The Tomato Philosophy, October 6th

I have an announcement to make. I have come up with a new outlook on life that I’m calling The Tomato Philosophy. Intrigued? I’ll bet. Me, too. The premise of this new vision stems quite literally from our fruit inclusive pal, the humble tomato.

Many of course are aware that a tomato is considered a fruit. Few know why. “A tomato is botanically classified as a fruit because it develops from the ovary of a flowering plant and contains seeds. This is the same process by which other fruits like apples, oranges, and bananas develop. Their botanical definition as a seed-bearing plant firmly places them within the fruit category.” Now we all know. And a little knowledge can be a powerful thing. And used properly, that knowledge can serve us well. And that is the basis of my tomato as a metaphor theory. Stay with me…

For those of you who know me, you know that I can be a bit of a talker. Well recently I exercised the rare art of being silent. Shocker, I know. I was voluntarily participating in something that I thought would be a mutually great thing, only to later be disheartened by the circumstances and the sharp edges to the thorny attitude. It felt wrong. I felt uncomfortable. I was unsure how to respond and what to do next. So I let go of the vine, took a big step back and stayed silent. And never in my life have I felt that kind of personal power– the power of quiet. The power of silence. My power of silence.

Sometimes walking away is the hardest thing, but the best thing. And some time has passed now and I feel so proud of my retraction as I have learned to always trust my instincts. I can’t exactly say what happened, but I can tell you that something was amiss. And I might never know what information might have been held back. But it doesn’t matter. Because ketchup is indeed NOT a smoothie. And that’s The Tomato Truth at work.

We will all run into a lot of tomato as a metaphor for life examples. So learning to discern between the ripe ones and the rotten ones takes experience, trial and error, and some patience. Nobody wants those clingy tomato guts exploding all over and ruining your fit because you foolishly attempted to cut a Roma tomato with a butter knife. You need the right tools to make good decisions. You have to appreciate and remember that sometimes shiny firm outsides house a potentially messy encounter. Their skin may be thin… but yours shouldn’t be. And that’s also part of my Tomato Philosophy. Know what you’re getting yourself into and the possible consequences.

But I agree that looks can be deceiving, especially when you unconsciously put on those rose colored glasses because you want THAT thing to be THE thing.

However, it’s also the case that those who profess to not eat tomatoes might just love ketchup, pizza and a big bowl of pasta with marinara. It’s a head scratcher, right? This teaches us that the form something takes can be critical for us learning to like and embrace it. A slow progressive approach to tolerance and acceptance might work best in some cases. Another Tomato Truth.

Home grown tomatoes are a huge investment of time and emotional capital. So be careful what you water and how often. You can sink money into a garden only to be hit later by unexpected storms and end up fruitless. So you need to know the risks and be smart about where you set up your fences, shields and tarps. There will always be an opportunity to replant and learn from your botanical mistakes. A good Tomato Turnaround is always possible.

And when you’re lucky enough to enjoy the fruits of your labor and capitalize on an abundant harvest, remember what contributed to your success. Sometimes this feeling can be fleeting, but if properly nurtured, you can become an expert grower with years of fruitfulness to come.

And as you’re toiling away, dirty hands, sunburned face and hope in your heart, be sure to tend to your weeding. Those suckers can destroy a well manicured garden. It’s grounding to know that it’s not always Tomato Season. As such you need to fortify your intake to make it through the whole year with supplemental sustenance. How about adding a nice cuke for instance? Another Tomato Truth: Don’t put all your tomatoes in one basket.

Not everyone is a fan of the humble tomato. After all, we don’t all run around screaming to correct people that they are indeed fruit and not veg. Nobody knows what’s on the inside unless you show them or tell them, right? The Tomato Philosophy recognizes that there are some who go all in which takes courage and guts, and some who tend to avoid the possible mess altogether. Whichever you choose, a cornerstone of this theory is to be comfortable in your own skin. And if you’re ever faced with a confrontation that shreds you, roasts you or makes you feel gutted, don’t let yourself get lost in the sauce. Steer yourself away from the heat to regroup. Your hearty constitution will allow you to grow stronger and healthier. And that my friends is the whole tomato!