I’m spending a few days attending the Kushi Institute Annual Macrobiotic Conference (my 4th) and learning a bunch of new things. Well, not actually learning them for the first time, but in a state of readiness and openness to try on a new behavior after hearing about it for many years.

I had an individual session yesterday with a macrobiotic counselor who listened to my symptoms (minor, but not insignificant) and made many recommendations. For this one-time Friendly’s mint-chocolate chip ice cream addict, I have moved away from sugar and dairy, but not entirely lost my sweet tooth. We discussed my daily frozen banana treat, for instance. I came to appreciate how this tropical, dense fruit is not doing me any favors. I’m going to eliminate it for a period of time and take a look at how I feel.

That’s just one example of the analysis and recommendations he laid out for me. There were many. In fact, I plan to create a chart when I get back home to help me implement everything he said.

Another biggie was that I not read the Times in the morning over breakfast. That meals should be spent eating, chewing and digesting and nothing else. Maybe some classical music in the background or conversation, but not an external activity. This will be a huge transition for me. I gather so much information during that 30-45 minute meal. My fear is that I’ll be less informed. His counter-offer is that allowing myself the full pleasure and experience of the meal will be so life-enhancing that other areas will open up exponentially.

Isn’t that always the fear with letting go of a habit? That there will only be a void in its place, not a remarkable outcome. I’m willing to trust the wisdom of the teachers I choose to guide me in this new direction. It’s challenging, to say the least. But what extraordinary feats are accomplished that aren’t challenging?