This month marks the two year anniversary of An Open Cookbook, and handfuls of new life lessons. Many components of my life have changed and evolved in the past year. A new job, a completely redecorated apartment, a new wardrobe, many new people, and a new perspective on life have been a few of those changes. Another change you may have noticed is fewer blog entries each month, although I get just as antsy to write. My new life lends itself to a variety of activities. When I do have the chance to sit down and enter a post, you can be guaranteed it is from the heart. With that said, here are the main lessons learned this past year...
Recipe for Living
Do a normal activity in a subtly different way every day, whether it is holding your coffee cup in the opposite hand or taking a slightly different route to work. These small changes lead to bigger ones.
If you break into a cold sweat at the thought of doing something, like whitewater rafting or having lunch with a stranger, do it anyway. You will undeniably grow from the experience.
Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's. - Class of '99; Wear Sunscreen Song
No one cares if you are sitting at the bar by yourself at a restaurant. What really matters is that you are there.
Upgrading your life can mean buying an expensive wallet or a new piece of furniture. Or it can mean becoming friends with a person that intimidates you. Whatever moves you forward in life, go with it.
Action expresses priorities. -Ghandi
Pushing yourself on the yoga mat, in the weight room, or at the stove prepares you for life's challenges. Sweat everyday for practice.
Everyone comes into our lives for a reason. Just go with it.
Our flaws make us human, and much more interesting.
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. -e.e. cummings
Do something creative everyday.
Sometimes the road we are on looks different than we had envisioned. Keep going.
Order the special from time to time. You can always go back for the regular menu.
Forget about the word 'should'...it isn't productive or genuine. Your heart knows best. Follow it.
Honesty will set you free.
If you get strongly defensive about something, you may have something to learn from the experience.
Take a few seconds before speaking during an important conversation. They can be more valuable than gold.
Sometimes getting to the next flight of stairs means letting go of the railing.
Fill your house and your life with people and things that inspire you and make you happy.
Take a sip of bourbon sometime. It burns going down, but your wisdom becomes greater.
Keep a list of goals in your wallet. Work toward them. Reach them. Make new goals.
Get the dark chocolate with hazelnuts and savor every bite. Just don't eat the whole bar in one sitting.
4 comments:
My fav is to keep goals in your wallet! Happy two years Alli! xo
Thanks Wendy! Mine is definitely an ongoing list ;)
That's very sage advice, Alli. Enjoyed reading it. The only thing I had issue with was not eating the entire chocolate hazelnut bar in one sitting. That's completely unrealistic.
Thanks Ben. Well you can just see it as a goal, and start by eating 95% of it.
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