Geared up to stock up on wholesome foods and fulfill his New Year’s intention of caring for his body in the way that it deserves, Nate Rudowski of Nashville, Tennessee, popped into his local Kroger grocery store, only to have a disappointing food-shopping experience.
“Sure, I got some basics,” he said. “Baby carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, that sort of thing – but no real deals.”
According to Rudowski, he’d been hoping that something would “jump out at him” at the supermarket, inspiring him with a new idea for an innovative healthy recipe or to try some exotic new fruit. At the very least, he’d hoped to pick up a bargain or two, possibly on mushrooms or berries. "No such luck, though," he reported. "No sales."
Because Rudowski was financially secure enough to purchase what he absolutely needed at regular prices, he did not suffer any significant practical detriment as a result of his uninspiring grocery run – but neither did he experience the emotional boost he’d been counting on to take him to the next level nutritionally.
“It’s not about the money,” he explained. “It’s about wanting to feel that the universe is on your side, supporting you in your aim to live a better life. I didn’t get that. In fact, the price of almond milk had actually gone up, almost making me feel that the universe was conspiring against me."
He chuckled and added, “But I know there’s no point in taking these things personally.”
Fortunately, since that ill-fated Kroger trip, Rudowski has rallied, both physically and emotionally. “It helped me see that I’m the one who needs to be accountable for my food choices. Sure, it’s great if outside forces happen to align and nudge me in the right direction, but at the end of the day, it's me who needs to make healthy eating happen. And I saw that I can do that, regardless of outside circumstances. That power is in me.”
He smiled and patted himself on the shoulder. “It’s all about self-love, man. That’s all you need – and fortunately, that’s exactly what I’ve got. So I'm good.”
