Some Words on Drew & Fasting.

Many spiritual traditions have practiced periods of fasting— not as punishment, but as an invitation to become more awake.

Although Thich Nhat Hanh — one of Drew's first teachers— didn't spend much time teaching about liquid fasts specifically, he often reminded us that mindfulness begins with noticing what we consume. And that doesn't only mean food. We also consume conversations, news, social media, worries, entertainment, and even our own thoughts.

Sometimes, gently eating less— or choosing a simple liquid fast under appropriate circumstances— can become another way of practicing awareness rather than another item on a self-improvement checklist.

Thich Nhat Hanh wrote that we should nourish ourselves with what brings peace instead of what merely fills us. In that spirit, a fast isn't about deprivation. It's about creating enough quiet to hear ourselves again.

Perhaps that's why many people who fast describe something unexpected. After the hunger settles, the mind often becomes a little less noisy. The world seems to slow down. A sip of broth or tea becomes something to appreciate rather than something to rush through. Gratitude quietly returns.

This week, Drew has chosen both a break from electronics and solid food. I find those two practices beautifully connected. One rests the body. The other rests the mind.

Whether we ever choose to fast or not, all of us can practice what Thich Nhat Hanh taught so well: taking one mindful breath before reaching for the next distraction.

Sometimes the greatest nourishment isn't adding something new.

It's simply creating enough space to appreciate what is already here.

2 comments

Some Words on Drew & Fasting.