Food For Thought

By Kari Moyer, LPC

I recently stumbled across a quote from Anthony Bourdain that stopped me in my tracks and made me reflect on how I approach each day:

Eat at a local restaurant tonight. Get the cream sauce. Have a cold pint at 4 o’clock in a mostly empty bar. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Listen to someone you think may have nothing in common with you. Order the steak rare. Eat an oyster. Have a negroni. Have two. Be open to a world where you may not understand or agree with the person next to you, but have a drink with them anyways. Eat slowly. Tip your server. Check in on your friends. Check in on yourself. Enjoy the ride.

For those of you who don’t know Anthony Bourdain, he was a world-renowned chef that enjoyed exploring international culture and all things food. On a deeper level, he related these explorations and experiences to the human condition. As a HUGE foodie myself (I have a very small list of things I WON’T try!), Bourdain has always captivated me in his skills to relate to others and bring them together through culture and food. Given our current political and societal climate, where we resort to judgments, stereotypes, and scrutiny faster than ever, what a refreshing reminder that we are ALL HUMANS, and that together… together we can do amazing things. 

So I ask you to join me in being YOU, unapologetically. Be silly, be fun, share your emotions, and feel authentic. Discover yourself, try new things, explore. Help others in need, reach out to folks of a different belief system, foster new relationships, and connect over food, drinks, jokes, cultures… And always remember that we are all made of the same elements and have so much to share and learn from one another. After all, we are a SOCIAL species, and without each other, life would be pretty dull!