One word mantra
I didn't expect there would be this much plain oatmeal in my life at forty two. I've been eating it almost everyday now with sprinkles of salt and cinnamon, no sugar, and a spoonful of peanut butter. On the side, I have two strips of bacon, two eggs, and maybe a banana or yogurt. To drink, I'll have coffee, black. Sometimes apple or orange juice as well. The oatmeal is the only recent addition; everything else was already a daily staple.
My fiancee eats oatmeal similarly, avoiding the sugary packet stuff. In the past decade, I've grown a distate for very sweet breakfasts, preferring savory ones high in protein and fiber, so I thought maybe I should try eating less cereal and eat more plain oatmeal to match her. Which makes sense economically as we will one day live together. Lucky for me, I like the stuff, although, maybe I was already on this path.
Oatmeal on its own can be quite healthy, but I know that I have to watch what I add to it or else I could be undermining the benefits. It's better to keep the bigger picture in mind, my health in this case, so I can make good choices about immediate indulgences. Which is made all the easier by finding joy in my needs. This mindset extends to other areas of life as well.
I've been working toward bettering myself, and part of that has been developing a distate for the things that may have felt good in the moment but only hurt me in the long run. Once upon a time, I managed to quit smoking and end my dependency on alcohol. Now, at this season of life, I've been working at decluttering, pairing down my belongings, and cutting back on screen time. I wake up eager to spend time outdoors walking, journaling, creating art, reading, and meditating. All these efforts have allowed me to be more present for myself and the people (human and otherwise) in my life, which is the bigger picture for me. I've developed a taste for the simple joys in my life. And, somehow, oatmeal feels like a shorthand for all that, like a one word mantra.
"Oatmeal."
It's like David Lynch's donut. "Keep your eye on the donut, not the hole," David Lynch said, reminding us to stay focused on the task at hand.
"Oatmeal."
It reminds me of how nourishing simplicity can be.
"Oatmeal."
It reminds me of the joy to be had in simplicity.
"Oatmeal."
It reminds me of the freedom to be found in simplicity.
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