Brown Bag It

The recalibrating power of a good PB&J.

All,

On Sunday, I shared some reflections about what we can learn from eating the Mediterranean way, and there’s a specific component of the approach I want to underscore here today.

Because ‘tis the season for al fresco dining, and there’s one meal in particular that I want us to prioritize eating outdoors.

And that’s lunch.

Insert collective grumble here (present company included).

I mean, what is it with hitting pause midday for some fuel? When did it become such an afterthought?

Or, rather a mid-thought, sandwiched (tehehe) in the midst of work, or changing over the laundry, or standing at the counter, crumbs in the keyboard, multitasking between bites.

Yes, lunch – in my opinion – has become the most haphazard eating occasion of all, with most of the clients I work with often skipping it entirely, only to crash head-first into a 3PM less-than-desirable “snack,” which is then often followed by a 6PM hefty pour of something strong.

I mean, am I the only one who can fondly recall the days of the lunchbox? Of soup in the thermos?

Or, the maligned yet also beloved brown bag that always seemed to sheerly hint at its contents (grease stains and all)?

There was a time when lunch was an event. An opportunity to pause and shut off and laugh with your friends or stare out the window.

A distinct line breaking the day in two, whatever the form.

So this is why I want to rally us all to reclaim lunch as more than just a mindless nosh and use it to interject some presence into our inclination to just plow through.

Taking it outside while the season allows ups the ante considerably. No reservation required; just a bench, a patio chair, or your butt in the grass will do.

Because not only will you get some fresh air in the process, but there’s great power in saying to everything else swirling around you that it can wait (even if it’s just for 10 minutes).

It’s just like we talked about with the five-minute detour:

Watch what happens when you walk out the door…

…and then walk back through.

Here’s to you,