Years ago, Oprah had a magazine column, and a book called “What I Know For Sure.” The themes were around topics like joy, resilience, and gratitude. I admit that I have never read any of Oprah’s thoughts, but this whole concept resonates with me. And one thing that I know for sure is that the kitchen is my happy place. While some feel stressed in the kitchen, it brings me joy, resilience, and gratitude.
Joy, Excitement & Nostalgia
The obvious joy in the kitchen is getting to eat and drink delicious creations. And yes, I agree with that. But, for me, my joy starts before I get a cutting board out or turn on my stove. I get excited thinking about what I want to cook. What am I hungry for? What flavors and textures am I craving? What’s the weather like outside? Am I going to cook with what is on hand or am I going to make a trip to the store? All these questions swirl through my mind. And I get excited about the possibilities of what I am about to create. All these decisions to be made and my excitement for the culinary activity push any worry or anxiety out of my head. All my previous stress is replaced by concentrating on the tasks that are about to occur in the kitchen. In addition to my own excitement, being in the kitchen also evokes such fond nostalgia for me: watching my Grandma Evans whip up a boxed cake and making it better by using butter and milk instead of water and oil; watching her make biscuits from scratch daily; hearing my dad ask every night “Are you hungry a little bit or a lot?” so he knew how much dinner to make; smelling my mom’s roast and potatoes for Sunday dinner; my Aunt Katie’s mashed turnips and buttery white rice on the stove when I came to visit. Of course, the big holiday meals were great, but we ate like royalty daily when I was growing up. And I don’t mean that we ate expensive food; I mean we ate fresh foods made from scratch daily with love. Any time I can do that for my family or the people that I care about, that brings me joy.
Resilience & Confidence
Alright, let’s talk about resilience, shall we? It’s like being a kitchen superhero, ready to tackle any culinary challenge that comes your way! The definition of resilience is “able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult situations.” This is what made the excellent cooks in my family before me. They had to make something out of nothing in order to feed their families. In my case, I don’t have to worry too much about my food supply (at least for the moment), but the focus and concentration that I need when I am cooking helps me push through tough times. It distracts me from things that are troubling me, but cooking also gives me confidence. I am very comfortable when I’m in the kitchen. I can do things almost without thinking about how to do it. It’s like being on autopilot sometimes. I think that this subconsciously reminds me that I am capable of doing difficult things and I am smart and unique. Making a great meal is always a big confidence booster for me. And that’s a feeling that I can hold on to when I need to do hard things in other areas of life. It sounds weird to say that out loud, but I’m sure those of you who get “kitchen therapy” know exactly what I mean. It’s a creative release and outlet.
Gratitude & Love
Alright, let’s get into the gratitude groove! Being thankful, showing appreciation, and spreading kindness are my jam. Did you know that folks who keep gratitude journals are happier people? And who doesn’t want to be around happier people? I am certainly grateful for having the means to whip up delicious food for myself and my loved ones. Especially now, when food prices are sky-high, affordable housing is almost non-existent, and many are struggling financially. Life is stressful, but a good, comforting, home-cooked meal can make us feel better, even if just for a little while.
This is one of the reasons I am so grateful to be a volunteer for Lasagna Love. The goal is to literally provide kindness to someone who is going through a tough time by delivering a meal. And let me tell you, the appreciation and gratitude from the Lasagna Love recipients are heartwarming. It’s so humbling. I do the same for my friends and family. If they’re feeling down, going through a tough time, or need some encouragement, I love to show I care by heading into my kitchen and whipping up an edible hug.
Final Thoughts
If cooking stresses you out, that’s okay. Not everyone finds the kitchen to be their happy place. Maybe for you, it’s getting lost in a book, tinkering in your garage, drawing, painting, or writing a piece of music or prose. Whatever it is, make sure you have a positive, healthy place to go when the world gets to be too much. We all need those spaces… maybe now more than ever. Until next time…
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