"Cooking Yourself"
— by Connie Habash

[Looking over this article that I wrote originally in 2001, I can relate to it even more. It seems that I have too little time and energy for cooking these days, but when I do, I keep it simple, because life with a toddler is already a bit on the spicy side!]

     I'm not the world's best cook (well, not yet). For example, I decided to boil eggs the other day. I set the timer and went into the other room to work on my computer. The next thing I knew, I heard a "boom" sound in the kitchen. Imagining the worst, I rounded the corner to see my two eggs exploded in the pot, the water all boiled out, and no harm done (other than this great smell of burned eggs through the whole apartment). Phew!

     Obviously, I need to pay a little more attention when I'm cooking. But it got me to thinking about cooking in general. Not just food, but you and me. Cooking is a great metaphor for living: our lives are all unique dishes, in various stages of preparation.

     When you're going to cook something, you have to think about what you want to cook. What do I want to eat? What's going to be tasty and also good for me? Then, when you've decided on what to fix, you have to get the ingredients. Will you choose organic, and the best quality, or save some money and get something standard? All the choices will affect how the meal turns out.

     Then, preparation of the meal effects how well it cooks, its taste, appearance, and the timing to completion. Boy, have I learned about timing! We have to time the various dishes to all finish cooking simultaneously, so we can enjoy the meal rather than serving one dish while having to watch over another that's still cooking. Additionally, we must be mindful of temperature and duration of cook time. All of that takes finesse and thinking ahead.

     Another consideration is presence and attitude. Are we mindful when we cook? Do we cook with joy, or is it drudgery? These qualities will affect our results.

     We can think of creating a meal as a metaphor for life. What do you want on your menu? Does your life resemble a rich 8-course meal, a healthy organic casserole, or a TV dinner? How much thought and planning do you put into what you create in your life? Do you just toss something into the mix and hope that things will turn out the way you want, not really paying attention to what's happening with your life? Do you swallow whatever you're handed to eat, or do you make conscious choices about what you take in from others and from situations you find yourself in?

     Sometimes, we overcook or undercook. Undercooking can be timidity - I'm just a little too afraid to do this fully, so I'll pull out before I really complete something. We miss the opportunity to enjoy fully living when we undercook ourselves. We also rob ourselves of the sense of accomplishment - even if imperfect or not quite how we wanted it to turn out - when we don't follow through with what we begin.

     Overcooking, however, can be a bit painful! How many of us have fried ourselves or "burned out"? Our culture is habitually overdoing, and it's easy to fall into that trap. If we overcook, the food is no longer really edible, and so our lives suffer. Often, so do our bodies, becoming worn out or injured from pushing too hard.

     This is similar to the effect of adding too much or too little flavor to our lives. Excess spice? You might be a bit overwhelmed with activities, with friends demanding your attention, with dramas and traumas making things a bit too hot. Yet if there's too little seasoning, life can become dull. We may lose a sense of enjoyment, playfulness, and hesitate to try new things. Try some new spice, and see what happens!

     We could explore this metaphor endlessly. Here's a basic recipe for a rich, enjoyable life. You can add your own variations to make the flavor and experience uniquely your own:

3 cups of deep breathing, for keeping you centered and full of energy
2 cups time with loved ones, for warming the heart
1 cup each of good, wholesome food & drink, restful sleep, and hearty exercise for a happy and healthy body
½ cup quality time with yourself and connecting to the Divine within, to feel full inside
3 tbsp doing something you love, for deep satisfaction
1 tsp curry for passion and spice of life!
A pinch of salt of the earth, to keep you grounded
and a dash of sugar to add sweetness to your soul

Mix the ingredients with mindfulness and love, cook slowly with care over medium heat, and serve warm - to yourself and others.

     Oh, there are so many possible recipes! What would you like yours to be? When the recipe, preparation, cooking, serving, and act of taking in life are just right, we experience lasting satisfaction.

— ©2001, 2004, 2006 by Connie Habash

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