I had an impromptu late lunch with Donna today and we got to talking. I said something which surprised her: cooking is not in my nature.
Cooking is not in my nature.
Yup.
Cooking is something I do because I have to. It is something I have had to do, having a child with multiple food allergies. He was born allergic, thirteen years ago, so cooking for him/us is now old hat. But, that has not changed the fact that my deepest desires do not ever involve cooking.
I don't begrudge it, despite having my moments of resenting the tedium of the toil. (And it is something I have always enjoyed doing in celebratory spurts...Solstice parties, anyone?) Luckily, what is in my nature, is having my breath taken away by the experience of beauty...something home cooking of whole foods is
replete with.
I love food and find joy in celebrating even the smallest occasion for breaking bread. The looks, the aromas, the textures, the flavors, the colors...the company, the communion, the connection... I have learned some neat tricks, I have gained skills and my time in this earthly realm has most certainly been enriched in pleasurable ways because I have cooked and cooked and cooked.
But, it's true. Cooking does not come naturally to me. And times like now when life "stuff" converges and leaves me drained, it's good to acknowledge that home cooking takes time and energy for me, more than others. I'm in a downshift right now and the imbalance is uncomfortable...but cooking will right itself again, soon, no doubt.
Peace.
