The carrot

The deeper meaning of life can appear unexpectedly from the simplest of things that surround us.

One sunny day and bright sunshine was lighting the dining room.

I sat on a chair in the dining room with my lunch looking at me.

A soup, salad and a sausage with mashed potatoes.

It looked simple and delicious but as I was gazed at it I became aware of a deeper meaning it carried.

The soup was made of carrots that were cared for by the hands of many people - planting, watering, picking, packing, transporting, displaying in a shop before ending up on my table. 

It felt good to be aware of how much efforts it took to have a single carrot on the table. 

We often are made to believe that manual work is undesirable but that one carrot made me feel grateful to all the hands that made it possible for it to be part of my soup.

Enjoying modern technology I sometimes stop myself and think how difficult life was all the centuries before ours and still is for many people today. Surrounded by our gadgets we forget or never even become aware of how lucky we are... 

I looked at the rest of my lunch and each ingredient had an adventure story to tell. 

All life had a purpose and a deeper meaning. The aroma was sweeter. The taste was richer. Taking a breath felt great.

Lunch was not just calories and nutrients on my way to the next task.

I felt connected and grateful...

I felt alive...