“track”ing your progress

There were plans to expand the train here in the north so that we here in Karmiel can connect to the main train line in the rest of the country.

They started building it about 2 years ago, and the estimated date of completion is in March 2017. We’re coming up to the end!

It’s been fun and interesting and educational watching them build it.

At least for the last few months, that is.

The first couple of years went by and it didn’t seem like much was happening. We saw lots of workers, tractors, and equipment…

No tracks or trains, though.

Lots of dust.

Disruptions to the buses at the central bus station while they built new passage ways for the work vehicles through the roads of the buses.

Occasionally we’d see some workers in action on the highway.

We often thought that if it has taken them this long to just lay the foundation for the train, they’re NEVER going make the March 2017 deadline.

Then something happened over the summer. We noticed that there were many tracks laid down and one of the stations was completely built up. We even saw a test train on the tracks!

Fast forward to Sukkos. More tracks. The main station being built.

There’s one small section that needs to be built…

And it’s starting to feel like the March 2017 deadline IS possible!

Why am I telling you about the Karmiel train to Acco? If you come and visit me, I’ll show you the progress, but other than that…why is this of any interest to you?

I’m sharing this because it teaches us a major insight into life.

So often we spend so much of our time laying the foundation.

Repeating the same things to our kids time and time again, waiting for the impact to finally set in. How often do you want to shout out — How many times do I need to tell you to put your shoes under your bed at night so you know where they are in the morning and so I won’t trip over them?!

The seemingly small things you do for your spouse that in actuality build a huge foundation of trust that keep the relationship together when things are hard.

Exercising…it’s so hard at first, and then suddenly the exercises you weren’t able to do a year ago are that much easier.

So too when it comes to our relationship to food and our bodies.

At first glance it seems like the little steps we ought to take won’t amount to much…

And so we often try to side-step them.

Instead of doing the deep, foundational work it takes to have a truly peaceful relationship with food and our bodies, we look for short-cuts.

Diets.

Healthy food plans (that’s another code-word for diet, by the way).

Eating “superfoods”.

30-day “fill in the blank” fitness program.

These, my friends, are just band-aids.

All the latest trends won’t help you if you are still responding to emotions by stuffing them down with food (and usually contribute to craziness around food).

You know what would happen if the train from Karmiel to Acco was built by short-cuts?

Sure, they would be able to get the tracks up faster, seemingly saving time and money…

But we’d have a really sloppy, probably dangerous, bumpy, nausea-inducing ride.

Sure, we’d take it every day because we would have to get to our destination…

But would it be a ride that we would look forward to going on?

When a train is built well, it’s a relaxing ride. It’s enjoyable. A pleasure to be on.

People love the train because they have time to think and take in the view.

It’s the same with the way we approach food, our bodies, and life.

If we’re so busy looking for the short-cuts, sloppily trying to throw together the structure, without taking time to build the foundation, then instead of having a joyful, pleasurable, peaceful relationship with food and our bodies, we get a bumpy, nausea-inducing ride.

Sure, we get in those calories we need for day-to-day living.

But do we look forward to it?*

Food is MEANT to be a pleasurable part of our lives.

It started off that way, when we were young.

Somewhere along the way, for most of us, it stopped being a pleasure.

You CAN rediscover the pleasure of food.

It starts with laying down the foundation.

Piece.

By.

Piece.

You may not see that progress at first, but once the foundation is carefully laid, suddenly it all seems possible.

*By the way, stuffing chocolate in so fast is not enjoyable or pleasurable. On the other hand, taking in the sensory experience of a square of chocolate is oh-so-amazing. And it IS possible to only eat one or two squares. Or a whole row, if that’s your thing. You can learn to trust yourself with the entire bar in your hands at one time, and only eat the amount you set out to. And without guilt. And without busying your hands with other distractions.