The first entry of this blog started off on a negative note as I lamented about the disheartening ageing process that seemed to drain my runs and the almost endless search for something deeper and more meaningful in life. I was convinced that my friend was right: that indeed we both have life issues – that maybe we both were indeed suffering from mid mid-age crisis.
But now that the year 2010 is coming to an end, I am surprised indeed that I am no longer preoccupied with the ageing cycle. Indeed the phrase “Seek and thou shalt receive” has its value. It points to the need for an individual to be proactive and take the necessary steps needed to change and transform into what is desired. So for me, I’ve become more conscious of my fitness regime. I no longer just stick to running. Today it is more a mixture of running plus yoga, pilate, weight-training and kick-boxing. With such intensity, my body and mind have undeniably transformed and with that my runs are now more fuelled with energy, zest and most importantly, soul and hope.
However the dedication to fitness together with my constant travels and meeting of all kinds of people while travelling have added another dimension to understanding life and the molding of my identity. After talking to a few and reading numerous articles and blogs online, I realized that it is not enough for one to keep an active lifestyle and declare oneself as fit and healthy. Health and Fitness is not at all synonymous to what I only do but also to what I put inside my body. In short one’s body is indeed like a temple of God. One really needs to take care of what one consumes in order to maintain a healthy body and a healthy mind.
As such, before the year 2011 makes its arrival, I have turned a flexitarian. I have contemplated for quite some time about becoming completely a vegetarian but after some time I realized that there may be issues that work against my principles. A flexitarian diet includes mostly vegetarian-based food with some occasions of meat-eating. The switch in my diet plan mirrors my principles at the moment. I believe that eating more vegetables, fruits, nuts and lentils while lessening my intake of meat will help fuel my runs better. In addition, it helps me to be more in-sync with my body, mind and soul as I practice Yoga since Yoga is about Ahimsa (meaning ‘non-harming’ or ‘non-violence’). The act of eating meat can translate into slaughtering and killing of defenseless animals. To add on, I am also aware of the animal farming industry which cruelly rear animals just so as to ensure sustainable supply of animals to meet the high demands. I am trying hard to cut back on eating meat so as not to add on to the high demands. I have added a link to a YouTube video below to show the cruelty involved towards animals. In addition, eating less meat helps sustain the environment as research has shown that more forests are depleted due to the massive clearing of forests just so as to make way for more fields for animal-farming. It is also stipulated that more fossil fuel is used up to produce meat than to produce plants.
But why not completely a vegetarian? As much I would love to I find it impractical for now. My love for culture and human beings are also too great that as much as I care about the rights and the state of animals and the environment, I care more about human beings. And part of culture’s most outstanding creation is the food that binds and identifies the community together. My culture has created tremendous cuisine full of soul and character. These are comfort food that will stay on and that will always be there during joyous occasions and festivities as well as during normal times. These food however are mostly comprised of meat. Sure one can say that one can easily substitute the meat to something that is non-meat. But then I assure you that the result will be different. It won’t be the same. Just imagine the Japanese, who are known for their fish diet culture, making all vegan sushi and tempura and udon instead. Now THAT is weird and completely destroys the Japanese culinary heritage. Thus, to take an oath of being a full-time vegetarian means that I’m missing out and disowning my culture, my roots and my family – which I am not able to take and too great a sacrifice. So for now a flexitarian diet is sufficiently good and balanced for it meets my current purpose and principles in life. I shall be updating on my blog every now and then on my journey of being a flexitarian but until then, here’s cheers to a healthy body, mind and soul~!
The Video: (click on the link below)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaHXA1LLB_I
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