Welcome
This is the kitchen where we talk about food, life, and recovery—a spiritual path to healing and peace.

Invitation
You are invited to keep coming back to A Cup of Kindness to share your experience, strength and hope; fears, doubts and insecurities; and to pick up information, inspiration … and have a little fun!

My story
In January 2007, at the age of 51, I joined a 12-step program and began my recovery from food addiction, losing 75 pounds in the process... and keeping it off since then.

In January 2011, at the age of 55, I began my recovery from a multi-trauma accident, 36 fractures, damaged lungs, a spinal cord
injury, and post traumatic stress.

I am deeply grateful for all the kindnesses, large and small, offered to me in recovery. Here I am... alive… still making progress … still not perfect … finding a new way forward in a growing community of women and men who share a lot in common around food and life.

I hope you'll join me in this kitchen and let me know what's cooking with you.

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May 16, 2012

Tall order. Simple decision.

 

I’m getting married to the man I love on Saturday!

This is a fascinating time. My attention has moved from planning the event, to preparing for a spiritual experience.

I want to be open to receive Love, Light and Friendship.

I want to be present and protected in the midst of lots of people and the potential for a few dramas.

I want clarity. I want to feel good about myself. I want confidence that I am a person of integrity and honesty. I want to feel connected to Creator Universe and Creatress Mother Earth.

Tall order.

There’s one path that’s most likely to fill me with what I need. The path of freedom from addiction.

My decision is to abstain from all flour and sugar; and I know from experience that I will have more awareness. I will be more present for myself, to Gregory and others. I will feel the Joy.

Life will continue to happen. I was abstinent when a drunk driver ran into and over me. I don’t think of abstinence as a magic cloak against bad things happening. I think of it as the medicine of hope and strength.

So, when Gregory and I cut the cake and feed each other something sweet, I will have a delicious strawberry and I will be grateful beyond measure.

Love & Light,

Valerie

Categories: Abstinence, Food, Food Addiction, Gratitude, Love  |  10 Comments
May 11, 2012

Happy girl!

 

Are you smiling? I love this photo by Andre Gardella of a curious goat in Corsica. Hellooo!

I’m smiling. I’m one week in on continuous abstinence. Hooray! I feel so much better. Clean. Confident.

Three times a day, even when it’s a little bit of a challenge, I weigh and measure and eat the food I’ve committed and nothing more and nothing less and nothing in between.

My actions are matching my intentions. I can trust myself. I’m in Recovery.

What do I do about wedding cake, I ask?  That’s for further meditation and a conversation for me and my sponsor on Monday. A previous sponsor told me that on Pesach I would have a piece of matzoh the size of an olive. It would be taken with special consideration for its meaning. Could I do that with a bite of cake?

If I take the bite, it will be as a symbol of the sweetness of our relationship past and future.

If I don’t take the bite, it will be to honor my own spiritual practice — abstinence from intoxication by carrot cake.

Perhaps Gregory and I can share a sweet, delicious strawberry.

More shall be revealed.

Love & Light,

Valerie

 

Categories: Abstinence, Food Addiction, Love, Meditation, Recovery  |  6 Comments
May 7, 2012

Another day

 

It’s been another day of grateful abstinence. This is Day Four.

As I take my evening cuppa I wonder what has changed. My mind feels like a switch has flipped. The lights are back on. My gut tells me it has something to do with the way that I have been consistently practicing Psalm 23… as a conversation with myself.

Each day it’s a little different. Here’s approximately the way it came to me this morning.

A Psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. When I let G-d lead me, I will not suffer craving.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. When I take Quiet Time, my mind becomes clear. The mud settles.

He restoreth my soul; He guideth me in straight paths for his name’s sake. When I keep walking, one step at a time, along a straight and honest path, I feel my connection to G-d. I feel refreshed.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Even though life keeps happening, I’m not afraid; because You are always here; and Your disciplines keep bringing me back to peace.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over. You keep challenging me by tempting my weaknesses; and, at the same time, You nourish me completely and keep me growing from strength to strength.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. There is always goodness and mercy in the world; and I will live in Your house — which is my body — in fellowship with You, all of my days.

I continue to take it on faith that this particular 12-step recovery program for food addicts is right for me. I will keep coming back.

Love & Light,

Valerie

 

Photo: Jeroen van der Spek

Categories: 12-Steps, Food Addiction, Gratitude, Inspiration, Peace, Recovery  |  4 Comments
May 5, 2012

Here we go…

 

Day Two of abstinence feels good. Thank you, G-d.

Love & Light,

Valerie

(Photo credit: Teri Lyn Fisher & Jenny Park)

Categories: Gratitude  |  Leave a Comment
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