Beginner Mind
There's something about a pandemic that moves you to clean house, evaluate life and try new things... and maybe that's the best way to stay well and sane during this time. The projects hovering on my to-do pile finally have the opportunity to take root.
One of these progressing along, is a follow-up to my cookbook, Bake Something, The Book of Sins, Easy Dough Recipes Made from Scratch. Like the yin and the yang, the shadows and the light, I felt the call to compile a healthy version to offset my first self-publication of indulgences. Nourish, Real and Simple, Everyday Recipes Made From Scratch is the latest addition to my creative pursuits. While it's still in the works, here's a sneak peak at the cover.
If you would like updates closer to the launch date, drop me a note or sign up to my mailing list and we will keep you posted.
A bit like Tarzan swinging from rope to rope, what makes my path as a maker invigorating is time exploring different mediums, new knowledge and techniques. To that end, I have recently taken on pottery wheel throwing, and wow, what a mind bending task it's been. The things that look the simplest are often the most humbling. I have only been able to continue by accepting my complete ineptness at this new skill.
After decades of easily turning passions into businesses, I started on this new pot making course with personal gratification as my only goal, and the first few classes significantly challenged that simple end. But the effort to push beyond the discomfort and welcome the beginner mind has kept me moving forward. Anything worth doing is worth doing badly a wise man once told me....I am willing to continue making warped pots, for a while at least, to see where that leads me. But for now, while all classes are suspended during this global crisis, the mindset is serving me with this new reality.
This unexpected period of reflection and social distancing reminds me of all who are struggling or suffering. There is so much we take for granted. Even something as simple as visiting a relative who could be vulnerable to us. The unknown is hard, and all the forms of loss we are living is even harder even if it's just a shoulder to rest on. We are creatures of habit. While we don't know what's on the other side of this forced time out, I for one hope that it will not be business as usual when the dust settles and that we can all rethink what really matters and approach things with more kindness, intention and maybe more of a beginner mind.