I was all alone in my home this morning when I felt this urge to get up and go downstairs. I walked into the kitchen and there it was – a ripe D’Anjou pear just waiting for me. It was sitting all alone on the counter, obviously left for me to consume. I took a close look at it and it was clearly time for it to go. It was my honor to oblige – a primordial urging came over me, I wanted to consume this fruit and satiate my hunger.

On inspection, I saw that it had that green/yellow, rather tough skin marked with dark lines and bruises. I picked it up, washed it off and then turning to look out the window, I took a soundless bite and smiled.

Although still quite firm, my teeth cut into it’s succulent flesh and the juices poured out, into my mouth, and then out of the corners of my smile and dribbled down my chin. The skin was a little tough and a tiny bit bitter, but the experience was heavenly. I closed my eyes and just let the sweet juices flow throughout my mouth and down my esophagus. I don’t know how long I stood there enjoying every minute of the encounter, but I know I had never experienced such a treat before.

I hope that in the future I will always eat ripe fruit, with my eyes closed, focusing totally on the moment and on the tastebuds in my mouth. My wish for you is that you live as much of your life in the present appreciating all that you have been given.