30 Years Since Staying Behind for School Lunch, the Way I've Arrived at Eating

Today, I suddenly remembered school lunch from when I was in elementary school.

There were things I just couldn't eat, like the pineapple in sweet and sour pork or the whale meat, and even after the break ended and cleaning time began, I would stay behind alone to eat. I remember that time, in a way. No one was rushing me, and I was just holding my spoon in the quiet classroom.

Once I entered junior high, I became able to eat much faster. Once I started working, I became even faster. I think that environments really do change people. Habits, hunger, the pace of those around me—things like that must have gradually shaped who I am.

But now, I eat slowly, especially at dinner. It's not that I consciously decided to change it; I just realized it had become that way. I feel like I'm connected somewhere to that child who used to stay behind.

I feel like that's fine. I think that as long as your own "way of eating" suits who you are now, that is more than enough.