gastronomic Sherlock Holmes.
I have copied the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Food Guide Pyramid and stuck it all around me. These dietary guidelines advise you to start with plenty of breads, cereals, rice, pasta, vegetables, and fruits. Add 2-3 servings from the milk group and 2-3 servings from the meat group. Remember to go easy on fats, oils, and sweets, the foods in the small tip of the Pyramid.
Well it does not look to me like I need to suffer to lead a healthy life. I just have to stop making a roast of pork of myself. I am going to listen to that first voice, those very first words that always tell me right from wrong and although on occasion I may falter at least I am going to do my. Please everybody, we are what we eat. Keep healthy.
"When you use the illusion of ignorance, no longer living it but simply using it, you acknowledge and admit there is much that you still do not know (do not remember), yet this very humility raises you beyond the humble, causing you to understand more, remember more, become more aware. Now you are among the cognoscenti those who know."Communion with God, Neale Donald Walsh.
