Should I feel Guilty or Motivated?

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver

So I’m listening to Animal, Vegetable, Miracle in the car. It’s really good. The author is the narrator which can be a good thing or a bad thing, but in this case is working out. For one year, the author and her family decide to live off nothing but what they can grow or buy locally. They start in April and are worried they won’t have enough food, but find some early treasures at the farmer’s market. I’ll tell you what, I don’t even like asparagus but the way Kingsolver describes it makes me feel guilty I don’t. And that’s the way the book seems to be shaping up: I’m really interested in hearing about locally grown food and its advantages, but realize I’m not yet motivated enough to try it for myself. Thus, guilt ensues. I mean, she’s talking about how wonderful the first plucked spring greens are in a salad and I’m all “wow, that does sound good. Maybe I’ll buy some “spring greens” at the store later and make a salad for dinner tonight.” Then I have to slap my forehead in my mind for thinking it. It’s not that I’m missing the point, but rather I get caught up in her motivation so that I sometimes ignore the point. It’s definitely a lifestyle change to buy everything locally, and it sounds like a wonderfully healthy and almost religious experience, but is the normal Jane Reader able or willing to hop on board? Is that the point to the book? Let’s discuss over lunch. Whether it’s locally made or not is your choice.

I like asparagus