This has been a fast-paced and hectic week for me. I was having a hard time quieting my brain enough to get inspired. I was torn between reflecting on an ingredient or a product. This morning, I woke up to a reminder on Facebook of a blog I wrote three years ago today. As I reread it, I laughed as it fits perfectly with our spiritual practice this month -- you. I took this as a sign to share my thoughts again.
It has been a while since I posted here, while I have been resting, healing, and preparing for the next round of surgery. However, I was reminded of something last night that resonated with my soul and that is in all things to do you. I was watching a special episode of Chopped (no surprise to those who read this blog often) and Katie Lee, one of the competitors, was surprised that she won. In reflecting on it, she talked about how she thought she had won because she had stayed true to who she was. Katie is best known for her comfort foods and that is what she cooked all three courses, foods filled with memories of growing up and cooking with her grandmother and mother. She gave the judges her on a plate.
One of the criticisms I hear often from judges on culinary competitions is that they cannot see the person’s personality on the plate. A plate can be well executed, but not make a statement about who the person is or what they are about. I have often heard it said you can learn a lot about someone by how they cook and by eating their food. My friends tell me my food is always filled with love, for which I am so grateful. I know I have learned a lot from reading people’s cookbooks and watching them cook. I am sure if I ever ate some of my favorite chef’s foods, I would learn more about them.
As I reflected on Katie’s statement I was reminded how this is not only true of cooking, but of life in general. It is important to be authentic, to do you. In my own life, I have come to realize that the times I am at greatest peace in the world are the times when I can just be me. I am not worried about trying to live up to other people’s expectations and when I do not take other people’s judgments personally (thank you don Miguel Ruiz).
People can tell a lot about us by the way we live our lives. It is not just one thing or the other, which is revealing, but how we are in all aspects of the way we live. So in all that you say and do in your life, do you. Stay true to who you are and who you were created to be. Share with the world the amazing soul that you are.