More on the Macro Plan

I sit here after finishing my first book and wonder how I finally got it done, where has all this "focus" and "razor sharp mind" come from? It's the "food" and only the "food", - it gives you the power "to do what you have to do" and "be when you want to be" - and I find most people who have working lives in the city may have all the drive, but they run on empty (cylinders); and keep pushing themselves more and more. Also, they have forgotten what it is "to be" - to relax into the moment. Hell they don't have any time to even talk to a friend. Isn't life about living to your fullest? about loving yourself so much that you love everyone and everything that's a part of it, and knowing that they are all there because you love them and want them to be there? Following the macrobiotic approach gives you that. It is "inherent" in the way the foods work. That's why, when I took up Vipassana meditation 15 years ago, my life's calling had to "tie in" with the larger purpose of "just existing" and this approach "ties in" like the knot of a perfect tie (it fits). The approach says one of the tenets of good health is "An Endless Appreciation of Life" and I live like that 24x7.

One of my friends recently said "You are one of my poorest friends" - and though that comment bought out my so called "pain body" - I couldn't help but think how rich I am with all the people in my life, the family I have, my dogs, the earth below me, the sky above me, the foods I eat, the lovely house I live in, the time I get to meditate, do my yoga practice, spend quality time with friends, my niece and nephew, my mom - how the hell can I be poor. I knew he used a "material" yardstick to pass a comment like that. I could say "how poor is he", but no he is a part of my life and I love him in whatever capacity he is there. But I know his foods don't give him the power to look beyond that material world of his, and so I forgive him. That's the power of "how you eat and what it can do for you" -- make you "human(e)" in a away you can only experience!!

The re-invention of my logo

I keep asking myself why am I not consistent in my writing the wonderful story of how macrobiotics is unfolding in India, its such a thrill. Now 3 years and some months down the line, I am out there with my macrobiotic meals, ready-to-eat range of snacks and desserts and consultations showing major breakthrough's. Who would have ever thought I would get here. But here I am - writing my first book on the subject - and passionately committed to the cause of seeing people's lives change from within. I remember my teacher Lucci Baranda (god bless her soul) saying - you will do it one day - it will all come with the food and she was right it has. Soulfood - as you can see the background of my account is on the start of something revolutionary in the history of India - its introducing to India the first line of actual dairy, sugar, white flour (processed), yeast free - 80% organic - meals, desserts and snacks - now that's something huge. I do believe that the pioneer (and I bow down to her) in the organic movement is Kavita Mukhey who laid the foundation for us to get the grains, beans and dried stocks, and like Titu Ahluwalia who took over Conscious Foods (Kavita's Company) said to me once, you are at the helm of translating that to the products and taking it a step further. I take that very seriously. So onto the healthier, happier more calmer and peaceful people and times.

My start with Macrrobiotics

For starters I feel terrible my blogs been dead. But here I am....the story continues....my mom and me did all we could in terms what we had learnt for my day. But the one thing (which now I can safely say in retrospect) you must know if you are starting a Macrobiotic diet- is to keep in mind that it just has to be made interesting. Specially if you are coooking for someone who is ill. My dad was atrue North Indian - very fussy on tastes - I was not living with my foks, so could not cook for him. Plus I was not as well trained as I am today (I could have save him, had I cooked for him the way I do today), so he gave up in 3 months. Poor guy started cheating and said he wanted to die eating. And he did, till the very end - he went back to junk food with a vengeance. My dad passed away in 2001. But, left with me the start of this wonderful life with Macrobiotics. I went back to meet Mona Schawrtz - studied some more, read her lovely books, just hung around her and was inspired - I knew this was my true calling in life. Of course I had no clue how it was going to unfold. Here I was ready to start a divorce battle, working in a market research company, climbing up the corporate ladder. Though I had no clue where this ladder was taking me. I knew I was good at my job, but it was not something I woud do for the rest of my life.

My first Post....And it shall not end ...

I've put off writing this post for the longest time...sometime old patterns are hard to kick off. The pattern I have is of putting things off till they are perfect. like I wanted the perfect backdrop to my blog page, before I wrote. However, my story (I believe) is just too good to be true to keep away from the World. Therefore, I don't know the Uneverse I send this out to, but its the Universe that has supported me with my mission, therefore I know it will come back to me in many ways (more than I can imagine at present).

My life with MACROBIOTICS started with my father having cancer (Prostate). At the time, I got introduced to the approach by my father's friend (Poornima Hemmadi) who had already written to Denny Waxman to enquire about the approach. Since she said she was not going to start the diet, she suggessted I look it up anyway. I did and was led by Denny to Mona Schwartz. Mona (originally from America) was in Dehradun. My dad's PSA levels were rising fast and after being on Flutamide (Hormone) the cancer had started actually thriving on the hormone itself, so at this point I had to think fast. His cancer was already in every concieveable bone in his body, so according to the docs there was not much we could do.

Well after speaking with Mona, my mom, dad and myself landed up at her place to spend 10 days learning how to cook and feed my dad. At this point, I was in the Market Research field (professionally) and very passionate about cooking and health food. So Mona's library of books on Macrobiotics were a treat. I sat for hours reading in her library and the approach made such perfect sense. It was hard to believe the number of cases documented and how MACROBIOTCS had helped. Infact, Mona herself had come out of an unexplained illness with MACROBIOTICS.

Well Mom and me as well equipped as we could be returned to Mumbai to start our program with my dad....