On nourishment in the interim & present-moment joys
The mood feels a bit…low lately (just me?). Winter has lost some of its charm; swift glimpses of spring feel like a tease. The shock factor of the headlines is exhausting, yet it’s an unforgiving reality for the faces and names we see, hear, and read about. The anticipation and elation of Benito Bowl and the Fire Horse have come and gone.
We’re in an interlude. An intermission. The interim.
In all moments—but especially in moments like this—we need nourishment in various forms. This obviously includes good food, but we also need reminders that:
the in-between can be just as magical as holidays or special milestones;
we can hold joy and pleasure in the same space as sadness, anger, and all other nuanced emotions;
there can be something special in the present moment if we allow ourselves to pause and notice it.
Sometimes taking photos of the food I eat seems trivial and very Millennial of me, but I always put the phone away so that I can be in the moment while eating said food—even if (when) my mind drifts elsewhere. And these photos can end up transporting me back to the joy of that moment—flavors, smells, how it feels to be nourished.
No matter what season or awkward middle phase we’re in, it’s such a gift to nourish ourselves; to have food on the table and new dishes to concoct—let alone the time to shop for and prepare said dishes; to delight in whoever we’re sharing food with (even if it’s just ourselves).
Whether this is a weird or wonderful time for you or your community, my wish for you is that you can receive whatever form of nourishment replenishes you and experience the pleasure of it in real time. No need to look to the past or future when we can savor what’s here right now, however simple or ordinary the moment may seem.
Voilà. Below are a few foods, dishes, and sips that brought me joy during this anticipatory winter-to-spring interim; in the midst of this strange global shift we’re all connected to; as the waves ebb and flow between the everyday and the celebratory.
Links to a few of the recipes are included. Message me if you’re curious about modifying meals or ingredients to suit your needs—or if you have questions about cooking without exact measurements, like my Italian Grandma used to do 🙂
Pantry staples (etc) are linked via my curated Amazon and Shopmy lists for reference.
(I receive a small commission.)
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Onward
Remember that taking care of ourselves helps equip us to care for each other. Please keep nourishing yourself in any way you can—big or small.
Reach out if I can support you or your workplace with 1:1 or corporate coaching, or flip through my free resources and recipes.
If you’d like to support communities who don’t have consistent access to nourishing meals, consider World Central Kitchen or The Hunger Project—among many others.
Take care,
S
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