100 Day Gratitude Challenge: Day #2 Gratitude to all the people who provide me food and water

Gratitude to all the people who provide me food and water

When I was born, many decades ago, my body weight was just 3.8 kgs and I was a helpless bundle of tissue, bone, flesh, skin, and body mass who had to have everything done for me. Today my body weight hovers around the 76 kgs mark and I think I’m responsible for the lives of so many people who depend on me.

How did I get from that to here? The obvious answer is all the food that I gorged upon, since the day I was born. The produce of the earth went into me and grew my muscles, tissues, bones, and body mass to grow into this 5’10” human being who weighs in at around 76 kgs.

I am me because of the food and water that I dumped into my stomach, sorry, lovingly deposited into my innards. I would not exist in this plane and talk to you without the food and water that I ingested so far. So obviously, I owe many thanks to the food and water that I have had. But who brought this food to my table?

I just did a cursory math of how many people were involved in me eating what I did yesterday.

Let me list them out for you:

1.       The companies and the people who work there that produce the seed that goes into the cereals, grains, vegetables, and fruits that I ate.

2.       The farmers who ploughed the field, watered the crops, protected and cared for it from pests and scourges, and finally harvested it

3.       The labourers who threshed and cleaned the grains and crops

4.       The transporters who moved these produce to where I am.

5.       The wholesalers, stockists, warehouse employees, distributors and retailers from who, my wife or I bought these produce.

6.       The companies that produced all the spice, oils, condiments that go into the dishes I eat

7.       My wife who lovingly cooks for me and my boys

8.       The maid who cleans and washes the  vessels that are used in the cooking

9.       All the vessel manufacturers, stockists, traders, transporters, etc etc

10.   The Gas company and all its employees who are responsible for fuelling the stove

11.   My friends who took me out for dinner last night and lovingly carried me in their car and brought me back and gave me dinner too.

12.   So the car manufacturer and all those who were responsible for the car

13.   The restaurant owner, employees, contractors, vendors, electricity suppliers and what not

14.   The dentist who takes care of my teeth for me to be able to eat

Should I go on and on? You will probably be reading all day if I list all those who were responsible for feeding me for just one day in my life.

Is it safe to assume that at least 10,000 people were responsible for what I ate yesterday? So how many millions do you think contributed to my existence on this earth? Or should I say billions?

Unfortunately not a thought is spared in their direction let alone gratitude. I unthinkingly and distractedly munch my food or gulp it down without even a cursory thank you to all those who contributed to that mouthful.

Instead of gratitude to the providers, I’m thinking of the next order I’m getting, the deliveries that need to be done, the companies I am helping grow, the employees who need to do their work, the vendors, customers, prospects, business deals and what is happening in North Korea.

I’m under the delusion that I am the Master of the Universe and my thoughts, words and actions are driving this world! While, in reality, if not for the zillions of people who worked and brought that precious meal to my table, I would not be able to take my next breath.

Others do not depend on me. I depend on countless people for every single breath of mine.

I’m grateful to all those who are responsible for me being able to eat yesterday and all the days before that.

Without them, I’m nothing.

Thank you for being part of my life! 

I love you.