Have you ever eaten a pomegranate? Dating back to 3000 B.C., it’s one of the oldest cultivated fruits. In fact, when I went to the King Tut exhibit I was amazed to see that He and other Ancient Egyptians were buried with pomegranates so they would have them in their “second life”.
This ancient fruit has a rich history with many references in art, religion, and medicine. Scientists are now calling it a “super food”, and have found that it has more anti-oxidants than red wine or green tea. It is loaded with vitamins, and recent studies have shown it to help with heart disease, cancer, longevity and more. The ancient Chinese see the pomegranate as the symbol of longevity, immortality and abundance.
The name “pomegranate” is derived from a Latin word that means “apple with many seeds”. Many people are now drinking pomegranate juice, but the fruit itself isn’t that popular. It simply takes too much work to separate that sweet, juicy fruit from all those seeds. 
As I was eating my pomegranate I noticed how each little seed looked like a ruby, shining with the juice that surrounded each one. When you pop it in your mouth the sweet juice is incredible, yet it would be very easy to simply focus on the seed instead. In fact, in any moment you could decide to give your attention to the seed, and decide that the benefit is simply not worth the effort.
I thought about how my life is like that pomegranate. When I “open it up” and look inside I see the seeds of every experience that I have created in my life. There are thousands of them, all surrounded by a tough, thin skin, and supported by the “membranes” of my thoughts and beliefs.
I thought about how in each one of those moments I have the choice to either focus on the “seed”, or to give my full attention to the “juicy goodness” that surrounds it. In the times that I focus on the juice, the universe responds fully and I attract more into my life. I receive the feeling of joy, vitality, excitement, enthusiasm, and I can’t wait for the next seed to experience more.
When I focus on the seed alone, I see what is wrong in each experience, and give my attention to what I don’t like or want. My conscious mind concentrates on how to change, fix or control it. When I can’t “see” a way to do that, I experienced fear, worry, struggle, and life is “dry” and flavorless. I go through the motions, but my attention, feelings and emotions continue to attract more of the same.
In each joyful moment of my life I had been focused on the “juicy goodness” that was available in that moment. I had given my focus and attention to the “juice”, and I had sucked every drop out of the experience. I would focus on the joy and the beauty, and as gratitude filled the cells of my being, I asked and expected even more.
It’s amazingly simple. Every moment, every experience is a gift. It truly is the precious “present”. Your work is to be present in that moment, and to give your attention and focus to the part of the experience that contains the juicy goodness. If you can’t immediately “taste” it, then look to your imagination for the flavor. Allow the experience to define what you would prefer, and realize that you can still savor the goodness in your mind.
It is work to “eat the pomegranate”. But the nourishment is worth it, and as you practice and get the hang of it, you begin to realize that you love the process. It’s fun to experience each seed and see it as the gift of life.
I invite you to join me in experiencing each moment as the amazing fruit that nourishes your life. Realize that you have a choice in each moment, and that you have the power to shape your experience through your focus. Remember the pomegranate, and give your attention fully to the goodness that is found in each experience. Savor the “juicy goodness”, and let it fill you with joy. Let the juice fill your mouth and “run down your chin”. Let the world see how amazing life tastes, and share a “bite” of your joy.
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