I’ve had this post rattling around in my brain for quite some time. At this point I never know if it will actually get published, but I have to at least get these thoughts out of my head.
You see, I’m living in excess and I am struggling so hard with that right now. Excess food, excess weight, excess time on the internet, excess stuff in my house, etc. Excess seems to be my new norm and that excess all stems from my job.
I have a job focused on food… I cook and photograph pretty things for the internet. I make food for sustenance, yet I also make food for clicks, likes, pins and validation. Food is my currency. Each and every one of my days is focused around viewing others food, making food, pinning food, reading about food, eating food, trying to avoid eating food, etc. Because of my job as a food photographer and food blogger, food is something that has brought me so much joy and opportunity. It’s also something that has been a constant struggle for me.
I recently started volunteering weekly at the most incredible food kitchen. You may have heard me talk about it on Snapchat, or you may have seen the surge in news articles surrounding this unique restaurant style concept. With the slogan “Dining with Dignity”, the Kansas City Community Kitchen is changing the way homeless are fed. This volunteer job has changed me, in ways I never once thought imaginable. I can no longer, in good conscience, have a frivolous focus on food when there are so many people…people who look just like you and me…who count themselves lucky if they even get one meal a day. It makes worrying about how many likes my posts get on my facebook page or instagram seem so insignificant.
This past week while volunteering I met a man who told me he’s only been on the streets for a short while. His 12 year old son was killed in a car accident the prior year and the grief and magnitude of the situation literally ripped his family apart. He lost his job, home, wife…and is now on the streets. When he walked in to the kitchen I asked him how his day was and he said “it’s been a really bad day, unfortunately”. I told him we were going to change that, led him to his seat for lunch, and told my friend Kristy to take extra good care of him. He was served a nutritious meal of top sirloin with onions and mushrooms, asparagus, butternut squash, baked potato and dessert. As he was leaving, I asked him if his day had improved… with his eyes brimming with tears, he said “You absolutely do not know how happy this made me. Thank you.”
We went on to chat and his attitude and outlook had changed dramatically from when he first walked in the door. Food, and the chance to be nourished with a hot meal, can change lives. It truly can.
I’ve met families who have walked into the food kitchen with their children, and they’ve shared that their kids have never been to a restaurant before. This food kitchen is their restaurant experience. That makes our spur of the moment trips up to the local taco shop just because I don’t feel like cooking, seem like a luxury, doesn’t it?
I’ve witnessed a man seated next to where another man had been sitting, picking the uneaten grapes off of the dirty plate before the table was bussed. How guilty do I feel now for tossing food away from all day photo shoots, just because I cooked it for the client shoot, not necessarily to eat? (That doesn’t happen often, but I’m still guilty of this).
I’ve witnessed someone walking away with the outside trashcan, where the scraps from the kitchen are sent, because they are that desperate for food. Friends, again… these are people who look like YOU AND ME. They could be any one of us, and food… food is not their obsession, food is their basic need. Their nourishment.
I’m trying to change my focus…first of all for my overall health, and also because this experience has changed me. I’ve spent most of my life living to eat. Food has been my comfort, my celebration, my boredom reliever and my friend. It’s been my get into the car after a grocery store run, rip open the bag of Little Debbie’s, and snarf an obscene amount down right there in the car (and hiding the evidence in the trashcan before going in the house to eat dinner). I’m trying to train myself now that I want to eat to live, not live to eat, because while I’ve been counting calories, trying to keep from eating all the food at my disposal, there’s someone else out there whose simple hope for that one day is a meal. Any meal, to sustain them until they can eat again.
So friends… I hope you’ll bear with me as I try to find my new comfort zone. I’ve got to step away from the food focus some until I can find a new balance and something my conscience is comfortable with. Is the work I do here valuable and meaningful? I believe it can be and I hope you’ll stick with me while I try and figure it out. Thanks!
PS – Timing couldn’t be better as my friend Lindsay has written the most poignant, heart touching, eye opening post about hunger. Please, please, please go read it today. Thanks.
Thank you for this, Kristen. xoxoxo
That moment, hearing that man’s story, trying to keep it together while he was so positive all the way through, as much as encouraged the three of us listening that everything always works out. How can one not be changed by that? Thanks for sharing in that moment, that experience and your journey forward.
There’s a quote a saw recently that I think really applies here, Kristen. “When you have more than you need, build a longer table not a higher fence.”
The thing about privilege is, we don’t know what we don’t know. That doesn’t make it excusable, but it does make it understandable. I feel a lot of guilt coming out in this post, and while I think there’s a time and a place for it, I’m hoping that you don’t get stuck there either.
You are doing a whole lot to build a longer table right now. Part of what enables you to do that is this job in food. Every job has give and take, good aspects and bad, and accepting both the good and the bad gives you peace to move on and do amazing things with what you’ve got.
I’m with you while you figure it out, 100%, because I want to learn from you too. I just worry that right now all of the excess is blocking you from also seeing how the excess leads to things that allow you to make the world a better place too.
This is stated so beautifully, Amber! Part of why opens our eyes and enables us to help IS the amazing food-centric job that we have. I’m praying wisdom in my own decisions and guidance for your path as well, Kristin. {hugs}
We are here because you add value. YOU are just like us and are brave to articulate how we all feel in our individual struggles. I battle my inner deamons all the time and am just now getting used to asking for help. We are in this together. Xo M
I think most people are privileged to NOT have to think about food in this kind of meaningful way but I appreciate you posting this – for being so thoughtful about food and sharing your experience. I tend to eat every last thing because my family didn’t have any to waste/spare when I was growing up but food waste is still a passionate topic for me – composting, being conscientious and mindful of where food comes from and where it goes and how it impacts the earth. I love reading about other people’s experiences on this topic and it keeps the flame going for me.
Kristen… you are amazing… being so open and honest and sharing your struggles here and its something many of us struggle with, so know you are not alone… 🙂 thank you for this. <3
So very beautifully written Kristen. This is time #2 I am left in tears today – first at Lindsay’s post, and now yours. Love this awareness bringing post and cannot wait to follow along your journey as you find your new comfort zone.
I love hearing about all of your time at the Community Kitchen. I can see how much it has truly touched you. It’s too bad that there aren’t more of those in all areas. I’m sure it would make an impact on a lot of lives.
Sounds like you are BEING the change you want to see in this world, and that is a powerful, powerful thing. Thank you for sharing something so personal and significant and for inspiring others!
Reading your post and Lindsay’s has left me a crying mess. Seriously, I have so much (even though I don’t always think I do) and others have so, so, so little. Thank you for sharing your heart with us! xoxo
((((hugs))) xoxoxo
I have been struggling with this too. Too. Much. Stuff. All of it. I think the older we get, the more the excess weighs us down, and we can physically *feel* it.
I think it is wonderful you are volunteering and I can sense the growth that is about to emerge.
Seriously loved this post Kristen!
Brava! I used to volunteer for a number of community organizations—till blogging took over. Now I’m working to bring balance back to my life.
I am going through very similar struggles, and have been, really since losing my sister in law over a year ago. Even though my blogging focus is that people should make good meals from whole foods, it has just seemed so trivial and even ridiculous to think about it so much.
My focus lately has been far more centered on natural ways of healing – because that is what has turned things around for me over the last year, both physically, and even more importantly, mentally. Not being depressed and feeling ill have allowed me to look beyond myself. I am training to become certified in Integrated Therapies which includes physical and mental healing using essential oils, massage and emotional healing, along with eating properly. [still into that, LOL!] There are so many people who could get off their medications, and be healthier and happier, and I want to be a part of their healing. It’s hard to worry about repins and likes when I am thinking about how to help a person who suffers from anxiety and fear every minute of the day.
It’s good I think, though – we should change and grow, shouldn’t we? Look past ourselves, and reach out into the world? I am happy for you, and can’t wait to see where you “travel” with this.
I heard something the other day about small acts influencing big changes to others, and I immediately thought of you. Just from our talks of you going to the Kitchen has opened my eyes. I’ve had a fire in me for so long to help, feed, nourish the hungry, what you are doing is so so meaningful and sharing it with us can kick start enough actions in others to be mindful and aware and do more about it.
I get everything you are saying. Proud of you for taking time to focus on your needs as well as others. xo
I adore you madly, my friend.
Kristen…I just love this. So powerful. So IMPORTANT! This really reminds me of when another friend Kristen (what is it with you good-hearted Kristens?) from We are THAT Family came home from her first trip to Africa. It changed her life. I’m getting teary-eyed writing this….the Holy Spirit is working in you, girl. And through you, in us, too.
For what it’s worth, my beautiful friend, my favorite posts of yours rarely have anything to do with the recipes. I come here to hear what you have to say. You are a beautiful writer and an amazing storyteller. I admire you for being vulnerable, honest and real. Don’t get me wrong, I know you’re a great cook, but recipes are only one of many reasons why your readers keep coming back. xoxoxo
I went through a lot of what you talked about last year when I discovered that the things that used to make me happy – fast server/hosting/writing…they didn’t any more. A lot of it stems back to 12 miscarriages in four years, but just as much of it is that I came to a critical realisation that though I like helping and being helpful, if I do it with the wrong people, I just fill up the pain they cause with more and more projects, so I don’t feel guilty when I tell them ‘I’m busy’. My excess was always projects, vollunteering in a bad way, not saying no. I’ve taken a few giant steps back, and I’m no longer involved with the same organisations as I was, bar two, one of which I co-founded. I’ve founded my own charity foundation for mental health awareness, and I’m pulling back from giving advice one on one – not because I don’t want to, but because I think there are better ways to ‘serve’ than mindlessly helping people without thinking about if I’m helping them or if I’d be better leaving them to grow a bit.
And when I put it like that it sounds stupid and selfish, but…in all bar one case, nine out of ten of the people knew about our baby issues, and yet, when another shared friend posted she wanted to fundraise to send me for tests not available on our health system, none of them said a word. I know it’s not as simple as being asked and doing, but having watched them talk about how much they were now making, how great the stuff was that they’d set up (I’d set up in most cases!) and how they’d worked on this all alone, I kinda felt like that was my sign to leave.
We never did raise that money for those tests, but in not doing that, I grew too – I’ve come to accept that I’ve got two gorgeous teenagers, and if we can’t have more, that’s ok. We’ll adopt, or donate to another family who needs it more.
*hugs* – I know it hurts to hit these points, but they’re part of who we become – you were already beautiful inside and out, so this is just more of that.
WOW!!!! This really hit home with all the past struggles I have had with food issues. Thanks so much for opening up and sharing!!!
Thanks so much for reading it!
Thank you for opening up, and for helping to open our eyes and remind us all of the struggles happening all around us. You are making a difference in more lives than you know, and I hope that brings you some peace amid all the soul-searching. XO
Kristen, I’m so happy you are posting this and sharing your thoughts with everyone. I completely understand your sense of conflict with the world of food blogging, especially after your experiences volunteering – with this job comes a lot of guilt and soul-searching at times. Just writing about it and sharing your thoughts, however vulnerable they are, WILL be helping so many others, I’m sure of it.
Thanks for being brave and sharing this!!! xo
Such a beautiful post Kristen. I often have worried about the huge focus of food on my life as my career. As I was recovering from my eating disorder and also working on a job surrounded by thoughts on food and nutrition, I found it a huge struggle. Food blogging is not all chocolate cupcakes and “dinners are done!” It can mess with your healthy relationship with food.
But your new perspective of HUNGER and those in true NEED for food is such a beautiful one. It makes me want to make time to volunteer as a good kitchen.
Thank you for sharing this <3
I think a lot of us feel the way you do, doing what we all do for a living. Such a shame. I have been guilty of throwing too much food away just so I didn’t eat it myself. Take all the time you need to get your groove back girl.
Goose Bumps Kristen. I think every food blogger knows how you feel. The last time I went through this feeling on a large scale I couldn’t leave it alone. It was when I found out about all of the food allergies in my family and I purged- my house, my furniture, my garage, my closet, and then realized that it was all a metaphor for purging my kitchen. I think you said it beautifully, I was “living in excess” and it not only started to disgust me, but I was literally sick from it. Thank you for giving awareness about Dining with Dignity I saw this on Facebook the other day and was so moved that I just told a group of people about it this morning. I will look into seeing if Seattle has a facility. Thank you for sharing- let us all know how we can support you in whatever you decide your new comfort zone is 🙂
Great post. I will pray that you can find your happy among all of this.
I had so many thoughts and feelings as I read this. First and foremost is that you have such a truly beautiful soul. You shine in this world. I hope you know that.
As a vegan, I’m really not sure that my thoughts count that much but, for my part, I’ve loved your non-food posts more than the food ones. Yes, the food photos (porn) are divine but I get so much from your non-food posts. Like about the tattoo you got and all the amazing meaning that accompanied it. Or the year that you said yes for your kids all summer. Or your bullet journaling (which I cannot for the life of me do!) Or your weekly reads or I could go on. I love all of that. I love how proactive you are about really LIVING your life and how much you inspire others by showing that. You sure inspire me! I look up to you so much. I’m not sure if you knew that but I do.
So, I would love to see even MORE of that! And, you know, living, loving and doing the things you always do for your kids is a really beautiful tribute to the man who lost his son. Think what he would give to be able to have that. But, don’t think about it in a bad way; just think of blessed each day is and how wonderful living life is. I know you do and I know that man would want you to do that. (Well, I don’t KNOW he would but I figure…)
Excess isn’t always bad.
Material excess can bring a gal down. I know. But excess in love, awareness, mindfulness, friends, positive connections and energy, opportunities, creativity, any of these are positive excesses. Could you focus more on those in your blog? I would be an avid reader, I can assure you!
One more thing… Do you remember when celebrities awhile back did a thing where they ate on $1.59 per day or whatever? Maybe you could do something like that and be totally creative with it. Eschew the excess, the loads of groceries or ingredients or whatever and go basic but still photograph it beautifully and enjoy it. Honor them through the food you cook, showcase and eat. Or make only meals with the contents of your cupboards and freezer until it runs out or goes very very low. I’ve seen those done and it’s a pretty neat exercise. You could ROCK that!
Just ideas that popped into mind as I was reading this.
Most of all though, know that you are helping these people so much and that doing such a wonderful, beautiful, meaningful thing. Whatever direction you go, you will do an absolutely amazing job. Of that I am certain.
xo.
*THUMBS UP* 😀
Thank you for putting this out there. This is really inspiring. XO
When my children were small we lived overseas in
Romania under the brutal repressive regime of Ceausescu. What I saw there changed how I looked at what I had taken for granted and what I thought I needed. Turns out need almost never entered into the equation. I could take for granted that we’d always have food, adequate clothing, shelter and reading materials. It was the start of such a powerful and hard look at what we really have to have in order to have a good life.
So well said, Kristen. Thank you for sharing what is on your heart. There’s so much takeaway here.
This resonates with me on so many levels… I’ve found myself at odds with my blog for a while, and sometimes I have trouble putting my finger on it. One of my long-term goals is to turn my love of food into a way that I can help others. I had planned to start a community garden and teach some cooking classes through our church right before I got pregnant with baby #2. Sadly, with two little ones at home, I don’t have the opportunity to do it now, but it’s always in the back of my mind.
I also have been at odds with trying to develop popular recipes vs. recipes that are healthy and good for me and my family.
Wherever you end up with all of this, you can be sure I will still be reading. In fact, it’s blog posts like this that are the reason I am still reading now. I’ve stopped reading most food blogs entirely at this point. I look forward to seeing what you do next. I know it will be great! XO
Beautiful post. I enjoyed reading it so much. Our passion constantly changes and evolves by our experiences.
Velva
Thank you so much for your honesty. It’s really beautiful that you are willing to share your heart. Volunteering like that is life changing, and you will be in my thoughts and prayers and you settle into your new place of comfort.
Thank you for sharing your brutally honest feelings. When you can look at situations through brand new eyes, the world widens. Your new vision has given me greater clarity for my own life’s purpose. Thank you, again!
This post is so beautifully heartfelt and it rings so true. Thank you for sharing and saying all of it <3
What a beautiful post. There are times when I share your feelings about my obsession with food. Buying organic, the best, the freshest. I am so very, very blessed. That is why I feel terrible shame and guilt, if I toss away food. I do think of those who are far less fortunate than I am. Thank you for putting this into words to beautifully. Even though I am thankful for MY blessings, I forget about the homeless and hungry in my own hometown– and we have too many of them. I’m trying to re-think how I eat and cook… that decadent desserts and comfort foods aren’t the way I should eat and post, just to get likes. You’ll figure it out, and we’ll all be watching.
I love you. The end.
What an inspiring post, Kristen. Improving one person’s day with a hot meal is so powerful. Thank you.
I know you titled this post “excess” but when I read it, all I thought was “nourishment.” Nourishment changes eating and filling up to promoting, growing, and fulfilling. How powerful.
I love that!!
Oh that’s a great way to look at it, Andrea. Love that!
I loved your post. It’s amazing how a short time walking in someone’s shoes or seeing someone else’s perceptive on something we consider so minor can make such a big impact on our lives. I look forward to seeing how this changes your focus on the blog. Thanks for sharing!
It really is… I’ve been impacted greatly by the people I’ve met there and the things I’ve seen. I absolutely can’t fathom not doing more!
Kristen, I am so glad you wrote this post and found an enriching experience that made a life difference! I went through something similar and got sick of making and shooting food for the sake of frivolous popularity. Four years ago, I decided that it was unsustainable and I needed to do something of real impact. Use the popularity I gained for the a bigger benefit (bigger than me). Then I became involved in food sustainability causes and advocating access to food and eating consciously. But, it was beyond just the likes. I loved how creative the blog made me. I had to find a way to marry it all.
So, I started a venture and a magazine (NOURISHED) that lets me explore, educate and help people to get a better connection with food – eat well, cook more, waste less. It also allows me to be creative and educational at the same time. On my blog, I cut down the posting frequency and re-jigged my creativity to simply shooting what I anyway eat and not fussing too much.
I am glad you are taking the time to rethink how you want to come back and give as well as receive. Let me know if you want to explore working together, would love to chat!
I can’t wait to check out Nourished, Asha. I don’t know how I missed that you had started that! Thank you so much for sharing your perspective and your passion! I’d love to work together on something related to this sometime… that would be an absolute honor.
Awesome post! I believe with all of my heart that when we love and serve others, God will bless us and we will have this ultimate happiness in our heart. For, isn’t this what we are here for – to love and serve others and bring Glory to God! Bless you for what you are doing and continue your good works! (I think you’ve already got this all figured out!)
That is absolutely what we are here for! You are the sweetest… thank you!
This spoke to my heart, Kristen. Thank you for writing and publishing this post. You have a way of writing about things that are so real and so important to be reminded of.
Much love, friend. Thank you!
Thank you for your kind words and support of the work happening at the Kansas City Community Kitchen. We could not be more humbled and honored by all of the support we have received in recent weeks. As we continue to move beyond Feeding the Hungry to focus on Changing Lives, we hope others will be moved as you have been.
Again, THANK YOU, from all of us here at Episcopal Community Services.
Thank you so much!
Beautiful – we’re sitting in our office crying as we read this! Thank you for expressing your own thoughts and feelings as you process them and how this changes your life. When we say our mission is “Feeding the Hungry; Changing Lives” this is exactly what we mean. Would you mind if we shared this or reprinted in a newsletter?
Also want to encourage you – while what you’ve been doing may seem frivolous from one perspective, there’s something to be said for having a voice that others follow. Just talking about your experience is making this blog more meaningful and impacting others in ways we can’t possibly know. When we do this work of working with those in poverty, we must constantly strive for our own sense of balance. What is enough vs. too much? There aren’t right answers – just what feels right for you at that point in your life. Hoping you continue to find meaning in whatever you do and use your unique and authentic voice to continue to inspire others.
Oh wow – well how can I think you all for allowing me to be a part of this? I appreciate it so much!
And of course you can use this however you see fit! Thanks so much for your perspective. It’s really helpful!
What a wonderful post. And what a lovely thing you are doing working at the soup kitchen and changing attitudes and helping people on a day to day basis.
I totally get and hear that you are saying. Very often I feel like the what I’m doing on my blog is frivolous/I have too much and I am not focused on what I should be when there are so many more important things and issues in the world. I had a somewhat similar experience recently and one blogger did give me food for thought, it’s a business and you still have to feed your family. I like to think there’s a happy medium – using our voices for good while still supporting our families? If that makes sense?
And it sounds like you are on a really wonderful path. I am sure you will find what you are looking for.
That really is a good way to look at it, Whitney! I just need to reconcile those thoughts and figure out how to do it all in good conscience! Thank you so much!
I am SOOOOOO glad you published this! I believe many of us needed to read it and many of us battle the same thing. I’ve spent 2016 trying to do away with excess and while it’s not easy, it’s worth it! Less Mess = Less Stress!!!
And I LOVE hearing you talk about Dining with Dignity on SC. I so wish this was available in more states. What an amazing experience to be a part of.
It’s been so incredible. From what I understand I do believe they are trying to launch this concept in other regions as well, so hopefully soon enough it will be more common place than not!
Kristen, I’m so glad you published this…thank you for sharing you with us always. xoxo
Thank you for reading and for listening to my “rant” the other day… I appreciate your friendship, always!
Thank you for the post on excess. It has been on my mind also. My relatives were missionaries in the Philippines for many years so the condition written about on the link was so touching.
Crying as I’m reading this. This is beautiful. And I can’t wait to see where you go from here.
Kristen,
I absolutely love this post. I think it all comes down to staying consistent with who you are and keeping the integrity of yourself behind the message of your blog. It’s definitely hard when so much focus is on traffic and ‘likes’ but I have to believe that if we stay true to cooking food that we find nourishing and that we love, other people will follow. I think you’ve always done a beautiful job at this and while being a food blogger is a strange and difficult thing sometimes, you are obviously very successful at it! I look up to you and hope you find the path you’re looking for!
xo,
Taylor
Such good points – we are in strange positions in our field of work. I appreciate you sharing your perspective and your sweet words. Thanks so much!
You have such a talent for crafting stories and telling them from your heart. Thank you for your honesty and for allowing us to see a bit of your vulnerability — your humanity. I know you will find a balance that works for you and makes you happy. Until then, I’ll be among the many who will be here waiting for you when you’re ready to return. XO
Thank you so much for always being so supportive, Michelle! I truly appreciate you.
I loved your post. It is amazing how a short time walking in someones life
Right? It certainly provides an interesting perspective! Thank you for your kindness!
Than you for sharing such a valuable perspective, one that is uncomfortable and not often discussed.,but so, so important. You have a started a powerful conversation and your struggles are real. Your story has given me things to think about when making decisions for my next steps.
I’m so thankful I gave you some “food for though” so to speak. I appreciate your comment!
Beautiful post. Thanks so much for your real, honest, inspiring words!
Thank you so much, Chelsea!
This is my 5th try at leaving a reply. I really appreciated the blog post as I have thoughts that are similar. Although I am not into any food blogging I have felt that too much emphasis is on food in our daily lives. Rather than eating to live with nourishment, we have become obsessed with food and living to eat as you said…hence food binges and dieting. I clicked on the link about the Philippines and that really spoke to me as my relatives were missionaries there for many years and I know the conditions are true and even worse in places. Thank you.
I’m so sorry you had a hard time leaving a comment. I’ll try to figure out what’s going on with the site!
I stumbled upon your blog while surfing other blogs but I am so, so happy this is the post that lead me here. Hoe beautifully written. You have verbalized so many inner emotions I have continually. I wasn’t a reader before (simply because I didn’t know your little slide of the internet existed) but I will be one now, no matter where this takes you.
Beautiful post. I think you’ve managed to put into words what so many of us feel. We need to have our hearts and minds opened to the world around us a little more often 🙂
What a great, honest, gritty post about the fine line we are walking when we blog and play and dream about food. Its delicious and a real touchable pleasure but that’s all woven into the fact that its also addiction and pain covering and absurd and frippery. Its so necessary to be real and to re-context.
Oh Kristen – I can relate to this post in so many ways. As a cake/dessert blogger who also struggles with excess in every area (weight, food, home, stuff, etc.), this really hit home for me. God bless you as you find your balance.
This post should be read by all foodies. Bless you. Don’t be afraid if you balance leads you in a different direction.
Thank you for posting this. I needed to read it.
I understand very much your insights regarding “Living in Excess.” I am a psychologist and suspect there is a connection between wanting so much in terms of food, accomplishments, etc. We also live in a society that is always encouraging us to “buy.” As I write this post, an advertisement from one of my favorite apparel catalogues keeps flashing pictures of clothes I may like to buy! We live in a society that encourages excess–“More is Better,” until it’s not. I myself am trying to reel that part of me in that I enjoy but that also leads to me having (Yes, somewhat like you…) an excess of weight, recipes that I’ve collected, lovely things I have bought and more I want to buy AND a list of articles to read for pleasure and for work, and many, many professional and personal goals I barely get to every month. Much thanks for your insightful article. Your Blog is also lovely…am enjoying it!
Kristen,
This is a very important post. Thank you for writing your thoughts and sharing them. Many first world consumers struggle to put their food relationship and worries into a perspective that embraces the vast gap between excess-norm and hunger-reality. As a farmer’s wife, I am quite exasperated many times with this communication struggle – even resting from blogging because it’s tiring to feed the world and try to answer questions and help reformulate assumptions. This article of yours is good communication. Good perspective. Incredibly valuable for turning a corner in our food-media-hype setting. I appreciate this article muchly.
Best to you. Emily Grace
I’ve a lump in my throat, and my heart hurts. It hurts for the times I’ve wasted, I’ve hoarded, I’ve lacked appreciation for what I”m blessed with. And it hurts “good,” with hope for how I might be more intentional to bless others with what I have… how I might purpose to live with less, and give much, much more. Thank you for saying something so important, so beautifully. Thank you for giving of you, to set an example for those of us who read and are inspired by what you cook, shoot, and write! 🙂
This was a fabulous article and great experience for you to write about! I love the restaurant idea. Thank you.I hope as your children mature you introduce them to this world because they need to really understand how blessed their life really is and to know that many others do not have it as good. I remember one young girl that did not even know what a trailer park wasw and I find that level of innocense hard to comprehend based on my background. Whie you can tell them about it and they can read about it, only when they see if for themselves can they really get the true picture.