My cooking is, usually, for small groups. Two to six is my norm. Occasionally, I cook for one, myself, a big challenge. As I critique my cooking, from prep through methods and the result, I struggle with feedback. Frankly, it is annoying to write enough to capture the context. When I finally come back to make the dish again, it is like starting all over again.
Last week, I was cooking for one. I made a decision, with a pasta sauce from scratch, to replicate it three nights in a row. Each night was a redo. My goal was to take awareness and joy to learning and growth and on into practice. While I would not subject others to the process, for me it was helpful. It could have been one of my fading ideas, except for the events of yesterday evening. For the second day in a row, there were National Day fireworks. If it was possible, they were even better than the first! Celebrating never gets old. Maybe incorporating redoes into one’s life could be the same.
When one loves the outcome, practicing how to do it even better can be an exercise of love and joy. The basics become automatic and effortless. The nuances and twists are to be celebrated and remembered. Fireworks were even more fun the second night. The enjoyment of the pasta sauces grew with each redo. The very good became great and beyond.
Leaving an ingredient out does not mean it will not come back. It is important to remember and treasure why it was there in the first place. Metaphorically, many variations echo this whispered insight. Paul left a reminder; “If their falling out initiated this worldwide coming together, their recovery is going to set off something even better: mass homecoming! If the first thing the Jews did, even though it was wrong for them, turned out for your good, just think what’s going to happen when they get it right!” (Romans 11.15)
Redoing leads to habits. With kindness, care, and compassion, this is always a helpful practice.
