If you love lobster, than you know it takes work to fully partake of all the meat. After spending a rollicking summer evening with my family cracking jokes and lobster claws, I’m persuaded there are lessons to be learned about joy from the lobster shack.
The next time your spirits need a boost consider the following:
- It’s fun to eat with your hands and make a mess.
- Wearing a bib is an excuse to dive into your meal.
- Puzzles – like lobster bodies- are worth cracking.
- A little elbow grease can make you smile.
- Strong hands get the job done.
- Breaking things open releases endorphins.
- Eating lobster is the opportunity to learn anatomy.
- Don’t give your body away.
- Claws have tough coverings. Most hands do not.
- The tail is worth waiting for.
- Good humor goes with bad puns.
- Mind the spray!
- Eating lobsters inducing sleep (and giggles). Beware: tryptophan laden crustaceans.
- And in our family: Ask Mom to open the body. She’ll make sure you won’t waste a morsel of food.
Some people keep “joy lists” for the hard times when they can’t imagine smiling or feeling inspired. While eating specific foods often makes it to such lists, how we eat doesn’t always get attention. Given the slurping, spritzing, silly sounds coming from the lobster shack, consider a full body eating experience next time you want to shift you mood! And take note of what supports your joy, whether being with friends, having an excuse to be messy, using nutcrackers or mallets, or eating in a bathing suit.
