Comments on: You Don’t Cook — I’m Better Than You http://www.daynamacy.com/blog/2008/05/21/you-dont-like-to-cook-ergo-im-better-than-you/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:13:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Akasha http://www.daynamacy.com/blog/2008/05/21/you-dont-like-to-cook-ergo-im-better-than-you/#comment-136 Akasha Fri, 23 May 2008 16:02:28 +0000 http://www.daynamacy.com/blog/2008/05/21/you-dont-like-to-cook-ergo-im-better-than-you/#comment-136 I wish I had been at that session! Dayna, I loved your answer to the woman who doesn't have time to cook and isn't that interested in food. Like her, I'm a non-cook, and so often I feel inferior, and like a failure as a yogini, as a mother, and as a woman. Although I've mad considerable progress in overcoming my "body image" issues, I'm at square one when it comes to my "kitchen image" issue. Food is so symbolic of love, and in the yoga community of following a spiritual path, that it's almost inevitable that those of us who lack the time, energy, and inclination to cook will feel like failures. I've been relying on healthy prepared foods (along with fresh fruits and veggies that require no preparation), and feel terribly guilty for that. And I feel inferior because I'm a terrible cook, anyway. I don't tell many people outside my family that I'm basically a non-cook because I already feel judged enough. I really, really admire creative cooks, and cooks who enjoy preparing wonderful meals for their friends and family, for whom preparing a meal is a pure act of love and service. But that's not me. When I attempt to cook, I get frustrated and stressed, and half the time I botch the recipe and wind up going for takeout anyway. You and Bo are so right that there is so much work, and so much healing, to be done in this area. BTW, the woman who made that judgmental comment is conflating two issues: dissociation from how food is raised and cooking it. I've enjoyed having a small vegetable garden, so I'm happy to literally get my hands dirty raising food. Cooking it, however, is another matter. Thank you for bringing this into the open, the first step to the healing is talking about it openly and honestly. I wish I had been at that session! Dayna, I loved your answer to the woman who doesn’t have time to cook and isn’t that interested in food. Like her, I’m a non-cook, and so often I feel inferior, and like a failure as a yogini, as a mother, and as a woman. Although I’ve mad considerable progress in overcoming my “body image” issues, I’m at square one when it comes to my “kitchen image” issue.

Food is so symbolic of love, and in the yoga community of following a spiritual path, that it’s almost inevitable that those of us who lack the time, energy, and inclination to cook will feel like failures. I’ve been relying on healthy prepared foods (along with fresh fruits and veggies that require no preparation), and feel terribly guilty for that. And I feel inferior because I’m a terrible cook, anyway. I don’t tell many people outside my family that I’m basically a non-cook because I already feel judged enough.

I really, really admire creative cooks, and cooks who enjoy preparing wonderful meals for their friends and family, for whom preparing a meal is a pure act of love and service. But that’s not me. When I attempt to cook, I get frustrated and stressed, and half the time I botch the recipe and wind up going for takeout anyway.

You and Bo are so right that there is so much work, and so much healing, to be done in this area. BTW, the woman who made that judgmental comment is conflating two issues: dissociation from how food is raised and cooking it. I’ve enjoyed having a small vegetable garden, so I’m happy to literally get my hands dirty raising food. Cooking it, however, is another matter. Thank you for bringing this into the open, the first step to the healing is talking about it openly and honestly.

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