I promised myself that I wouldn't waste people's time by blogging about what I had for lunch. But this time, it may be relevant. What I had for lunch, yesterday, was dopamine!
My wife had made these incredible ribs the night before. Thick, dark, juicy sauce stuck intimately to the most tender meat. So you'd think I'd be very aware of the taste—the delicious taste—of these succulent morsels. But I was hardly aware of the taste or texture at all. What I was aware of, during the execution of each bite, was the following bite. Dopamine, the neuromodulator responsible for anticipation, drove my attention to the near future—the next bite, getting the right amount of sauce on the next piece to enter my mouth—even as I commenced on the present bite.
How stupid is that?
My kids also gobble down their food without tasting it. I tell them, "Taste every molecule!" But they don't, and neither do I. During my rib extravaganza, I was somewhat aware of the waste of consciousness, and not pleased about it. I tried to slow down. I reflected on how different the experience of eating is when you're sitting at a classy restaurant, with candles lit, someone nice across from you, very aware of the moment... Or maybe more more aware of the imperative to be in the moment. That's not quite being in the moment. It's just another way of focusing on the near future.
