Loverism vs consumerism: an example

Loverism, is a term I’ve coined as an alternative to consumerism. Loverism is defined as the art and practice of being loving. At a practical level, loverism is defined as investing our manufacturing and technological capabilities in products and services that are life affirming.

On a recent trip to Denver to visit family, the food choices consisted of four different box lunches consisting of prepackaged convenience foods. In looking over the menu of choices, I realized that none of these lunches met my standards of nutrition. They were all highly processed and laden with fat, starch, salt and sugar and carried negligible amounts of vitamins or minerals. So not only wouldn’t these foods nourish me in any way, but the only thing they’d provide me with would be a lot of calories. And, the airline had the nerve to charge $5.00 for each meal. What bothered me most was that the healthiest ‘lunch’ on the menu, consisting of tuna, gouda, organic crackers and raisins, was not available. Why? No one ordered it.

At that moment I realized that I couldn’t blame the airline for offering low quality food. Why not offer it? People eat it and are even willing to pay for it.

At the same time people are eating empty calories, there’s a furor over health care. Nutrition researchers have devised dietary guidelines. http://www.healthierus.gov/nutrition.html

Is the U.S. Government’s web site with the latest information about healthy eating. Fresh fruits and vegetables are integral to the healthy food recommendations.

There’s a paradox however: on the one hand it is evident that fresh, whole foods are healthier than processed highly refined foods, there are more processed foods sold in markets today than ever before. In addition, even though our government recommends eating fresh produce, it’s cut FDA funding for quality control inspectors. The recent outbreak of E Coli linked to spinach is a direct result of having too few inspectors making sure that the food we consume isn’t tainted.

In a society based on consumerism, all of the above paradoxes exist. People can eat what’s bad for them because that’s what’s readily available and through advertising is made enticing and there’s no oversight to ensure quality.

In a society based on loverism, where people are nourished rather than fed, no one would eat anything that’s bad for them. Food would be seen as something sacred; a gift from the earth; a thing to be relished and savored. Companies would invest in making sure that they produced only the purest, most wholesome foods under the most stringent hygienic conditions. And government would insist on overseeing the companies to ensure that they were living up to the highest standards.

There was a commercial for Hebrew National franks a few years ago that said that the company answered to a Higher authority. A society based on the loving values of a Higher authority, would want every single living entity to be nourished and cared for so that he or she can make the highest contribution to that society that he or she can make.

A life well-lived

In an age thick with threats of all kinds, staying happy may seem more difficult. The irony is that happiness and health go hand in hand. Stress, worry, and anxiety deplete us of energy reserves and contribute to illness and aging. To keep up with life’s demands, we need to have as much energy and enthusiasm as we can generate. The key to staying both healthy and happy is to savor the current moment. This sounds simplistic, but the more one focuses on the current moment, the more brain waves and breathing slow, and the body’s restorative mechanisms are able to kick in. How do we allow our bodies to restore? Below are five keys to savoring a well-lived life.

1. Practice breath awareness: Breathing patterns are related to mood. When we’re stressed, breathing is shallow. When we’re relaxed, breathing is full. Full breath means that your cells are receiving more oxygen. Your system is restored to a state of equilibrium. One simple breath that will begin the restorative process is to focus your attention on the middle of your chest and inhale to a count of four and exhale to a count of four. As you slow your breath, your mind becomes clearer and more focused. By calming your mind, you can begin to pay attention to your body’s subtle promptings

2. Tune into your Chi: Chi is the vital energy that animates the body. Chi is also called prana and kundalini. By tuning into your Chi, you will become more and more aware of the difference between feeling good and feeling bad. The busyness of mind chatter and multi-tasking takes a toll physically. A full body scan, done with eyes closed and slowed breathing, not only restores energy, but makes you more aware of when you’re body is functioning optimally.

3. Make pleasure a priority: Doing what you love doing is healthy. This should be a no-brainer. Yet, too many people deprive themselves of joy. Sunsets, music, sensuous fragrances, fine wine, great food, and giving and receiving love are all part of life's bounty.

4. Practice gratitude: Gratitude is a very healing feeling. When you focus more on what you have, what you have multiplies. Gratitude sends happy hormones to your brain and initiates the relaxation response.

5. Love somebody: Giving and receiving love is the primary human need. Dr. Dean Ornish, who reversed heart disease through behavioral change and diet, has found that love and intimacy are the most important contributors to health and well-being.

The times we live in require clear thinking, emotional balance, physical strength, and spiritual fearlessness. By practicing the five keys above, you will be able to handle anything that comes your with grace and energy You will feel healthier, happier and more fulfilled.