Have you ever considered the amount of energy—Qi—it takes to prepare a meal?
Let’s begin with the Qi required for the food to grow. Each type of food has its unique growth process, but in general, a seed is planted and with the right amount of water, nutrients, and sunlight, it grows into a seedling. Gradually, this small sprout thrives until it reaches its full potential and bears fruit. Once the fruit ripens, the reward is ours. But the process doesn’t end there! We then need to harvest the food, clean it, chop and cook it, and share it with our loved ones.
Often, we sit down to eat, finish our meal, and move on with our day without considering Qi at all. Perhaps it’s because our society has become so detached from the source. Instead of growing and harvesting our own food, we rely on stores where shelves are stocked with all the food we could ever want. We purchase, cook, and serve. Our attention is focused on what is right in front of us—the end result—and this mindset extends well beyond the kitchen walls. Whether that end result is our dinner, a work deadline, or a top athlete, we often overlook the fact that preparing the food, completing the work, and nurturing the athlete requires Qi—and a lot of it.
Every action you take in life demands Qi. And often, that Qi is squandered. Excess food is thrown away, hours are spent on work projects, and time is devoted to attending practices and games. That’s time—and Qi—you can never reclaim. The next time you waste food or spend hours in front of a screen, pause and reflect on all the Qi that went into bringing that food to your plate or meeting that deadline. Was it worth it?
Never waste anything—including yourself.