HOT DOGS

THE VERDE WORD 

This article is not about food rather, it is about freedom in the clothes we wear.

Sometimes in life we have little choice in the clothes we wear. It may be because of our occupation such as military, law enforcement, clergy or education such as school uniforms, the faith we follow such as wearing a hijab, our recreational pursuits such as baseball uniforms or, even wearing our club football jerseys while watching the game.

When we wear clothing that is identified with an occupation, education, faith or hobby, we are proud of and identify with our organisations.  This is rightly so as generally it is a matter of personal choice.

However, when we consider those who are forced to wear uniforms, such as prison inmates, or cultural expectations such as in some Middle East and Asian nations, women must wear a head covering, have long sleeves, or ensure no portion of skin showing.  In some nations, there can be religious or cultural expectations that men must wear a head covering and/or grow facial hair. 

If the above people had a choice, would they choose to be unlabelled or unbadged as belonging to a particular occupation, cultural, national, religious or faith identity?

In the past we may have been a person of uniform however there were times when there is a need to be incognito.  Then of course, there are the occasions when we are glad to get home and into the jeans, trackpants and sneakers, or in my case, my hot dog slippers.

My Hot Dogs

How wonderful it is that we have a choice of clothing to wear and, the freedom of expression. 

When we were kids, did we not wear our Mickey Mouse Club pullovers and ears, or dress like Superman, Batman or even a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?  This is the same thing, we often dress not only in required uniforms, but also dress to reflect our personal interest or passion.

 I have recently read and also have been told by some Muslim ladies that by wearing their hijab, in public, people tend to avoided making eye contact.  Some people even pretend to not notice the hijab wearer and this tends to make Muslim women feel almost invisible.

It is like being an overweight person in a shop.  Quite often shop staff attempt to either see straight through the overweight customer pretending they are not there or hide so they don't have to serve them and consequently, the overweight person feels almost invisible.

I wonder if it is the same for people who wear Indian, Islander or any other cultural derived clothing, do they tend to feel invisible as people try to not look at them.

Do we tend to avoid looking at people of whose culture we are unfamiliar, or even those who have a different lifestyle?  Why do we avoid eye contact with people who dress or appear different than what may stupidly seem normal.  Do we allow ourselves to feel uncomfortable in their presence?

There is no such thing as normal because each and everyone of us are so wonderfully diverse and different!

RELIGION AND NATIONALISM

Westernised female tourists from developed countries may be frowned upon when visiting some countries if they do not respect local custom on dress...which in some areas is law.

In some countries, although whilst in public, the displaying of dressing and behaving according to religious tomes and laws, I understand that citizens have no choice if they want to avoid trouble and avoid being maligned by family and friends.  Yet, although the folks in these countries certainly have freedom of expression of dress, if females want to wear jeans and a shirt in private, they can, but they can be made to feel very uncomfortable or at the very least, frowned upon if they appear in public in those same jeans and shirt.

We in westernised nations have the freedom to dress and go pretty much where we like, how we like and when we like however, it is not always so everywhere else in the world.

It is suggested that those of us who have the right to wear what we like, go where we want, with whom we want and, are able to express our opinion without fear of being harmed, are indeed most fortunate to live in a semi or fully free democratic society.

It is very likely that those of you who are reading this live in a free society.

When you have a day when you change your clothes a few times before deciding which is the most comfortable for your mental place, or mood you are in, give a thought that the luxury of wearing what you like and when you like is an expression of personal freedom that comes with a true democratic society.

So, while trying your shirts on for the day, think about others who are not so free and forbidden by religious, national law or threatened by subversive possible persecution if they wear other than prescribed dress.

Celebrate freedom of democracy, thought, speech and, the right to represent yourself as you feel inside.  And wear your metaphorical hot dogs.


Verde
∞

SALT

THE VERDE WORD

This week's article is about salt in it's various forms and how we may use it as an example to conduct our mental and physical lives sparingly.

As I was saying in my last post entitled 'Oh Celery...'  we as human, animals and others would not survive without food.  I was also saying that food tastes so much better if we put some admiration and appreciative thought towards it.  However, as celery or courgettes or any other food may taste wonderful, in order to provide new flavours, aromas and interest to food, we also add spices and herbs.  So, although this article has Salt as the focal point, it is another example of common daily practises that  we may use salt as an analogy in our personal lives.

There are many types, styles and uses for salt.
There is pouring salt both with iodine and without, there is sprinkling salt, salt flakes, salt rocks that also may be bought smoked or unsmoked, and even pink rock salt from the Himalayas.

Three examples of Pink Himalayan salt: sprinkling salt, salt flakes and salt rocks. 

We may include salt whilst cooking or spread and sprinkle on our food afterwards.

Sparingly casting very fine pouring salt over meals helps to add flavour and taste that may be missing.  Alternatively, small flakes or chunks rock salt may also be cast over the food.  The difference is, do you want the taste of salt throughout your meal or, having the infrequent crunch and taste that adds occasional bits that add a sudden burst of surprise, interest and pleasure and perhaps, a more memorable occasion and meal?

Life is like this, infrequently experiencing occasional bits of everything is more pleasurable than having it all the time, because by having it all the time it becomes expected, the novelty is lost.  It also may not be looked forward to as much because it is habit and, by having it all the time you get used to things and the flavour and do not notice the subtle nuances.

We, in our lives are similar when dealing with family or personal events, issues and problems.

As a parent we know we wear ourselves thin.   We try to look after babies, small children, teenagers, older youth, husbands, wives, lovers, grandparents and other family members and friends.  On top of this, we hold down part or full time jobs, attend university or college also part or full time, whilst attempting to look and care for everyone in the immediate and not so immediate family.

We run here and there, are on the phone, communicating with everyone trying to ensure all their needs are looked after.

In effect, to use the salt on food analogy, to those around you, are you the salt sprinkled all over the food, the  salt flakes with a less dispersed flavour or, the rock salt with the occasional crunch?

If you are the sprinkled salt, you can cover all situations and problems all the time, but the input of your time is sparing and may have less of an effect and following, achieving less of an impact and positive outcome for those you are trying to look after.  In contrast, if you are the rock salt, you can only cover some of the situations but your efforts are more intense and drain your mental and physical energies however, it has a higher possibility for a positive outcome for others, not so much you.

However, if you choose to be the salt flakes and take the middle line, you are able to be more effective because you are less spread around and also less hit and miss, as per the rock salt.

Consider looking at situations and judge which folks around you need the most immediate attention, assistance and care. Then tackle everyone on an as needs priority basis.

Everyone can be taken care of, but it is not necessary to need to know the whole story about everyone, or continual updates, instead, just look after the main issue but make yourself available on a 'just in case things get worse' basis.  

By minimising the amount of time, effort, energy and angst, not to mention all the hours spent in bed at night worrying about everyone, after a good nights sleep, you will be in a much better physical and mental place to look after all those you love and still continue your daily functions and requirements such as work an study and, whatever else.

So, are you pouring salt all over and doing a less than perfect job, or sprinkling rock salts hoping to hit randomly and help those folks, or, casting your salt flakes with evaluated targets with the object of prioritising to help the most needy?

It is impossible to help everyone and be on top of what is happening. Look after yourself first, otherwise your health and well being will suffer.  By placing your own personal health and well being at risk and becoming ill through doing or worrying too much, you will end up helping no one. 

Moral:  Use your physical and mental energies like salt flakes.

Verde

∞

OH CELERY...

THE VERDE WORD

Oh Celery, how I love thee, let me state thy ways!

Celery, my beloved Celery, I love thy appearance with green luxurious leaves and long, strong stalks.  I love thy sweet, earthy but slightly tangy aroma with a hint of wild rich humus soil in a forest.  I love thy touch as my hand caresses thy leaves, thy stalks whilst enjoying the solidity and feel of veins under my fingers. I relish thy woody sound as I remove thy stalk from thy bunched body allowing a loud woody scrunching sound as I make the separation.  Celery, You are an organic orgasmitron.

Yes Celery, I adore you, I venerate you.

You come from greatness, you attract greatness, Celery, you are greatness.

You are my love.

VALUING THAT WHICH GIVES LIFE

This article is about valuing all food that we grow, cook and imbibe.

We may take a can from the cupboard, open it, throw the contents into a saucepan, heat and eat.
We may take the meat, veggies, anything from the garden or fridge with our mind on our coming meal.

There are times when we think about nutrition when hunter-gathering at the markets or supermarket whilst selecting fruit and vegetables.  However, do we think and truly value and love the food we prepare and serve?

Foods is the most important thing in our human life.  Without their vitamins, minerals and moisture etc., we and other animals would die.  We need food for survival.

We may have a love-hate relationship with corporate or multi-national companies that invest in the food industry.  We may also feel the same way with cage, pen or other animal or fish lot farming.  As well, we may also have negative feelings towards the use of chemicals used during vegetable farming as well as freeze storage of our food.



FOOD PRODUCTION


Farmers and food producers of protein and vegetable based products place a lot of themselves into their product.  Farmers in particular arise very early in the morning and either observe their vegetable or animal domain, they walk the crop, field and paddocks.  Farmers talk to their plants and animals and they ensure they are fed, nourished and watered.  Farmers love what they are doing, it gives them pleasure and a meagre living otherwise they would not be in the industry.  Farming is a very hard, long and difficult job with little guarantee of sustainable crops or profits.  Farmers love their environment and products and therefore it is not only preferable but also desirable that we as consumers appreciate not only the farmers efforts but also, their products.

Animals and plants long before the planting, growing and processing process began, embarked on their life journey before the pre-seed or pre-embryonic stage began. They were alive and as all things, plants and animals (including us), came from somewhere and are going somewhere.  At the micro-organic or quark stage everything lives, grows and keeps on growing.

As we consume food for nutrition and energy, which we as animals need, the foods or substances we imbibe continues forever.  The sub-atomic particles help to process and feed our bodies and when waste substances are ejected, those particles still continue to live and give life to other organics.


MAKE LOVE TO FOOD

When preparing food, think about it.

Place the vegetables, fruit, meat or cereals or other on the chopping board, lets say courgettes.

Pick up the courgettes, feel their weight and texture, smell their earthiness, feel their skin.  Think and see them as a wonderful organic plant that came from a sub-organic particle, grew to a seed, were planted and grew.

Those lovely courgettes enjoyed the rain as it fell.  The courgette roots in the subterranean underground explored and reached out through millions of years of soil. Who knows, those same little courgettes you are holding in your 21st Century hand, could well be growing and nourished by soil that was once a plant or tree over 20 million years old.  So, in your hand you are holding a nourishing food that has been in production for a very long time.  Think about it.

Place those courgettes on the chopping board and keep in mind where they came from, what they came from and where they are going.

As you take the knife in hand, feel the courgettes and allow your hand and mind to be tender.
Give them love, mentally appreciate them, enjoy thinking how beautiful they will taste and how wonderful it is that we may cherish and nourish our body with their vitamins.  Be accepting and grateful.

The courgette has given you it's life.  Your life will continue on and be helped by a courgette.  I promise you, by placing more emphasis and thought on your food during preparation, it will taste so much more delicious.

Bon Appetite

Verde