For the 2nd Time, I Joined Abu & Lossine for 31 Days of Fasting. I Made It, and Hope to Return to Modified Eating Habits for Another Year

The summer of 2015, when Abu and Lossine were on Mt. Pleasant and Ramadan fell just as CWP-Fairfield's summer programs began, I joined them in solidarity. Here we were hosting 12 teachers in the summer leadership institute and working with 280 kids in writing camps, and we went food and waterless. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but one of the most rewarding. We bonded in a way that is unexplainable, and survived it together (even going to the beach to play volleyball). When one was drained, he lifted the other. That's how it worked.

I modified my Ramadan version this year - Ramadan-modified, allowing myself to drink coffee and eat breakfast with the sunrise, rather than before it. This year, I did the same again, but unlike the last time, I allowed myself water throughout the day. This time, too, I did it without them here where we broke fast nightly with the Crandall special, green beans, burgers, chicken on the grill, potatoes, and laughter. Perhaps it was the calmest 31 days with the twins I ever had...their energy matched mine and didn't outdo me. We all tend to be peppy, go-go-go types. Without food, we slow down a bit.

I cheated twice this year, too, allowing myself to break fast at 6:30 on Leo's birthday and for lunch on Pam's birthday (but didn't eat for the rest of the day). 

It wasn't that hard, as most of my time was spent alone working on a laptop on my porch - probably hardest when around others eating/drinking as normal people do. For me, this was a mental exercise more than anything else, and a post-Covid meditation to get re-centered and re-focused. The turbulence of the year coupled with additional turbulence, and even more turbulence. Curbing hunger was a way to set a goal and to accomplish it. The acidic stomach and burning I've had for the last year is gone. I am crediting less food, less spice, and longer days before eating that allowed the stomach to heal. We shall see if this continues.

And, at 2:30 yesterday, full sun, I said, "Now it's time to repair the back porch." The first coat is down and I'm hoping to find time tomorrow afternoon to do the same. Too often the house goes neglected because my days are long - and it is something I cut from the schedule: home responsibilities. I need to focus on my to-do list to get Mt. Pleasant prepped for summer work and life. 

It will be interesting today. I wonder what I'll have for lunch?