Being Social with Food

 With 4th of July being tomorrow I thought this topic was fitting.  When we gather with friends and family, there is often food involved.  Early in my stomachless journey this would cause some anxiety for me.  When you are so used to socializing a certain way and that changes just because of your eating habits, there is a learning curve.  So while teaching my body how to digest food in a different way, there was another lesson to be had.

How to be social around food.  When you don't have a stomach its pretty important to chew your food ALOT.  Think, no stomach = no stomach acid to break down the food.  So my teeth and saliva are what do the majority of breaking down my food.  When you're focused on chewing your food, it can be difficult to be social, talk, and interact with people.  I've found just being open and vulnerable has been the best way.  Letting people know I'm not talking a lot for this reason.  Or if I'm talking with food in my mouth, this is why.  Simply giving a hand gesture to wait for my response.  

I used to wonder what people thought of all this.  But life's way too short to worry about that.  I'm doing what I need to do to take care of my body the best way I know how.  And it's doesn't really matter what people think of it.

Just like when I have a plate half empty because I know I'm not going to be able to eat a ton.  People who don't know me say things like "is that all you're going to eat?"  I used to find myself getting defensive to this.  But I know it comes from a genuine place of curiosity.  People see how thin I am and how much food I put on my plate.  It's all good.  Then they see me go back for more in a couple of hours and wonder to themselves "I'm still stuffed and she's eating again?"  Kind of goes back to the idea that we shouldn't judge others.  We often don't know what they are going through.  There's no sense in creating shame, when we can be building each other up.  

It does get a bit annoying needing to think about food ALL the time.  But I embrace it most of the time.  I know I feel best when I eat often and fuel my body with good food.  And I want to feel good.  So if that's what I gotta do, that's what I'll do.  When we take care of ourselves, our bodies take care of us.  This month, I'm really focusing on self care.  What does that actually mean?  How do we accomplish it?  You can find me on Instagram @the_eo_seahorse to follow along.  

So for those of you who are feeling a bit anxious about socializing for the 4th of July for one reason or another.  You got this.  The more I've done it, the better it's gotten.  And I believe it will for you too.  Sometimes when we are the most uncomfortable are the times we are going to learn the most from.  Lean into that discomfort.  You might be surprise what you learn from yourself.