Here we are in the midst of that joyful holiday time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. You all know I sometimes get mixed feelings about this time of year because it’s so easy to get stressed out by the things that are supposed to be fun—cooking, parties, presents, and spending time with family, just to name a few. One of my very favorite ways to stay calm and enjoy these activities is to take a break from worrying about my to-do list and take a gratitude breather instead!
Gratitude is an immediate stress-buster for me, in and out of the kitchen. So I’d like to share with you a few more “Grateful Ingredients for a Bright Life and a Happy Kitchen” from Gumbo Love. If you missed ingredients 1–4, pop over to the blog from November 3.
5. Life happens and life goes on. The sun will rise again—in fact, it will rise every single morning—even when it’s hiding behind a cloud or lost in the fog, it’s there. The cake may fall, the roast might dry out, the oven may even go up in flames but that’s no reason to stay out of the kitchen forever. I’ve noticed the day after a hurricane is almost always (even cruelly so) glorious and sunny, so I try to remember that when things go horribly wrong, it’s better to try again than give in.
6. When you don’t know what to do, do nothing. If I’m out of options or running in circles trying to find a solution or make something happen, I’ve found that I’m trying too hard. I need to breathe. I need a moment to get still so I can hear what life wants me to do. When you feel the heat building and the countertop starting to spin, stop what you’re doing and take a deep breath to get your bearings. Just be in the moment and you’ll be surprised—the knife you were looking for is right there in front of you.
7. Run toward what you fear; close your eyes, hold your nose, and jump into it. I know, this sounds crazy, huh? But it works to get past what you think you might be afraid of. I’ve done this more times than I can count! Whether you fear frying, cooking seafood, or making roux for gumbo, just go for it. It might take a few tries and tweaks to get it right, but you can do it! There’s nothing more satisfying than doing something you’ve never done before and, with a little practice, actually succeeding.
8. Say “thank you” every day for your blessings and bless your challenges with gratitude. Even be grateful for those folks and experiences that are sometimes hard. Nothing can change negativity faster and more sweepingly than gratitude. Maybe the cashier at the grocery store was a grouch, maybe your children turned up their noses at what you put on the table—sometimes it’s hard to be gracious. But it’s amazing what how powerful “thank you” can be for the recipient and the person saying it. Sometimes I even thank the kitchen fairies (oh yes, I believe in fairies!), especially when I feel they have abandoned me. Thank you for making sure I had plenty of flour and oil for my roux—since I scorched it and had to start all over!
I have two more on my list we’ll visit later, but in the meantime let me say thank you to you, my readers, my eaters, my Parrotheads, Crazy Sistas, and Gumbo Lovers! Thanks for reading and staying in touch. If you’d like to share some delicious recipes, good stories, and photographs that will make you hungry, Gumbo Love makes a fun Christmas gift. It’s got plenty of cold-weather recipes, but it’s also got a lot of summer vacation vibes so you can do some warm-weather dreaming.
All my Gumbo Love,
LuLu
