Y-I-EAT-N

Tomatoes

If you are anything like me (for your sake I pray that you are not) you may have fantasies and visions of your future. I have these ideas about what my life might turn in to, to some extent, though I try to keep these thoughts as open and shifting as possible. They do however keep me creating, seeking, and searching all of the time, so it is nice to have them there. Otherwise I might sit around and do nothing all of the time. But you have to do something before you can do nothing. Odd isn’t it?

Watermelon

One of my visions of a possible future self is of me living in a little place on a nice piece of land with a full garden. It might be a farm, this place may be on some secret island not unlike “Lost” minus the smoke monster, or it may be simply in a climate that can suit my year round growing needs, but one thing is for sure, I will have a vegetable garden. The garden this year has been amazing. I have been getting all sorts of fresh herbs and peppers and am now getting a ton of watermelons, huckleberries, tomatoes and a variety of Mexican peppers.

The main reason for starting the roof garden, besides every other reason, was to learn how to grow now so I could get in the early experience so as to help out this future envisioned self of mine. For growing is certainly an art and it seems to take many a years to get the hang of it.

But that is just it. It takes a lot of practice and patience like anything else. What can’t you learn with dedicated hard work and a clear and authentic desire? I feel as though everything I am capable of these days has come in this way. I can’t tell you how many times I hear someone say “I wish I did that,” or “If I only got in to it when I was younger”. Sound like a bunch of excuses to me. If I was younger I might sympathize. But now, now that I have experienced first hand what it is like for someone with no knowledge of anything to completely shift their life and learn something new, I can’t help but think “stop feeling sorry for yourself and just go and do it already, I know you can”.

A year ago I had a new neighbor move in who asked me if I would teach her guitar. She had  never played an instrument before and was itching to learn. I had never taught guitar lessons but was more than happy to try. Due to a recently developed illness she was no longer able to live the same life that she used to; she couldn’t eat a lot of her favorite foods anymore, was often sick, and got very weak and fatigued a few times a week. Guitar was her new outlet. She practiced and played everyday. Within months she formed in to a solid musician and within less than a year she became something far more beautiful.

I used to tell her that though she couldn’t see it now I knew that her illness was a ”blessing”. I knew that it was her bodies way of forcing her to make a change in her life. The first time she sang her voice brought me in to a state a total peace, she didn’t even know she could sing until it just came out one day. Imagine that. A girl who had no knowledge of something, who thought it was “too late,” had a major shift in her life and is now in France, taking art classes, and seeing where music might take her life.

So instead of saying “I wish I did that at an earlier age,” why not get up and try? It will likely be a bit odd and frustrating at first, but if you get over that initial barrier, god knows what will happen. Cooking is not the exception to this rule, it is no different. If you want to learn how to cook, why not try? What is holding you back?

I’ll tell you what. Anyone that made it through this long rant of a post, this “inspirational speech” of sorts, gets a bonus. If you live in the NYC area and are looking to learn how to cook I am offering free cooking lessons. You buy the ingredients, i’ll even go to the market with you and help you shop, and we will make something of your choice. It will not only be fun but delicious as well. Let me know if this interests you.

Tags: cooking, cooking lessons, free cooking lessons, free cooking lessons in NYC, garden, inspiration, learn guitar, learning guitar, lost, watermelon