When Nature Provides

When nature provides abundance, be aware and grateful.

Recently I ate an abundance of mangoes given to me by a friend.

I was driving toward the beach and saw a person on the side of the road walking in the heat. I pulled over to offer the person a ride and noticed it was a friend. My destination was about 5 minutes away. His destination was about 30 minutes away. He got in the car and I started driving.

I’m not sure when I decided to drive him all the way home. We were having a conversation, and I saw no need to end the conversation quickly. My time at the beach could wait an hour.  

After a beautiful drive that included seeing waterfalls and being surrounded by lush vegetation, I dropped my friend off at the bottom of his property’s road. We hugged bye and he handed me three mangoes. He told me the mangoes were just coming into season and these were some of the first fruits from the tree. Kindness traded for kindness. 

I didn’t plan for the mangoes or shop for them. They arrived. Nature provided food, and I was open to receiving when the moment came.

I ate all three of the mangoes once I had access to a kitchen and knife. First, I cut the skin off. Then, I sliced two meaty sections off each mango and devoured each section. The flavor and juices were incredibly tasty. Finally, I ate whatever was left around each seed.

About 13 years ago when I moved to Hawaii, I started eating what nature provides. What is in season and ripe became part of what I consume. 

This was a new way of eating for me. On the mainland, the majority of food I had eaten came from supermarkets or restaurants. I shopped for what I wanted to eat and ordered food off menus based on taste. The mainland had a wide variety of foods and cultural foods to choose from. But in nature, every food is not produced all the time. Nature gives what it has to give when it’s time to give. Food is based on nature’s seasons.

I can only guess that my friend had the mangoes with him because he planned to eat them during his long walk. Perhaps I was blessed with the mangoes because I gave him a ride. Giving and receiving is a natural cycle.

When I eat what nature provides, I feel connected to something bigger than my own preferences. I feel part of the natural life cycle, and I am grateful.

Welcome to the meal.

Stacy

I share my experiences and my perspective. Eating and healing look different for everyone. If you are struggling with food or your relationship with your body, please find support. You don’t have to do this alone.