The Slow-Down

Winter is about slowing down, eating root vegetables, and settling in with a good book.

As a northern dweller I find myself slowing way down during darker months. A deep blanket of snow is nature’s call to rest. This winter I made a deal with myself that I’d do exactly that. No pressure to over-achieve or socialize when I feel like staying home, and full permission to take a very real break from social media. You know, I don’t really miss it. If you want to chat, let’s talk on the phone. I’m half-considering installing a corded wall phone in the kitchen for such occasions. My mind feels clearer and creativity is returning now that I’m scrolling less.

I feel called to write again and I’m exploring every way to cook a potato. Public television cooking shows shaped my childhood, and I find myself at a re-entry point to those deep seated feelings of wonder every time I test a new recipe. I’m reading Julia Child’s memoir My Life In France, a flavorful depiction of the 1950s abroad.

All of these things call me home to the cook top. The past three years (okay, five) were a whirlwind. Building a life with my partner, opening and closing a wellness studio, marketing, hustling, managing, and constantly moving both literally and figuratively.

My body was beyond burnt-out, begging for change —so I listened.

Balancing my hormones, restoring a degraded thyroid, losing the extra pounds I added due to way too much stress, and diving deeper into natural remedies are my priorities. In cooking again, food itself and the act of preparing it became my healer.

The vibrance in a bright bunch of cilantro, my love affair with smoked paprika, gathering daily chicken eggs and whipping hummus for friends restored me. Back to basics is my theme, my drum beat, my simple, steady percussion into a slower rhythm of life. —