It’s rare, if ever, that I re-post full articles that help me in my life; usually I provide a quote on Twitter or my Facebook page so you can find out more.

But I really felt compelled to share this full article with you from one of my mentors, Geoff Thompson. Take time to let this wash over you and marinate in it for a while, I think you’ll like it…

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Republished with kind permission of GeoffThompson.com

Do you know what you should do if you ever find yourself in a dilemma and need some concise answers to probing and difficult life questions?

Ask a tree of course! That’s what I did.

My wife Sharon said to me (a little exasperated) you’re not hugging trees now are you?

Don’t be silly…I insisted. We were just talking.

Well, maybe I hugged it once, or twice (who’s counting). But that is between me and the oak.

It was worth the embarrassment. I took a lot of wisdom from our conversations. All the answers are in nature.

How many times have you heard that old fable?

It is hackneyed and it is corny and….it’s actually true. Everything we need to know about thriving on the planet earth can be learned by observing nature and its laws.

Once, when I was going through a particularly painful life experience (that seemed to be lasting forever) I decided immerse myself in nature to see if she could offer me escape. I found myself in 300 acres of forest, standing under a 500 year Oak and looking up in awe; I had to crank my neck right back in order to survey its full height.

It was a formidable sight to behold. The roots looked like a dozen giant, sinewy legs buried deep into the earth, its trunk was as wide as five large men and as hard as a miners boot, and its branches, like bulging arms punched high into the sky and umbrellad out in every direction.

It was an inspiring sight.
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I had a couple of people on my Facebook page ask me what I do in social situations like eating out at restaurants or friends’ houses.

This seems to be a real sticking point with some people and stops them even trying to eat raw, so I thought I’d repost here.

Here’s my current thoughts…

Q: Do you ever eat cooked foods, Russell? What happens if you go for dinner to friends and family who are not raw, or to a cooked restaurant?

Q: Yes I was wondering the same thing? How do you cope, don’t you find the raw life style antisocial?

A: I allow myself to be OK with doing the best I can with any situation.

Raw food for me is not about constraints but about having more options.

It’s also not, for me, an all or nothing lifestyle. So in my normal everyday life I’m all about the raw :) But if someone invites me to dinner and they’ve made me a nice veggie meal, or I go to a restaurant and I can get a good veggie option, then I’ll do that.

Then after that experience Im right back on the raw foods I love so much. Often though restaurants can put something raw together for you, especially if you call ahead.

I’ve seen so many people be more successful staying with raw foods by cutting themselves a little slack in the social situations, as far as raw food is concerned.

The main thing is to think ahead about how you feel about it so it’s all a conscious decision that you feel happy and guiltless about, not a corner you feel backed into.

For more raw food recipes, visit my blog recipes page.