Sweet Greens and a Big Ham Sandwich on a Train

It was a warm spring day in Paris. My husband, Mike, and I  were excited to board the high speed train that would take us south to Provence and the French Mediterranean.  Our week in Paris was memorable yet exhausting. I looked forward to sitting still while traveling forward at 200 mph. Before boarding, we bought a sandwich to eat on the train. This was not your typical American ham and cheese. It was a very long, buttered baguette stuffed with meat and cheese.   Soon after departing, I dove into my sandwich.  There I was chomping away on my big sandwich when I glanced across the aisle and saw a woman eating her lunch.  She had a clear bag filled with a mix of spring greens.  She would admire each leaf as she plucked it from the bag. She closed her eyes as she chewed. I was fascinated and couldn't stop staring. She continued, slowly, eating leaf after leaf until the bag was empty.  There I sat with crumbs in my lap and a perplexed look on my face. This could not be real. How could anyone enjoy eating a bag of lettuce?  She seemed to savor each bite and it wasn't even a salad. I could not accept the notion that a plain green leaf could be satisfying or nourishing.  It took me years to understand the power of plants. It was not until I was well into my own plant-based journey that I remember the lady on the train.

Do you know when something just doesn't seem right?  December of 2014 was a turning point for me.  I didn't feel well and I knew something had to change.  The buzz word was "lifestyle change" and I needed one.  It's true what my mother had told me. It all catches up with you when you turn 60.  In my case it seemed as if I had gone from 60 to 100 in a split second.  If I kept going with my bad habits, my golden years would be dim and dire.

I believe all things happen for a reason. There are no coincidences. Opportunities present themselves when we least expect them so we must always keep sharp eyes.  I must have been in the right frame of mind when I saw the Facebook invitation. My local Whole Foods was hosting an Engine 2 challenge during the month of January. Engine 2, known as Plant-Strong by Engine 2 today, promotes a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle encouraging people to eliminate animal products from their diets.  Whoa, I thought, this is seriously different than anything I have ever undertaken. Nothing could be more of a lifestyle change than giving up all meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs.  I wavered.  This is not me but I want it to be me.  Please let it be me.  I could at least go to the first meeting. I clicked the "Going" button and registered for the event.