Wegmans

Speaking of the benefits of so much variety, I have to give a shout-out to the Wegman's salad bar. (My last shout-out was to Wawa. Apparently, I like stores which start with "W".) It is SO good, with so many things to sample.

For starters, I'm grateful that I can afford this once in a while. (It is a little high-priced.)

Next, I'm grateful for the many types of vegetables they offer. Vegetarian entrees, a huge salad bar with all kinds of very fancy salads, roasted vegetables, etc. Not all of it is 100% purely healthy, but it makes the experience of eating them something to genuinely look forward to rather than feel like you're eating them as an obligation.

Third, I love the fact that they have Chinese, Indian, and Italian foods too.

Fourth, I'm grateful for the chef at my local store, because they come up with amazing specialty items. (Artichoke flan, OMG, so good.)

Finally, I'm just grateful to have a buffet in general, where I can choose whatever I fancy. Just because this is very common doesn't mean it can't be incredibly wonderful too! It's nice to go around choosing things. Healthy things, sweet and savory things, satisfying things.

Sometimes we hear the advice to savor certain moments in our lives: enjoy our kids while they're little, or enjoy the holidays. It's not bad advice, but here's the thing: it's possible to savor many more moments than just those. In the midst of holiday rushing and crowds and pressure, it's possible to pull back, walk gently, enjoy the music they have playing over the store's intercom, feel a sense of abundance about all the food laid out for you to choose, patience and connectedness with the other people waiting in line to make their purchases. Not guilt, not deprivation, and not over-grabbing. In something so simple you can find a kind of heaven and genuine happiness. Even if you can only hold on to it for a few moments, it's worth it.

Plantains

A guy from work brought me some fried/dried plantain chips all the way from India. They are SO good. They aren't particularly sweet, more like potato chips than any kind of dessert. It gives me an opportunity to appreciate a banana-like flavor without the distracting sweetness.

I am thankful that he was so generous, and thankful for the opportunity to try something new. We live in an amazing world where there are so many potential wonderful experiences, even just within the subcategory of "foods to try".

Warmth

Eating warm food is satisfying, especially in winter. Hot soup, a warm bagel sandwich, hot cocoa, even warm water is a blessing.

As a way to meditate on this, try getting just a cup of very warm water, and spend time just appreciating the warmth it gives you as you drink it. The purpose of using water is because it's so plain and simple, so other flavors won't distract.

Feel the way the warmth moves from your mouth to your belly. Think about the way that this was able to be heated. A microwave or a teakettle? Imagine the energy that was needed to make these work and just the work put into creating these items.

Let yourself feel a sense of being "cared for". Though it may be indirect, that is essentially what is happening. Many entities made this happen - the human beings who made the mug, the tea-kettle, the microwave or stove - the sun and earth for providing the energy.

The warmth that you're experiencing doesn't guarantee a warm tomorrow, but don't let that stop you from the present enjoyment.

Egg Nog

Egg Nog is great. I don't understand people who don't like it, but to each their own. It's sweet and creamy and Christmas-y!

As a kid, I promised myself that when I grew up, I would use it on cereal. I didn't actually keep that promise, but I do buy myself one quart of it to drink up to the month leading up to Christmas. It's good to simply and deeply experience how delightful it is.

There's also soy nog, which is also very tasty and probably a bit better for you (since real egg nog is like drinking straight cream).

So, I'm grateful for all kinds of nogs, grateful for nutmeg and rum, happy for Christmas deliciousness.