Russell James - Raw Food - Raw Food Diet
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24

Apr

2009

How To Know When You’ve Out-Grown The Matrix

Saved in:-   General



This morning I found myself in a situation where I was looking at the drip-tray from one of those ‘healthy’ grilling machines. It was half full with the all too familiar white, back and brown animal fat ‘stuff’.

I wondered if an alien was to come down and want to learn about our habits here on earth, we showed her people actually eat from the machine that produces that residue, what she would think.

I mean, it just seems bizarre to me that someone can think the food produced from that as edible.

But you know what?

I used to eat that stuff as well!

Yep, I used to eat the worst fat-dripping, no-idea-what-the-hell-is-in-that type of burgers. And kebabs too! Jason Vale calls it mystery food, because it’s a complete mystery what exactly is in kebab ‘meat’.

This is not an attack on meat-eaters or any other group, stay with me here….

Sometimes I find myself looking at smokers and just wondering why they do it. It just seems ridiculous to me that someone would pay such a high-price, financially and in terms of their health, for something that they don’t actually need to do (non-smokers get stressed too but don’t need to have a cigarette to calm them down). Even taking into account addiction you’d think smelling like an ash tray whilst killing yourself and paying for the privilege would be enough to stop someone.

Actually there’s a lot more factors involved in ending destructive behaviour, I know. A great book about changing behaviours is Change Or Die by Alan Deutschman.

But you know what else? I also used to smoke, too.

So the fascinating thing for me is that I used to do these things and not question them because of my ego-defence of being in denial, yet now these things just seem bizarre to me. No matter how bad things got I just could not bring myself to eat from that grill (despite actually still quite liking the smell of bacon, for some reason) or lift that cigarette to my mouth.

I guess that’s true change; it’s out-growing the matrix.

It’s knowing that when someone asks you if you ever feel like you’re missing out by not drinking alcohol, not eating meat/bread/diary or eating a mostly raw diet…whatever it is for you, it seems like a strange question, because why wouldn’t everyone want to feel so good?

‘Missing out’ doesn’t even come into the equation sometimes.

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  • http://www.FatGirlTrim.com Katrina Brunsden

    Hey Russell,

    Walking around Central London on Saturday night seeing everyone drinking and smoking and often times I feel like I am the alien! And I wonder why so many beautiful people are self harming and worse still, happy to pay for the privilege!

    I love my life that I have created today, and giving up all my addictions was definitely the key to it all unfolding.

    Keep being amazing. I love food and I love your work. (And my favourite movie of all times is The Matrix. I reckon it captures the scenario perfectly).

    Thanks for the post.

    Katrina x

  • http://kenandjenperkes.blogspot.com Ken Perkes

    Well said!

    For me, the most interesting aspect of eating raw [only one month now] is that I have almost no cravings, no desire to go back! It actually seems sad [no pun intended] to me to do so . . . like it would really be going backwards.

    Your blog has inspired me on at least two levels: philosophy and, of course, FOOD–amazing food! And I think it is interesting how “connected” I have felt to those who enjoy such a healthy lifestyle.

    THANKS!

  • http://www.luiyuming.com astrorainfall

    Great post. I feel exactly like that when I see people smoke or tuck into hot dogs or something similar. And I used to be one of these people! Not shouting from some moral high ground but I feel like I’ve moved light years away from that.

  • Karen Redpath

    THAT is EXACTLY how it is! Well said.

    Being raw is not a just a diet, it is unique (clear and uncomplicated) physical and mental state. When you are raw you are operating on a different frequency and you radiate a different type of energy. There is nothing weird about this, it is simply the way nature intended us to be in the first place.

    Being raw changes the way you experience the world… totally.

    You are awesome.
    Karen.

  • http://www.funandmentalchanges.com FitterTwit

    OMGosh! That was pure poetry! What a great blog post!!!!

  • http://acupofjoanna.blogspot.com joanna

    I’ve been following your blog for quite a while but haven’t commented before. I really liked this post because you were really straight forward and honest. I, too, used to eat a standard american diet and could’ve cared less about what i was doing to my health. Living RAW is about respecting your body and when I see people eating junk, I just remind myself that I only have one life and I don’t want to treat my body like crap. Being a college student, I haven’t met a friend who doesn’t drink but I don’t envy all the partying they do whatsoever. I’m no saint haha or goodie-goodie, but i’d rather read on a friday night then go to a bar.

    Cheers!!

    -Joanna

  • Mimi

    Russell, you put that so beautifully! I think about what you said all the time. I to look around and want to tell people how wonderful being a living food raw person is, but i know for many, old habits are hard to change. The good news however is that so many friends of mine are now eating more raw food after tasting what I make and seeing how I look and feel. my boyfriend whom I never thought would even try raw food, eats mostly raw now. My daughters, and other members of my family now eat more raw and love everything I make for them. there is hope. It is a movement that is catching on and growing quickly. yippee!

  • http://www.watzzupsport.com watzzupsport

    What i find most difficult, is that even people close to me can see the benefits of a raw food healthy life style, somehow they seem to think I am the one missing out, yet they go from one diet to another and struggle with their relationship with food.

  • RawQi

    It is a fascinating new life to awaken from the so-called Matrix. The world vibrates differently over here and it feels good to finally be alive. I am still new to this life and it is so inspiring to find others out there who are pioneers, paving the way and teaching others how to remember their true nature. It is time we all remember what it is to be one with the universe. Eating raw is a huge part of that. Thanks, rawchef!

  • http://www.girlontour.com GirlonTour

    Being very new to RAW I have found inconclusive information regarding alcohol consumption. It appears some people do and others don’t. Any suggestions on what I should drink if I choose to have a High Raw diet? What is the best out of a bad bunch to choose?

  • Marty

    naturally femented beers (craft beers in australia) and or red wines that are preservative free ….avoid hard (distilled) alcohol…

  • Anna

    Hi Chef!
    You´re saying what I´ve been thinking for a long time. I haven´t been high raw for that long but I´ve got food intollerances and been mainly glutenfree vegan for sometime. The stuff most people eat just smells and looks, well let´s just say, not very good! It´s strange how your tastebuds and sense of smell changes! I used to hate pineapple, now I love it, the same goes for olives and sauerkraut. Thanks for being so inspirational!

  • http://jesstyler.wordpress.com Jess

    I’m new to your site, but I love it! Thank you for posting this. I’m VERY new to eating healthy and have been eating more and more raw foods (hence, stumbling upon the raw food living quite by accident). While I still eat some meat, I’m finding that I almost HAVE to have a HUGE salad every night. I no longer crave soda (which I’ve had a serious addiction to for YEARS) after 7 weeks without. I’ve cut out as much processed foods and sugar as possible. I feel much better, but keep looking at raw foods as making me feel EVEN better. If you have any suggestions for a newbie, please share! For now, I’ll continue reading past posts.
    Thanks again!

  • alina

    well, well, well, what is going on in the world today??

    Gordon Ramsay (you know, that foul-mouthed TV cook guy who never shuts up about how he hates all things vegetarian… maybe the lovely Joanna Lumley could sort him out too :-) has just signed up for a vegetarian, yes, vegetarian tour of India to be shown on Channel 4.

    NVW starts on Mon 18 May; and, oh what exciting news, scientists now reckon that the way things are going, in just 67 – 68 years all of Britain will be vegetarian!!!

    so hurray to that, and how about one great visualisation exercise: imagine the day when tables are turned (no pun intended :-) and vegetarians are the norm while meat eaters are met with raised eyebrows… how great is that going to be?

    Now that WILL be true change and out-growing the matrix, won’t it. Keep up the good work Russell, you’re doing far more good than you know

  • Lula

    Hmmm…I’m sure there are certain areas in which we could all improve. Life is process. We’re constantly evolving. I’m grateful I know better and, thus, do better. Cheers!

  • Janet Clarke

    How insightful your comments. With thanks for your shared recipes and appreciation of your creativity. A BIG hello from Australia.

  • http://www.renewnaac.com Lisa Erwin

    Thanks Russell, I just wanted to let you know not only are you a spectacular human being, so giving, but your also an incredible inspiration to me.

    Thank you for being on this planet and sharing yourself.

    Lisa Erwin
    Dallas Texas USA

    BTW People will not leave me alone about making your Pomegranate cheesecake for them! Today I am branching out though and making a tropical layered cheesecake.

  • Kylie Scofield

    Hi Russell

    Like all the previous bloggers I too thank you for being a living inspiration.
    Its great to feel supported and understood in my choice for a raw food diet even if it is by people half way around the world(i’m in oz). I just find it incredible how many people are getting switched on to eating raw. I love raw food websites and can’t get enough of the raw food chef (especially all the delicious pics). Keep up the great work! Love the blog. I find I have to stay positive and not get too judgemental in the supermarket, I am almost compelled to say to people any wonder you are obese with all that crap in your trolley!! My conclusion that a small amount of this weird compulsion is normal to help me stay focused on RAW, beautiful raw, challenging raw, yummy delicious raw.