was fun and happened in New York.
She wasn’t really in a red dress… but she was indeed sitting two tables down from us. I am referring to a recent jaunt to New York (which I won at the Genesis Awards Silent Auction! See earlier blog posted below) during which I found myself seated merely feet from the crafty homemaker whom we all know and love (even if in secret). I must say that living in Lala Land for so many years has certainly desensitized that immediate awe and curiosity that celebrities tend to conjure up in us plain folk; however, that Martha Stewart made me giddy like a fifteen year old at an N’Sync concert.
Upon the recommendation of a friend, we snagged late night reservations at a trendy vegetarian restaurant in the East Village. This restaurant was TINY. Me, my dining companion, and about 14 other people were crammed into a narrow, dimly lit, modernistic room. Moments after being seated, my DC looks at me with wide eyes and says,
“You’ll never believe who is sitting over there!”
“Where?!”
“Over there!” (Jerky head move toward her table)
“Who? I don’t wanna look and be weird and rude.”
“Martha Stewart!” Holy cow! I love her. (I love all things food, crafts, and home décor, which pretty much sum her up!)
A few days later (after mentioning my delectable dining experience to friends) I caught wind of a rumor floating around that Ms. Stewart only takes the veggie route when dining out. I was unable to verify this to be one hundred percent true but it did get me to thinking: small consciously formed decisions can have a MAJOR impact on everything. Think about the implications this wonderful rumor can have on the culinary and health worlds if true. Imagine how many people would probably revaluate their own eating out habits based on what Martha does. If everyone made one small change to his or her weekly, or better yet daily routine, the ripple effect could quite plausibly turn into the tidal wave effect. And while it would downright dreamy in my book if everyone decided to only eat vegetarian while dining out, I am happy to see just the smallest steps taken to improve lives and general well being. This could be deciding to eat one meal a week using only ingredients from your local farmer’s market or walking or taking the bus to work every Friday. There are a gazillion small things that we can change in our daily routine… I could go on forever.
It all boils down to living consciously in each moment. Focusing on the present activity, meaning the words you speak, listening to what the other person is saying. Once when reorganizing the food storage room at the restaurant, Tanya said to me, “Everything should be put somewhere with a purpose, not just strewn around here and there. Everything has a place.” I really love this. Consciously living, focusing on the task at hand, returning the Vita-Mix to the shelf where you found it, chewing your food slowly, thinking about what you are doing right now; reducing the chaos that feeds out short attention spans.
the flabbergasted Holladay
Oh, and I can’t wait till Native Foods takes a bite outta the Big Apple! It is going to be buck wild!
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