No Quick Fix

For about a year now I have been living a ‘Leptin Lifestyle’ according to the recommendations made by Clinical Nutritionist, Byron Richards. Prior to that I was already eating the right things and had almost restricted myself to eating the right quantities but I was still eating ‘on demand’ with a snack bowl of nuts and dark chocolate close at hand. At first Richards’ rule of ‘No Snacking’ filed me with dread, but although the first few weeks were difficult, thereafter all cravings disappeared just as he said they would. In a small way I have proven to myself that well established patterns can be broken and I feel encouraged to continue the journey.

Long before reading Richards’ book ‘Mastering Leptin’ I was basically on the right path and seeking answers. I was mentally in a good place for experimentation. Over these past few weeks my mind has been focussed on a holistic approach to optimising health in Mind, Body and Spirit. Now I can almost glibly discuss the importance of Richards’ work and easily forget the many months I spent stumbling in the darkness for direction. So even when the will is strong there are times when we simply cannot move forward because we don’t know what to do. This is a perfect scenario for frustration and abandoning the effort. Fortunately I stayed the course and found the way through. I’m reminded of the Chinese proverb ‘When the student is ready, the teacher will appear’.

In our modern society we have become accustomed to instant gratification. We live in a fast track world where we have come to expect instant solutions. Personal computers have revolutionised communications and keep us constantly in touch with ‘friends’ through social media. To a sixteen year old, six months is a long time. Adolescents and young adults often have no concept of patience or restraint. To them, living in the moment is more likely to mean binge drinking, substance abuse and experimental sex rather than peaceful self awareness and mindful relaxation. Clearly the student is not ready for a teacher.

While a certain waywardness has always been a part of growing up, the stakes seem much higher in the 21^st century. With increasing frequency by the time the student is ready she needs a chaplain rather than a teacher. I guess my underlying feeling in writing this piece is one of frustration. When you’ve ‘found the answer’ you want to share it and since everyone can apply some aspect of it, ‘all should listen’. Until 2009 I was blissfully unaware of the dangers of my habits. I had it all worked out and someone like my current self would have sounded eccentric, even irritating. What I need to learn is acceptance that the only person I can change is myself. My role is to model healthy living and to be ever present to anyone seeking guidance.

The Leptin Lifestyle promises a recovery to health for those able to stay the course. When I was ready for it I found it, though even then the transition was far from quick. Why then does it feel so urgent that I convert the world and his wife? There is no quick fix to change one’s lifestyle. Neither is there a quick fix for my missionary zeal. However, I trust that in time I will achieve true serenity and be content with my role as a silent lighthouse.