You Are Right Where You're Supposed To Be

Sunday is my day for experimenting with recipes. I set aside a few hours in the afternoon to try out a new recipe. I usually find something that will take me longer than the 30 minutes I allot during the week. I also try to play with ingredients that I may not typically use. 

This past Sunday, as I was preparing a new recipe a thought popped in my head. I realized that 10 or 15 years ago I would never have thought about making a recipe like the one I was making. I would have never thought about setting aside part of a day to experiment with ingredients and recipes.

10 or 15 years ago my life was very different. I had just found out that I had several autoimmune issues, Parker was very small, I gave my all to everyone all the time without reserving any of my energy for myself, I was super stressed, I cried a lot.  Creating the time to experiment with new foods and recipes never even crossed my mind. I was just trying to get through my day. 

During the years that followed I have realized that certain foods make me feel good and certain foods don’t. I have learned how eating seasonally and locally is important not only for our planet but also for my immune system. I realized that my emotional health was just as important as my physical health.  I have also created a lifestyle that allows me to carve out time to do the things I love, like cooking. 

It has been a process. One with lots of ups and downs and twists and turns. As with all things in life, you have to start somewhere. My cooking, just like all my other practices, started small and has grown over time. 

If you’ve ever looked at a recipe I’ve posted or someone else has and you think, I can’t make that, just know I’ve thought the exact same thing. What works for me currently is not necessarily going to work for you. Finding acceptance of where we are in life makes the journey much smoother. 

One day I hope to be able to actually create my own recipes. Right now, I know that is not in the cards for me. It is not actually a priority at this point, but it is on the radar. For now, I will continue to carve out that time for myself every Sunday to play with food. I’ll keep honing my knowledge and who knows, maybe in another 10 years I’ll be creating my own recipes.