Raw 101 - Evolution in Raw & Living Food
One of the most important aspect of the raw and living food lifestyle is the evolution it sets in motion. Some might try to resist the inevitable changes brought upon by eating more raw food. Some might try to direct the evolution powered by raw & living foods where it does not want to go. Some may even try to hinder the evolution of others (to suit their own agendas). None of this serves any greater purpose. It is all ego.
Being non-judgmental of one's self and particularly of others, constitute the basis of all forward evolution, on the raw & living food journey as in everything else in Life. Criticism, condemnation: these two have never brought anything of worth to the world. The raw and living food community tries to embody more constructive and better values.
In the same order of things, it would be unkind to assess another person's commitment to health by ascribing them value based on that person's degree of rawness (100% raw being the top for such people). Nor would it be wise to judge of a person's character based on their willingness to be 100% raw. "It's not just about the food..." comes down to being in harmony with one's eating habits, one's environment and living naturally. This means that each person is allowed (and even encouraged) to journey on his or her own raw & living food path, at the speed that make them comfortable and happy.
David Rainoshek has a very useful concept and description of the process: the Spectrum of Diet. What it basically comes down to is this: some people start their journey on the living food path as Junk-Food eaters. They have a long journey in front of them. Breaking the addictive hold of processed commercial fast-food requires vigorous efforts. Others come to raw foods from the Standard American (or any other country's) Diet. Most of them face some pretty intense detox when going raw. And all other categories (and variants thereof): Whole Foods, Vegetarian, and Vegan. To various degrees, and in different ways, all these people will face challenges particular to their eating-habit's background. The motivation behind each of these lifestyle choice differs. One cannot judge another based on these summary classifications: there are just too many variables to take into account. Any judgment set forth would therefore be incomplete and based on gross assumptions.
Instead of looking outside of one's self onto others, look inside. Listen to your inner voice. Explore and make changes based on what it is guiding you towards. Extend others grace and they shall pay you the same graciousness. Now isn't this more like it? Adopting the raw and living food lifestyle for ourselves, while being shining beacons of vibrant health and positive energy into the universe, and letting others do the same, in their own time, only if they want to and to the degree they choose.
Raw and very, very lively hugs,
