Eating is one of my favorite things to do. Good food makes my legs move and my body dance. I am also wont to hum a happy tune as I chew and savor a bite of goodness. ππ½ββοΈ
Some time back, I was talking to someone and relaying a story about an experience eating. As I was telling the story and saying, not for the first time in my life, that I hate to eat alone, I got suddenly teary-eyed. I had to smile to ward off more tears as I said it again, more for my own sake than the other person’s.
Perhaps it was hormones or the chemical imbalance of my emotions, but as I contemplated later the emotional reaction, I realized just how deep the feeling goes.
In my adoption papers, it says:
According to the foster mother, she (I) would eat much. In my (social worker’s) opinion, it seems that she (I) would take (eat) much because of her (my) lack of love.
Food seems to always have had an emotional connection to me. Possibly, eating was always a happy time with my birth mother. π€±π½
In my family, sitting around the dining table for dinner together was always one of my favorite times of the day. It was when we shared our days, talked about plans, and in general talked with one another – good or bad. Generally, it was less about the food (though I do love food!), but more about the socializing.
This attitude continued as I got older. University mealtimes were something to look forward to as time to catch up with my friends and we almost always met up in the cafeteria or went there together. It was an unspoken agreement that no one ever ate alone.
Never did I eat alone outside of my home until I was in my 30s. Even these days, I will limit the places that I consume food on my own to cafes or while on the move π³in between locations. Also, I will often avoid eating at all until I am home where I deem it safe to eat by myself if I must. π€·π½ββοΈ
More than this dislike for eating alone, I especially dislike eating in silence. π€π π½ββοΈThere is absolutely no need to be in the company of others and not be talking while enjoying some food.
Whenever I see couples together at a restaurant and they aren’t talking while eating, I feel sad for them. Or, when groups are out and most of the people are on their phones, it is disappointing even if they are ‘talking’ online.
In these cases, the full experience of breaking bread together is diminished. The Urban Dictionary defines “breaking bread” as:
To break bread is to affirm trust, confidence, and comfort with an individual or group of people. Breaking bread has a notation of friendliness and informality, derived from the original meaning regarding sharing the loaf.
Therefore, it is meant that through eating together and conversations we build trust and confidence with each other in a comfortable manner.
So, when I am with someone who doesn’t talk while eating, choosing to look at their phone or do something other than share the experience with me, I get sad and disappointed. When I am with someone who devours their meal without breathing, or the reverse, picks at their food with boredom, I get frustrated. I’d almost rather eat alone in those cases – almost! π€¦π½ββοΈ
In any case, it’s probably just me and my issues.
I get that, but if I can encourage everyone to develop an appreciation for food or at least the experience of eating with someone else, then I feel as if I’m helped to make the world a better place!
Let’s eat! π½π₯°
~T π
