It's a lifestyle not a diet

I was in the middle of bustling downtown Honolulu and decided to enact a little macro reflection into my lunch break :)

In addition to changing your food, macrobiotics encourages people to make lifestyle and environmental changes.  Macrobiotic way of life suggestions include:

• Develop a positive, optimistic attitude and visualize yourself the way you want to feel and be.
• Focus on your health and healing rather than your condition or disease.
• Cultivate an appreciation for everything you have, counting your blessings. Make the best of your present situation, while learning how to change your life for the better.
• Ask for support from your family and friends, as it is vitally important. Request assistance.
• Cook with a gas stove. Use a portable gas stove if necessary. Avoid electric or microwave cooking.
• Sing a happy song each day!
• Create peaceful and pleasant mealtimes.
• Finish eating dinner and all solid foods three hours before bedtime. Avoid lying down right after eating.
• Give thanks before and after each meal, remembering how fortunate you are to have this food and knowledge.
• Chewing very well is essential for proper assimilation to maximize energy and healing. 
• Try to wear items closest to your body (underwear) and dress your bed with 100% organic cotton.
• Avoid placing electric appliances (clock, radio, ceiling fan) above or around your bed.
• Stimulate your body daily with a hot towel body scrub, or at least massage your face, hands, and feet twice a day.
• Spend at least one hour outdoors daily, ideally two or three hours, avoiding the noon sun (10:00 am -2:00 pm).
• Several times a week, exercise moderately to the point of perspiring, as you dance, bicycle, garden, or perform any enjoyable activity.
• Take a daily walk outdoors at leas 5-10 minutes before breakfast and 20-30 minutes after evening dinner, preferably after each meal. When walking, breathe 3-5 steps inhaling and 3-5 steps exhaling, as comfortable.
• Communicate frequently with your parents, family, teachers, and friends, sharing your knowledge, experiences, and feelings.
• Go to bed early (ideally 10:30 pm) and rise early (ideally 6:30 am or at sunrise.)
• Put order in your home, car, and office by cleaning and organizing each area.
• Open up your house daily at least one half hour, to allow fresh air inside and stale air outdoors. Keep windows open whenever appropriate, while maintaining a pleasant temperature.
• Place live, green plants in each living area to enrich the oxygen content of your home.
• Avoid cosmetics and body care products that contain sugar, chemicals, heavy perfumes, or animal products.
• Use organic fertilizers and pesticides in your yard. Eat organic foods.
• Minimize television and computer viewing.
• Remove fluorescent lights from your home or office and replace them with "full spectrum" and energy efficient lights.
• Discover and utilize your talents and find a life-work that brings you satisfaction and joy!
• Love yourself!